Protect Your Home – Burglary Prevention Advice for Local Residents

Dear Residents,

Your local Neighbourhood Police Team would like to remind residents to take a few simple steps to help protect their homes from burglary. Opportunistic thieves often target properties that appear insecure or unoccupied, but a few precautions can significantly reduce the risk.

Lock Up Properly

Always ensure all doors and windows are locked when leaving your property, even if you are only going out for a short time. Double-lock doors where possible and remove keys from the inside of locks so they cannot be reached through letterboxes or windows.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Avoid leaving valuable items such as laptops, phones, handbags, and car keys visible from windows or near the front door. Store them in a secure place when not in use.

Use Lighting and Timers

If you are out in the evening or away from home, consider using timer switches for lights or radios so your property appears occupied. Good external lighting can also deter offenders.

Secure Doors and Windows

Ensure doors and windows are fitted with good quality locks. Consider installing additional security such as door chains, window locks, or a burglar alarm system.

Be Careful With Social Media

Avoid posting details about holidays or extended time away from home on social media until after you return.

Look Out for Each Other

A strong community is one of the best deterrents to crime. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your area and report anything unusual.

When You’re Away

Ask a trusted neighbour, friend, or family member to collect post, move bins, or park in your driveway occasionally so the property does not appear empty.

Register Your Property

Consider marking and registering valuables on the Immobilise Property Register, a free national property database used by UK police to help return stolen items to their rightful owners.

Report Suspicious Activity

If you see suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood, please report it to the police. In an emergency or if a crime is in progress call 999. For non-emergencies, contact police via 101 or through the Police Service online reporting system.

Working together, we can help keep our neighbourhood safe.

Thank you for your continued support.

Hounslow East Neighbourhood Policing Team