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Dear Resident Unfortunately, there has been a spate of bungalow burglaries in the Northbourne area, specifically Northbourne Gardens, Wakefield Avenue and Persley Road. These have occurred whilst the occupants were away and so asking you to be vigilant and aware of some measures you can take if you are away from your property. Most burglars are opportunists, with their motive in the main being to get into a property as quickly as possible, steal something of value and then leave as quickly as possible. A secure home will therefore be a deterrent to them and reduces the chance of you becoming a victim of a burglary. Whilst you are away - Ensure doors and windows are in a good state of repair and that good quality locks or bolts are fitted to all outside doorsEnsure the locks on all windows and doors are in good working order and are locked. If you are replacing a broken or defective lock, or looking to improve the security of existing doorsets or windows, a Locksmith registered with the Master Locksmiths Association can specify the best & most secure lock to use for your type of door or window. Remove the keys from all windows and doors and put them in a safe place when you leave the houseIf you have an intruder alarm, make sure it’s set. If you don’t have one consider having an approved alarm system installed. Visit HERE to find out all the information that you need to know to assist you in choosing the right security system for your home or businessMake use of timer plugs with lamps and radios to make your house seem occupied. You can also get photosensitive bulbs, which are activated when it gets darkerDon’t leave valuable items such as laptops and jewellery in view of windows. Lock valuable items away in a ground anchored safe or you could consider leaving important documents and valuable items with other family members whilst awayDon’t forget the outside of your home too. It is important that your home does not appear unoccupied whilst you are away, so consider cutting the lawn and hedges before you leave, so that it doesn’t look unkempt. Make sure all access points are secured such as gates and activate any external security lighting that you may haveEnsure gardening equipment, tools and ladders are put away and securely stored. Don’t leave them lying around in your garden as they could aid burglarsEnsure that any sheds and outbuildings are locked and secured. Use good quality locks on garages and sheds (ensure screws on latches and hinges cannot be undone easily from the outside) and where possible ensure that they are alarmedMark your valuables such as jewellery and electronic equipment, including your gardening equipment, tools and other valuables stored in sheds and garages, using a Secured by Design approved property marking solutionCancel milk and newspaper deliveries if you have them. Don’t announce your departure to a shop full of people. Only tell people who need to know you’re going away such as a trusted friend or neighbourAsk a trusted neighbour or friend to collect post, open and close curtainsNever post statuses or comment on social media about going on holiday – or indeed whilst you are away on holiday. You wouldn’t display a sign in your window advertising that you’re going on holiday, so don’t advertise it online - if you must post status updates, ensure that your privacy settings are set so that only trusted family and friends can view the updatesIs there a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme where you live? Visit www.ourwatch.org.uk and enter your postcode to check to see if there are any schemes declared in your area, or alternatively speak with your local Neighbourhood Policing TeamMake sure that you have up-to-date contents and buildings insurance – and remember, most insurance policies only cover burglary claims on an unoccupied home if there are signs of forced entry, so double-check all doors and windows are closed and locked. We would encourage members of the public who witness a crime of any type to report it to Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111. Please do not use Dorset Alert to report a crime or something else that requires urgent police attention as we are unable to log details via this system. You should call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. | 
