Crime goes up when the sun goes down

Crime goes up when the sun goes down

Dear resident,

While reports of burglary are on the decline, we know that criminals and opportunists use the cover of darker nights to commit offences across our county.

That’s why our community officers are stepping up patrols in residential areas, while our dedicated Op Maze burglary investigation team continue to work around the clock to identify, apprehend and put criminals behind bars.

Speaking of clocks…don’t forget the clocks will be going back this Sunday (25 October) which means an extra hour in bed!

We’re committed to tackling the issues that impact you the most, but we also know the importance of educating the public on the steps you can take to join us in making Bedfordshire a hostile place for criminals.

Criminals often look to take advantage of specific locations and circumstances, this might be:

• Pedestrian routes with low lighting – such as alleyways, underpasses, fields or parks
• Situations when high value items are on display
• Opportunities to catch victims off guard, this might be due to distractions like wearing headphones

As the evenings draw in and many of us spend more time away from home, it's worth taking a few simple steps to make your property less attractive to burglars. A little preparation can go a long way in protecting your home and belongings.

• Keep valuables out of reach from external doors, windows, letterboxes and cat flaps – did you know you can security mark and register them on www.immobilise.com 
• Lock doors and windows and your vehicles too, double-check when you go out and before you go to bed and if you have a home alarm set this too
• Use timer switches to turn on lights at different times or leave the TV on when you’re not at home so it gives the impression you are, deterring burglars
• Ensure side gates and garage doors are secure
• Consider home security cameras and external lighting
• Connect with your neighbours – having someone to check on your property, take in a delivery, mail or even put your bins can also imply that your home isn’t vacant

For more crime prevention advice visit our website: Together For Bedfordshire | Bedfordshire Police

We take all reports of crime seriously. Call 101 or visit our website https://www.beds.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ to report an incident or suspicious activity and always call 999 if a crime is in progress.