The latest Christmas crime prevention campaign from South Yorkshire Police has been launched this week with the overall message of “don’t make it easy”. This refers to the way many people are too complacent to the risk of burglary and theft.
The burglary element of the campaign features an invitation to an open house for burglars because all too often people do make it easy by failing to lock their doors and windows. As many as 30% of burglaries are conducted in this way.
Christmas is a particularly risky time for burglaries as the longer nights offer extra cover for burglars and there are, of course, rich pickings to be had with Christmas presents being bought ready for the big day.
Our advice for avoiding a break in at Christmas is as follows:
- Keep doors and windows shut and locked – even if you’re in the house
- Keep presents hidden away and out of sight, especially away from windows where they could be spotted from outside
- Dispose of packaging discretely – burglars will often go through bins to suss out what they might expect to find indoors
- Don’t brag about money you’re spending or things you’re buying on social media
- Always turn your burglar alarm on when you leave the house or go to bed, if you have one
Just consider, of all the people you do want to invite into your home this Christmas, burglars are not among them.
See the full campaign from South Yorkshire Police here.