A dark house on a dark evening tells a burglar one thing - there's no one home. In more than a third of burglaries thieves simply walk or climb in through an open door or window.
Lincolnshire Police say the problem is simple to solve with a light timer and a low-energy light bulb: a practical solution that won't break the bank or harm the environment. They even gave away 2,000 bulbs at their recent safer winter action day.
Another simple precaution is to make sure all that waste packaging for those expensive Christmas presents is cut up and securely bagged for waste or recycling collection. An empty box tells a would-be thief what's in the house.
Many children will this year receive a new bike for Christmas. Here are a few tips to keep it safe.
Protect your bicycle:
- Make sure it's insured
- Record and register your bike
- Security mark the frame
At Home
- Lock it in a secure garage or shed
- Keep it out of public view
Out and about
- Always lock your bicycle when you leave it, locking wheels and frame together
- Leave it where it can be seen
- Lock it to something anchored to the ground - thieves can remove drainpipes or lift a bike off a signpost
