Dear Residents,
We are aware of an increasing number of burglaries in the local area. The houses targeted are outside the estate, but some are close to the estate boundary. We therefore wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate the general precautions and generic measures that can be taken to reduce the risk:
• Effective CCTV, linking to a monitoring station, is a good deterrent and should be incorporated as part of a layered security approach.
• Entrance gates should be closed and locked to deter a speculative person or potential thieves calling at a property.
• Consider leaving vehicles parked on the drive to give the impression the house is occupied.
• Ensure that any ‘Ring door bell entry system’ is working so a reply can be provided to anyone calling at the door.
• Leave internal and external lights on to reduce the areas of darkness in which the thieves can operate.
• Have movement detection lights around the property, and its approaches, to pick-up any movement as this is an effective deterrent.
• To have lights on timers, and perhaps a radio or ‘fake TV’ on, to give the impression that the house is occupied.
• Have strong and robust (dead) locks on doors and windows, and ideally more than one, which are capable of withstanding a determined attempt to gain entry.
• All windows, including upper floors and roof lights, should be locked (and the keys removed), and ideally security bolts fitted to patio doors, to make them harder to slide open.
• In addition to good locks, doors need strong and sturdy hinges and frames to help ensure they cannot be forced open.
• Ensure that any valuables are locked in a safe which is ideally hidden and bolted to a wall or floor to prevent its easy removal. Do not keep valuables or position safes in wardrobes; it’s often the first place thieves look.
• A cage should be fitted to the back of a letter box in a door to stop “letter box fishing” (ie the use of a pole to slide through the letter box and potentially pick up a set of keys, if they have been left on a side table).
• Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your house if you are going to be away, by for example removing any uncollected post and putting back bins, to mask the fact that the property is unoccupied.
• Ensure the alarm is turned on (and covers the upstairs rooms as well) and this is linked to a monitoring station.
• Ensure that the outside areas of the house are free from any implements that could assist with a break-in (such as ladders, which have been used to access upper floor windows, and garden implements which have been used to break windows or locks).
• Keep garden sheds locked so tools cannot be removed and used in a break-in.
• Ensure garden fencing and screen planting is appropriate to try and deter unauthorised entry.
• Ensure any garden gates are locked to restrict access to the back of the property (which is generally more secluded and therefore favoured as a potential entry point).
• Consider the planting of prickly and barbed shrubbery as it acts as a natural barrier and makes penetration harder.
• Consider having gravel on driveways and paths as it makes movement easier to hear.
• Ensure that any overgrown hedging or vegetation is cut back, when appropriate and possible, to restrict places where potential thieves can hide.
• Consider during periods of absence not posting on social media as it advertises that the property is likely to be empty.
• Consider having a house-sitter during periods of prolonged absence to maintain the impression that the house is fully occupied.
• Review the digital footprint of your house (i.e. estate agents’ online sales brochures etc) which may contain floorplans and other information which may be of use to potential criminals. If necessary, contact the agent and ask for brochures to be removed.
Given the increased number of burglaries in the local area, we wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate this generic crime prevention advice, in order to try and reduce the risk of anything happening on the estate. Please remain vigilant and note that the highest risk of a break-ins is in the early evening (6pm – 9pm).
Best wishes,
Richard Maundrell
Chief Executive
