Our local Police have provided the following burglary awareness advice. This is generic advice and there is no specific risk against the estate:
“We are still seeing vacant premises being targeted (such as where the owner is in hospital) and we are seeking to understand why these premises are specifically targeted – it may be down to the premises looking unlived in.
We have had one burglary on Friday evening at approximately 7.45pm at a property in Weybridge. This premises backs onto a private road area and it is believed that the suspects parked in a side road and climbed into the garden and then used a ladder in an attempt to enter through an upper window. The alarm went off and they ran away.
As such there are a few take aware messages for residents:
- Always ensure that ladders and items that could be used to access upper areas are locked away (that said we have seen trampolines and benches used in the past to access upper windows)
- Ensure rear access to gardens is restricted, defensive planting is one way (using bushes with sharp thorns such as Blackthorn, Hawthorn or Pyracanthas)
- Consider rear garden monitoring cameras or alert systems
Advice for private security teams:
- Friday night still appears to be the main night for such burglaries. We’ve had them in Claygate, Oxshott and Weybridge.
- All side roads on a private estate should be patrolled – always worth jotting down a number plate in case it proves helpful later on.”
As a reminder, the Police will be joining (on-line) the next Residents’ Forum on Monday 4 December at 6.30pm where they will be advising on how best to prevent burglaries. Residents are welcome to join in person (at my office) or via Teams. Please book your place at: mail@stgeorgesra.com.
Regards,
Richard
