Happy new year. I hope you enjoyed the festive season and are looking forward to the year ahead.
This is the time of year when unfortunately, we see an increase in expensive items left on display and being stolen from homes. Many people have brand new electrical items or expensive gifts received over the Christmas period, so now is a great time to review security and put a few preventative measures in place to reduce the chance of this happening.
Firstly, ensure that your property is locked and secure when you’re not at home, including side gates and garage doors. Leave a light on during the evening. Timer devices for lights can be purchased at many stores, as can security lights.
Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your property if you are going out for the evening or away on holiday.
Use an ultra violet marker pen and post code your valuables. This is easy to do, simply put your postcode followed by the door number. Mark all electrical items, even CD covers or anything you feel is of value. Alternatively you can register your belongings, free of charge at www.immobilise.com. This is a national database used by police forces throughout the UK, which helps officers to reunite stolen belongings with their rightful owners.
One mistake we see a lot of when we are on patrol is boxes left out for refuse collection showing all those new gifts. What a great way to advertise to a thief that your home now has a new games console or something equally expensive or tempting. Tear up any boxes and place into recycling preferably at a registered site.
If you are leaving boxes out for collection, only put them out on the relevant morning. Be aware that your normal collection date may change due to bank holidays; you can check this out on the council’s website.
Finally be sure to sign up to Gwent Now by going to www.gwentnow.org. This allows us to send you free of charge, crime alerts.
Once again wishing you a very happy new year. Take care and stay safe.
Inspector Arwel Hicks
