Statement on recent burglaries, Chief Superintendent Alasdair Robinson, District Commander for 'E' district
06 Jan 2010
"It is despicable that there are people in our community that are making conscious decisions to go out and prey on the most vulnerable members of society.
"Police are acutely aware that January traditionally sees a rise in burglaries and we working very hard to prevent these crimes and bringing the perpetrators before the courts. However, we would also urge people to be vigilant about protecting their homes against burglaries, look out for their neighbours and also report any suspicious activity to Police immediately.
"A full investigation is ongoing in relation to the four overnight burglaries. At this stage we do not believe that they are linked.
"We understand that burglaries are a real concern for the community. The issue is a major police priority and we are determined to work closely with the local community to deal with it.
"As part of our anti-burglary strategy, we analyse information in relation to where and when burglaries are taking place and increase patrols in those areas. We are also working closely with the victims of recent burglaries and offering them crime prevention advice.
"We continue to increase uniformed patrols where necessary and have conducted a number of house searches across Northern Ireland. We are always targeting burglars, building evidence, gathering reports from the community and taking steps to have burglars arrested and brought to justice.
"The Police Service are committed to robustly dealing with individuals whose behaviour is negatively affecting the quality of life of the entire community but we need everyone to play their part.
"We are working very hard to catch the criminals behind these burglaries and those who may be actively targeting older people. The Service works closely with other agencies to provide support and reassurance for older people so they feel more secure in their own homes and we would ask the community to watch out for older and more vulnerable neighbours and call regularly with them as such support can be vital in providing reassurance and making them feel safe. .
"But we need the continued help and co-operation of the public. Someone knows who is doing this and someone can give us the information we need to bring these criminals to justice and help prevent them wreaking misery on other members of the community.
"We would appeal to anyone out there who has information to contact us on 0845 600 8000. I would also urge anyone who needs advice on crime prevention and how to make their home safer to contact their local crime prevention officer.”
If you witness any suspicious activity, call police immediately on 0845 600 8000. Alternatively, if you prefer to give information anonymously, contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111. No detail is too small and might make all the difference in leading us to a criminal and bringing him or her before the courts."
Crime Prevention Advice
Police are urging householders to follow some common sense crime prevention measures to ensure that they will not become an opportunist burglar’s next victim. Reassessing your crime prevention routine is an important first step.
Doors - If your doors aren't secure, neither is your house. Make sure your doors are strong enough, fit mortise deadlocks, door chains and viewers and use them. Never leave keys in the locks, on tabletops or hooks in view of external windows. Never hide spare keys under doormats, flower pots etc - thieves aren't stupid - hidden keys make life easy for the burglar. Keep both your doors and windows locked whether you are at home or not and establish a bedtime routine which involves checking them just before you retire for the night.
Windows - Whether your window frames are wood, metal or UPVC, there are various locks available, suitable for fitting to all window-type openings. If your window does not already have a keyed lock fitted, then consider having suitable locks fitted, particularly on ground floor windows or upper windows that may be easily accessed from a flat roof.
NB: Before fitting any locks to doors or windows, make sure it does not invalidate any warranties.
Security Lighting - Exterior lights are useful in discouraging the attention of criminals, as it raises the potential of them being seen in the vicinity of your home by either yourself or a neighbour. Most forms of security lighting are best controlled by photo-electric cells that switch on as dark approaches and off again as dawn breaks, or PIR motion detection sensor switches, or by timer switches.
Alarms - Visible intruder alarms will often be a deterrent to a burglar. If you decide to have one fitted, make sure it is installed by a reputable company and meets recognised standards required by the National Security Inspectorate or Security Systems and Alarms Inspectorate Board. Most modern alarms allow for the user to partially set their systems, even when at home. Some insurance companies may provide discounts on insurance premiums following the installation of an alarm.
Exterior - Police would also advise members of the public to be cautious about leaving equipment outside their house which could be used to assist burglars, for example ladders which could be used to gain entry to your home or items that could potentially be used as weapons such as hammers, spades, knives and so on. All such items should be locked away out of sight in a shed or garage.
Callers - If somebody calls at your door unexpectedly, ask to see identification. If you are not entirely satisfied that they are who they are claiming to be, call the free Quick Check number - 0800 0132290. A trained operator will contact the company the caller claims to represent to ensure that they are genuine. If they are not or the operator thinks there is anything suspicious, they will contact police immediately.
