Thousands of packs containing crime prevention advice, shed alarms and door chains are being handed out by police at the launch of a new campaign to combat burglaries.

The 4,000 Safe and Secure packs will provide advice on home and garden security and several hundred garden shed alarms will also be given out in areas which have suffered thefts of tools and garden equipment.

Operation Protect is part of a wider campaign by West Mercia police to help householders to increase security while reducing fear of crime.

“Although Shropshire is one of the safest parts of the country in which to live and work, that’s no consolation to the small number of people who fall victim to burglars,” said Detective Inspector Gavin Kinrade.

“We will be working with partner agencies on a variety of security issues designed to protect homes and to make people feel safer.

“These include SmartWater kits being made available at main police stations in Shropshire so people can mark their valuables such as jewellery, electric equipment, power tools and bikes with a unique security liquid which will help us trace items should they be stolen.

“A number of anti-burglary kits will also be available across the division, which may include window alarms, garden shed alarms and crime prevention advice from our ongoing Safe and Secure campaign.

“There will also be a limited number of passive infrared sensors, which can be made available to victims of crime.”

The measures and advice are being stepped up against a background of less than two burglaries per day across Shropshire.

“The number is very small but nevertheless, we see at first hand the misery caused when a home has been broken into. It’s clear that with such small numbers of offences, Shropshire remains a safe place in which to live but we want to minimise the risk of burglaries even further,” he added.

“To do this we need the support and co-operation of the public in helping to protect their own homes especially when up to half of all burglaries are committed by thieves entering through an unlocked door or an open window.”

More advice is available at www.westmercia.police.uk

Security tips to help protect a home include:

• Ensure doors and windows are locked at all times.
• Fit sturdy deadlocks (British Standard BS3621) to all external doors.
• Take care of keys. Keep door and car keys in a safe place, out of sight.
• Use timer switches or sensors to turn lights on in the evenings when out of the house.
• Invest in external lighting.
• Mark belongings with postcode and house number.
• If you have an alarm, set it when you go out.
• Ensure newspapers, post, milk etc are not left on display.
• Ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
• Effective garden security includes defensive planting (prickly shrubs and trees) and well-kept gates and fences to help to keep your home secure.
• Ensure ladders and tools are put away so they can’t be used to break into your home.

By Pam Griffin