Homesafe

Homesafe is one of the five 'safe' initiatives launched by Gloucestershire Constabulary, designed to tackle crime across the county.

Gloucestershire residents have the right to feel safe in their own homes. By following some simple tips and advice, you can reduce the possibility of becoming a victim of crime.

• Don't leave valuables on display where they can easily be seen through a window

• Photograph items of jewellery, antiques and other items that may be difficult to describe.

• Always back up home computer records on disc and store them safely in case the computer is stolen.

• Mark valuable items with an indelible marker with your post code

• Consider purchasing a safe for storing valuables

• Don't keep large amounts of cash at home

• Dispose of all receipts and utility bills carefully to avoid criminals using your identity

Bogus Callers

STOP - CHAIN - CHECK

STOP

• Most people who call at your door are genuine but some are not. They could be thieves or conmen trying to trick their way into your home to steal. That's why it is important to take precautions when people call at your home.

• Bogus callers will pretend to be any one of a number of authentic callers such as officials from the council, gas, electricity or water companies. They may say they are workmen needing to make repairs or even claim to be police officers.

• Bogus callers are convincing liars and anyone can be taken in by them

• Whether it's a child asking for a glass of water or someone offering to tarmac your drive, never let them into your house unless you are sure they are genuine.

• A genuine visitor will always make an appointment first, so you should be wary if someone turns up unexpectedly.

• When someone calls at your home make sure you take a good look at that person through the window or by using the door viewer.

CHAIN

• Always put on the door chain or bar before opening the door and keep it on while you are talking to them.

• You should not feel embarrassed about using a door chain, a genuine visitor will not be offended and will expect you to take precautions.

• If you don't have a door chain, get one fitted - it will not cost much. Contact your local police for advice.

CHECK

• Always ask for proof of identity and check it carefully, keeping the chain on the door.

• Genuine callers will carry identification with their photograph and details of their company or business.

• Don't assume just because a caller is wearing a uniform or clothing with a badge or logo, that they are genuine always ask to see an ID card.

Garden Wise 

Defensive Planting - Nature's way to beat the burglar

• The ever-increasing popularity and sophistication of gardening has not gone unnoticed by the criminal. Garden crime is a reality.

• According to police statistics, the most likely items to be stolen are mowers, strimmers, chain saws, hedge trimmers, garden furniture and plants.

• Nature itself provides the best solution to garden crime. With careful thought and planning you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of garden crime, whilst at the same time creating an attractive garden.

• Take your time to read this and take note of the carefully selected plants. For instance you can create an impenetrable hedge, which looks far more attractive than security fencing but is just as effective. Planting prickly shrubs around vulnerable windows can also serve as a deterrent to the burglar.

• By careful planning you can produce a beautiful garden and reduce the risk of being the next victim of garden crime.

Top Ten Tips

1. Sheds
   Sheds and outbuildings usually contain valuable items that might either be stolen or used as a tool to gain entry to the house. Check how vulnerable your shed is and make it more secure. Metal grills over the windows, reinforced hinges and locks are a worthwhile investment. Consider securing valuable items inside using security cables or chains with robust padlocks. Thieves do not like to hang about - the more obstacles you put in the way, the less likely they will be to bother.

2. Garden Equipment
   Equipment marked indelibly and boldly will be less of a target for a thief. It will identify it to the owner and the thief will have to spend time trying to remove the marking. Don't make the mistake that many gardeners make, leaving equipment out whilst popping in the house for a cup of tea, only to return to find your mower gone, and a half cut lawn! You may only be gone for a minute, but your mower will have gone forever.

3. Lighting
   Good lighting around the property will enhance your garden, extend its use into the evening, and be a major deterrent to the thief. The best type to install is low-level lighting on a dusk to dawn sensor, which will give good illumination, is cheap to run and is on all night. Security lighting operated on movement detectors can increase the fear of crime. This comes on and off during high winds, when trees sway or when animals walk past. It can also be annoying to your neighbours.

4. Plants
   Plants and trees can be very attractive to the thief, and difficult to secure. If you are using plant pots, buy the heaviest you can. Pots can be secured to the ground using a variety of methods from strong glues to bolts through the patio. Expensive plants can be secured in the ground using wire and pegs around the root ball. These are hidden from view when planting is completed, but make the plant very difficult to remove. Expensive plants should be planted where they can be seen from the house or by neighbours.

5. Gravel
   Thieves don't like to be heard. Crunchy gravel on the approach to the house, which gives away their presence, is ideal.

6. Water
   A water feature not only looks great in the garden but a pond can also form a barrier to prevent a thief from getting to a vulnerable shed or house window.

7. Front Garden
   The general rule for the front of the house is to keep boundary fences and hedges low to allow as much natural surveillance as possible from neighbours and passing pedestrians and traffic. Keep shrubs and trees well pruned to avoid any hiding places.

8. Rear Garden
   The rear garden should have a secure boundary and gates, which should be of sufficient height to make scaling them difficult. A thief hates to be cornered and will always be looking for escape routes. The traditional country hedge provides an attractive and impenetrable boundary. Prickly shrubs planted along an existing fence are effective and attractive but may take a long time to grow and thicken up.

9. Garden Furniture
   Patio furniture, hammocks and parasols are stolen from gardens every year. Take time to mark the items so they can be identified if they are stolen, thereby making them less attractive to the thief. Tables and benches can be secured to the patio using bolts. Any items that can be put away easily should be stored in a secure shed or garage (but leave room for the car!).
   Planters, statues, saddle stones and garden ornaments are very valuable and often the target of thieves. Photographs of the items will help the police identify them if they are stolen. Securing them to a concrete base using metal pins is effective.

10. Defensive Planting
    Nature's own way to reduce crime. Criminals do not like climbing through prickly plants and hedges. They know that a small item of ripped clothing or blood can help the police identify them. The following list of plants is not exhaustive but includes some of the best plants to protect your garden.
    • Rosa Rugosa
      Makes a fast growing impenetrable hedge, growing 3 - 4 feet in 12 months.
    • Pyracantha
      Is excellent for hedging, growing under windows or around doorways, a beautiful display of red or orange during winter.
    • Berberis
      Good for hedging and growing by walls. It has very sharp spine like prickles, which are barely visible.
    • Holly
      Many attractive varieties some variegated. Also can be planted in any area needing protection.
    • Japonica
      Can be trained up walls or pruned into a bush.
    • Hawthorn
      Makes a good hedge or pruned bush.
    • Pampas grass
      An excellent plant to put in a vulnerable corner, it has razor sharp leaves.
    • Rambling roses
      Make good cover for drainpipes or along the tops of walls.
    • Rosa rogosa
      Excellent as an impenetrable hedge.
    • Acacia
      (golden frisia) - can be trained against a wall or bush or grow into a small tree.
    • Mahonia aquafolium
      Good used among other prickly shrubs or under windows.
    • Acanthus
      Grow lethal spines on the flower heads, a spectacular plant. Plant near any vulnerable access point, but be careful it is not where children could get scratched.

Home Security

Reduce the likelihood of your house being burgled by checking your security, think about the impression a burglar would get if they looked at your house. The more obstacles that you put in the way of a burglar the better.
 
Take into consideration the points below.

1. Using the onion peeling principle, start on the outside of your house and work inwards. Look firstly at the boundary/perimeter of your house. Look at your house in the eyes of a burglar. Have one entry/exit. Have a boundary such as a fence, railings or a country hedge. Having one entry/exit can make a burglar feel trapped or cornered, especially if you have a substantial boundary.
    

2. Make sure the entrance to your house is over looked, to allow for natural surveillance by passing vehicles, people on foot and neighbours. Low boundaries/perimeters help natural surveillance. High boundaries (over 6ft) should be used for rear gardens for maximum security.
    

3. Low-level dusk/dawn lighting controlled by a photo-electric cell is recommended. Passive infra-red lighting; which is widely used, can be set off by passing animals or blowing trees, therefore may increase the fear of crime. Consider rear lighting only if the back of your house is overlooked, otherwise you will assist the burglar rather than hindering.
    

4. If windows and doors are secured properly they can significantly increase the time it takes a burglar to enter the premises. Look at your window frames, buy window locks and get a specialist to fit them for you, a member of the Master Locksmiths Association. A properly fitted window to British Security Standard, will force the burglar to take more time, cause more noise and extra visibility. Think about laminated glass, it is difficult to break. Windows on the ground floor will be an obvious first choice for the burglar, if you have poor security on the upstairs windows they may target those instead. Consider anti-climb paint for your drainpipes and anything that could assist climbing. Make sure valuables are not visible from the outside of your house, if you can see items through your windows think about blinds or net curtains.
    

5. Doors at the back of your house are particularly vulnerable. Having a good lock on a door with a frame in bad condition is useless. Buy a lock that is suitable for the thickness of the door. Check panelled doors; some can have poor quality wood, which offers little resistance to forced entry.
    

6. Secure patio doors with extra patio door locks; sometimes the hook lock fitted is insufficient. Burglars often hoist the patio door, which releases the whole door; most modern doors prevent this. It is possible to install an anti-lift device.
    

7. Post-coding items of value within the home allow you to identify your property. You can use an ultra-violet marker or a diamond tipped engraver (for cameras, small electrical items). Make a note of serial numbers and photograph antiques or valuable goods.
    

8. Look at your house from the outside, and replicate that look for when you are away. Use timer switches to switch from the living room lamp to the bedroom lamp at the usual time you go to bed.

More information regarding the principles outlined above can be found at www.crimereduction.gov.uk web site.

Alternatively this Word Document shows a household security risk assessment. It is designed for you the householder to quickly assess your own security and identify weak points. If any of your answers fall within the highlighted sections please take immediate action to improve in these areas. Should you require further assistance the   Divisional Crime Reduction Officers will be pleased to discuss these with you, contact them here >>>.