Police issue home security warning to Cotswold residents (From Cotswold Journal)

Police issue home security warning to Cotswold residents

11:26am Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Freya Leng

SAFETY advice has been given to Cotswold residents to help reduce the risk of becoming a target for thieves.

Police and the District Safer and Stronger Community Partnership are reminding residents they can take simple steps to prevent their homes and businesses being broken into.

In 2012 of all the burglaries that took place on the Cotswold Local Policing Area, 16 per cent were due to a location being insecure.

PC Mark Godsland, crime reduction officer for Gloucestershire Constabulary, is urging all residents to take a few simple precautions.

"Home and business owners should ensure that premises should be kept secure, when unoccupied," he said. "Any valuable items, or items of great sentimental value, should be property marked with a ”Forensic Property Marking system” to make them easily identifiable in the event of them being stolen.

"Business owners should take stock of the security measures they have in place at their premises and consider installing extra physical security measures such as locks, security glazing, intruder and fire alarms, security lighting and CCTV.”

PC Godsland said simple crime prevention techniques also applied to preventing thefts from garden sheds and vehicles.

"Sheds are a favourite target for criminals because many can be broken into relatively easily, and they often contain expensive items such as lawn mowers, power tools and bikes," he said. "Shed owners should check the vulnerability of their shed and make it more secure by investing in metal grills for windows, reinforced hinges and strong locks and shed alarms and use a forensic property marking system.”

For more information on crime reduction visit gloucestershire.police.uk.