Page last updated at 09:05 GMT, Monday, December 19 2011
Don't Become A Christmas Crime Victim
Eastleigh Borough is safe place to live and enjoy. Botley is one
of the safest places in the whole Borough, but at this time of year
we need to be more vigilant and to help ourselves to keep our homes
safe. Homes have Christmas gifts and with the dark nights can be
more attractive to criminals.
Eastleigh Community Safety Partnership in conjunction with the
Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been holding Christmas crime
prevention stands in the Eastleigh Swan Centre and in the foyer of
Marks and Spencers and Sainsbury’s in Hedge End. The next one will
take place in The Swan Centre on 22nd December, where you can come
along and meet Community Safety staff and your local PCSOs
for seasonal advice. Free ultra violet property marking pens
and purse lanyards to prevent purse thefts will be available to
shoppers.
But here are a few tips to keep safe.
- When you are out shopping, keep your purse in a zipped bag and
not visible on the top of a shopping trolley
- Keep car doors locked and do not leave valuables on display in
your vehicle. Even if it is on your drive.
- When Christmas shopping, avoid leaving large quantities of
presents in your vehicle’s boot before continuing shopping.
If practical, drop some presents off at home before returning.
- Don’t leave presents on display in your home or under the
Christmas tree – this is an invite to would be burglars.
- Do consider using timer switches which enable lights to come on
when you are out .
- Make sure your property is secure – check all windows and doors
before you leave the house and ensure sheds and outbuildings are
kept locked.
- Mark your valuables with your post code and house number and
register them for free with www.immobilise.com You can
get a kit from Crime Stoppers who are working with Tesco’s to offer
Property Protector kits
- Don’t’ leave the empty packaging from Christmas presents on
display by your wheelie bin.
- If you are planning to celebrate in Southampton use the Council
sponsored NITEBUS Scheme It operates Friday and
Saturday nights Times Routes visit www.bluestarbus.co.uk/nightout.shtml
Annette Macnamara, Community Safety Officer
Tel: 02380 688080
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