5
Jan
2015
By Calvin at 12:54 GMT, 11 years ago
My enthusiasm to get back to this site after a great Xmas and New Year has been somewhat tempered by the experience of my neighbour. They went out with their child to a family event on New Year’s Eve and returned at about 1.30am to discover they’d been burgled. The thieves had come into the back garden from the nature reserve behind us and using their own tools (crow bar) forced open a pair of reasonably well-locked timber French doors. Once inside they stole the kid’s new electronic toys and gaming machines, games and jewellery and then escaped using the same route. A few drawers were tipped out and cupboards opened, but no wanton damage. Unfortunately they took the spare car key and although they didn’t take the car my neighbour now has to get the locks changed.
They knocked on my door at about 1pm, just after I’d returned from a night away (partying) and my idea that she was coming to wish us a Happy New Year turned out to be rather wide of the mark. My neighbour knows I’m a former policeman and crime prevention geezer and so asked me if I could have a look at the damage and offer advice – the least I could do.
Physically their house is quite secure, although there are more things they could have done. Trellis and a prickly shrub on the back fence may have helped, additional security on the French doors (which were not of the advanced security type (PAS 24 2012)) would have delayed the entry a little longer, not leaving the spare car key in the house would have saved them some additional hassle and marking their property may have assisted the police in getting it back. Above all though, they didn’t have a working alarm system. The front of the house displays the alarm box of the now defunct alarm, but there was no box on the back wall, which is what may have put the burglars off and one been there.
So, the result is that I’ve arranged for a NACOSS member alarm company to pay them a visit this week to install a wire free alarm as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately the police incorrectly advised them that it was unlikely that the burglars would come back, which is contrary to all the research into repeat victimisation and rather suggests that the police are now hopelessly uninformed about crime prevention since they got rid of all their crime prevention officers (note the irritation in that last statement!). The truth is that their chances of a second burglary are now very much higher than the first and so have the risks for their neighbours gone up too! That’s why, now our cat is demised, I shall also be having a new replacement alarm installed by the same firm. An unwanted expense so soon after Xmas, but one that will buy me great peace of mind.
I’ll let you know how I get on with the new alarm, in case you’re interested, but in the meantime, if you’re still thinking about New Year’s Resolutions please do take a fresh look at your home security. My neighbours can be forgiven for thinking that their security was at a reasonable level, but it would only have taken a few minutes to discover that it most certainly wasn’t. Please take our Home Security Survey and plan to make 2015 the year that secured your home.
Home Security Survey: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/home-security-assessment/468/home-security-survey--diy/
Repeat victimisation: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/home-security-assessment/735/repeat-victimisation-burglary/
Burglar alarm advice: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/gardens-lighting-access-and-alarms/501/burglar-alarms-advice/
