Police bid to stop summer burglary spike

Sussex Police has today (June 3) published advice on how people can stop themselves becoming another victim of an opportunistic burglar.

“During the next two weeks officers across the county are stepping up their activities to encourage crime prevention, track down wanted offenders and cut the number of break-ins in Sussex during the warmer months,” said a spokesman.

Volunteers are going to contribute to the awareness campaign as part of volunteer awareness week.

Detective chief inspector Tanya Jones said residents should become ‘more security conscious’.

“You can have appropriate security in place on your home but leaving a window or door unlocked and valuables on show can potentially create the perfect opportunity for a thief,” she said.

“A burglar can be in and out of your home in a matter of minutes. Sometimes it may not be a question of changing the security you have but changing your routine to be more vigilant in ensuring your home is secure.”

During the same two weeks last year there were 160 burglaries in the county – 61 of which were in West Sussex.

This summer, checklists are being handed out with tips on frustrating burglars.

“The checklist will help people to identify areas where they could make improvements to their home, such as changing the types of lock on doors and windows and ensuring those at ground level are shut when those rooms are not occupied,” said the spokesman.

“People will also be encouraged to register their valuables for free at www.immobilise.com so that if they are stolen officers can more easily reunite them with their owners.”

John Wright, the chairman of the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation, said: “We are proud to be supporting Sussex Police. Burglary is something that many people dread, and in Sussex we have well over 100,000 members, who are all keen to help keep our homes and streets safe.

“All of our members are volunteers, who freely give up their time to help fight crime. By just keeping their eyes and ears open, and generally being vigilant, they can spot unusual things happening around them and promptly call the police if needed. These eyes and ears, and the information they provide, enables the police to respond quickly and effectively to any suspicious activity.”

Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne welcomed the campaign.

“We all have a part to play to help keep Sussex safe and I urge residents to follow police advice and keep their property secure so that they are not a target for burglars,” she said.

“I’d also like to recognise the ongoing work of volunteers and partners who continue to support the local neighbourhood police teams by working with residents to highlight the risks and provide guidance around how to keep our homes and personal property secure. Together we can beat burglary in Sussex.”