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Burglary & Vehicle Crime

• Our Key Targets
• How are we doing?
• Home Security
  • Fencing
  • Lighting
  • Doors and Windows
  • Alarms
  • How to beat the bogus caller
  • Shed Security
  • Property Marking
  • Theft of Metal
  • Dark nights - lights on campaign
  • Christmas
  • Thurrock CVS - Home Safety Checks
  • Help Us Lock Away Burglaries
• Keep the burglars out of your car

Within the Community Safety Partnership is the Autocrime group and the Acquisitive crime group. They are responsible for reducing dwelling burglary, vehicle crime (this comprises of theft of motor vehicles, theft from motor vehicles and vehicle interference) and theft from person i.e. purses, mobile phones etc. The group has membership from the Police and Thurrock Council.

Our Key Targets are to:

• reduce vehicle crime (this comprises of theft of motor vehicles, theft from motor vehicles and vehicle interference)
• reduce motorbike nuisance
• reduce dwelling burglary
• reduce criminal damage
• reduce robbery and theft from person i.e. purses, mobile phones etc.

To achieve this we have 2 delivery groups which are developing action plans around autocrime and acquisitive crime.

• Auto Crime Group Terms of Reference (PDF 45.9kB)
• Auto Crime Group Action Plan (PDF 72.2kB)
• Acquisitive Crime (Burglary) Group Action Plan (PDF 38.1kB)
• Acquisitive Crime Group Terms of Reference (PDF 55.1kB)

[ please see how to access PDF files ]

How are we doing?

The Home Office have set us a target of reducing Serious Acquisitive Crime (National Indicator 16), which includes burglary and vehicle crime, by 11% between 2007/08 and 2010/11. That’s a reduction of 404 crimes.

In 2008/09 the following performance was achieved:

• Domestic Burglary, increased by 70 crimes, +9%
• Other Burglary, reduced by 301 crimes, -30%
• Non Domestic Burglary (including sheds), decreased by 300 crimes, - 27%
• Distraction burglary (bogus callers), decreased by 16 crimes, - 34%
• Theft of a vehicle, decreased by 183 crimes, -18%
• Theft from a vehicle, decreased by 428 crimes, -24%
• Cycle theft, increased by 68 crimes, +30%

Progress against our strategy is attached for both burglary and auto crime:

• Burglary Acquisitive Crime: Progress to Strategy(PDF 51.6kB)

• Autocrime Group Summary Report - June 2008 (PDF 418.8kB)

[ please see how to access PDF files ]

Home Security

• Fencing
• Lighting
• Doors and Windows
• Alarms
• How to beat the bogus caller
  • Consumer Direct
  • Digital television switchover
• Shed Security
• Property Marking
• Theft of Metal
• Dark nights - lights on campaign
• Christmas
• Thurrock CVS - Home Safety Checks
• Help Us Lock Away Burglaries

You can take some simple and cost-effective steps to tighten your home security and dramatically reduce your chances of becoming a victim of burglary. The same applies if your home has been broken into before – please look at this information to identify any weaknesses in your home security.

At least 80 per cent of burglaries are committed by amateur opportunists who take advantage of open or vulnerable doors and windows, keys left in insecure ‘hiding places’, and unlocked side gates, for example.

In around 25 per cent of break-ins, particularly those that take place in the spring and summer, entry is gained through insecure doors and windows, especially at the rear of the property.

Most thefts from homes are committed by 'opportunist thieves'. They will notice a window left open, a house that looks unoccupied or has little or no obvious security and where they think they won't be seen.

The following advice will help you deter a thief:

Fencing

Fencing can be your first line of defence when it comes to deterring a thief. It can offer a barrier which is either difficult to climb or helps define your property.

Please consider the following advice:-

• A low level fence and gate (approximately 1m high) at the front of your house defines your property but at the same time allows any potential thief to be seen by you and/or your neighbours.
• At the rear of your house a fence approximately 1.8m high with an open trellis provides good security and is difficult to climb.
• Strategic planting can also deter intruders. Consider planting Berberis, Blackthorn or Firethorn, or any other prickly bushes.
• Gates leading to the rear of the house should ideally be in line with the front of your house.

This increases the chances of you or your neighbours seeing someone trying to access them.

Lighting

A thief will do everything they can to avoid being seen. A home without lights on and surrounded by darkness indicates that, not only is the house empty, but neighbours are unlikely to see anyone approaching.

Consider the following lighting advice for your home:

• Lighting which activates when movement is detected can be very effective (sometimes known as passive infrared lighting). This illuminates the area of your home and sends out a clear message to the potential thief that the householder has put in place security measures.
• Ensure, when positioning these lights on your house, that the sensor cannot be tampered with. Lights of this nature are especially effective if there are other homes nearby from which a thief may be seen.
• Use timer switches to switch on internal lights automatically to make it look as if there is someone at home.

Doors and Windows

Secure 'fit for purpose' doors and windows can greatly enhance the security of a property. The strongest doors and windows can still be overcome if you do not ensure that they are locked whenever necessary.

A sound routine should be established to prevent a thief taking advantage of an open window or insecure door.

Before replacing locks, check the condition of the door or window. It may be better to invest in a good quality door or window instead.

If you need to replace a door, door frame or window, please check with the supplier that it complies with the British Standard PAS 24-1:1999 for security doors or British Standard 7950 for windows. Suppliers of these standards of doors and windows can be found at www.securedbydesign.com

All external doors should be fitted with a lock or locking mechanism which meets either British Standard 3621 or British Standard EN 1303 for cylinder locks.

Patio doors are potentially vulnerable. An anti lift device should be installed to prevent sliding patio doors from being lifted out of their tracks. These are available at DIY stores but a cheaper alternative may be a piece of wood secured along the full length of the floor track on the inside. Locks fitted to patio doors should also meet the standards highlighted in the previous paragraph.

Window locks are strongly recommended for ground floor windows and all other windows which are easily accessible from the ground.

If you don't have a window in the door or some other way of check who's calling, fit a door viewer.

Never hang a spare key inside the letterbox. This is an obvious place that a thief will check. Letterboxes should be at least 400mm (16 inches) from any locks. Consider fitting a letterbox cage or other restrictor, which prevents thieves from putting their hands through the letterbox and trying the latches from the inside.

Alarms

Installing an alarm can help protect your home but you should ensure that it best suits your needs.

Alarm systems can be split into two categories: audible only alarms and remote signalling alarms.

Audible only alarms, when activated, deter criminals from continuing any further and attract the attention of passers by and neighbours.

Remote signalling alarms will notify an activation to an alarm monitoring centre which, in turn, will notify the Police.

Consider the following advice prior to fitting an alarm system:

• Audible alarms rely to some extent on there being someone in the vicinity to hear them, so in remote areas these alarms become less effective
• The alarm box itself should be fixed to a prominent position on the outside of your home in order for it to act as a visual deterrent.
• The alarm should meet any conditions set by your insurer.

Both types of alarm need to be regularly maintained as false activations can become an annoyance for your neighbours and a waste of Police resources.

How to beat the bogus caller - keep them at bay

Your guard can often drop when you are within you home.

Bogus workmen and fraudulent sales people know this and can take advantage of your more relaxed state to either steal from your home or persuade you to hand over money for work which will either never be completed or be done to a very poor standard.

Remember the following advice when you have callers at your door so as to minimise the risk of this happening to you:

Check to see who is at your door before you open it. A door viewer (sometimes known as a spy hole) may make this easier.

If it is someone you do not know put the door chain on before you open it.

Ask for identification

Reputable callers will have no problem in providing you with their company identification card, which should also have a photograph of the caller on it.

They will also not mind if you close the door while you check the identification card.

Some public utilities (e.g. gas, water, electricity) operate a password system. Do bear in mind, though, that identification cards can be 'faked' and you should not rely on the card alone to satisfy you as to a person's authenticity.

If you choose to let someone into your home and then become uncomfortable, ask them to leave. If you feel under pressure, contact a neighbour or friend and ask them to assist you.

Responding to suspicious callers at your door can be difficult as you may feel embarrassed about refusing to let someone in. Please do not be and remember the Police advice regarding callers at your door.

If you are in any doubt, call the Police and they will assess the situation for you

Consumer Direct

Consumer Direct is a telephone and online advice service working in partnership with Trading Standards. They offer advice on all kinds of consumer issues – from problems with cars to doorstep traders. If a matter is deemed to be a serious issue, it will be referred directly to trading standards for further action.

Thurrock Trading Standards "joined" Consumer Direct in 2005 and has assisted hundreds of consumers in their efforts to resolve issues.

• Web: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
• Telephone: 08454 04 05 06

Digital television switchover

We are all aware that television reception will change shortly from analogue to digital. This change is being managed by Digital UK a non-profit making organisation and their web site is www.digitaluk.co.uk

The first digital switchover occurred in the Whitehaven and Copeland TV region in Cumbria on 17 October 2007.

With the digital switchover there is a potential for an increase in doorstep crime from either distraction burglary or rogue trading.

Digital UK have included in all their publicity the crime prevention message that no-one will call on a householder without an appointment. They have also included on their website information about avoiding and reporting scams. This information can be found on their website under the "help" tab then consumer advice - avoiding and reporting scams. A help scheme is available and approximately 7 millions households will be eligible. Information on eligibility can be found on the website under the "help scheme".

Help the Aged have also produced a downloadable information sheet. This is found on their home page - www.helptheaged.org.uk - under "advice and support - are you ready for digital switchover".

Shed Security

Ask yourself, what do I keep in my shed? How valuable is it? How would I feel if it was stolen, and most importantly, how do I protect it? Unfortunately thefts from sheds are very common. Many people store items such as mountain bikes, motorbikes, golf clubs, DIY power tools, lawn mowers and other garden equipment in their sheds. It is no wonder thieves are targeting them to get there hands on such valuable items.

The following are some tips on how to make your shed more secure to prevent a thief walking away with your belongings.

Access

• How easy can you access your rear garden.
• Protect the boundary and access of your garden.
• A hedge or fence at a height of 2 metres is a good barrier.
• Fit a strong, lockable, high gate across the passageway to stop a thief getting to the back of your home.
• Thieves don't like gravel, it's noisy to walk on.
• Don't make it easy for a thief by allowing them to walk into your garden unchallenged.

NOTE: Do not use barbed or razor wire or broken glass on the top of fences and walls. You could be held legally responsible for any injuries caused. There are safer alternatives.

Location

Locate your shed in your garden so you can clearly see the door and window of your shed while you are still within your home.

Locks

Use a good quality padlock/hasp or mortice lock on the door.

If using a hasp, ensure the screws are covered and cannot be accessed by a screw driver. Alternatively use non returnable security screws or coach bolts instead. A closed shackle padlock is less easy to access and cut with a bolt cutter. If fitting a mortice lock ensure the door panel and frame are strong enough to hold the fixtures.

Hinges

Having protected the locking side of the shed door ensure the hinges cannot be easily removed.

Use Non-returnable security screws or coach bolts.

Doors

Make sure the doors and panels of the shed are strong enough not to be kicked in or forced by bodily pressure.

Windows

Deter window shopping by placing a screen, net curtain or even a bin bag over the inside of the window. Fitting Perspex or laminated glass will offer good protection.

Lighting

Cover the shed with a PIR security light. Thieves do not like to be seen. A light suddenly coming on is a good deterrent and should scare them away!

Alarms

If you have a house alarm, consider extending it to cover your shed. You can also get single stand alone alarms specifically designed for sheds.

Ladders

Lock ladders inside your shed or garage to stop a thief using them to reach an upstairs window. Alternatively chain them to the fence or a down pipe.

Valuables

Use a ground or wall anchor to secure your bike or other valuables in the shed. Lock valuables together to prevent them being easily removed.

Visibly and permanently mark your property.It helps identify it as yours and is less desirable for a thief.

If you wish to discuss further the security of your shed or home then please contact the Crime Reduction Officer on 0300 333 4444.

Property Marking

There are various ways to mark your personal property to protect it against theft and help police to return it to you if it is stolen and recovered.

You can mark your property yourself, quickly and at very little cost by using the following techniques:

• Forensic marking.
• Ultra-violet marking.

Forensic marking

A colourless liquid solution can be applied to your valuable items, including jewellery, ornaments, electrical items and even vehicles. This is forensic marking.

The liquid solution gives your property a chemical "code", which is unique to your items. It cannot be seen by the naked eye and is incredibly difficult to remove. The solution glows under ultraviolet light, allowing the police to detect it.

Criminals are aware of forensic marking - they know that it can forensically link them to a crime, such as theft, robbery and burglary.

Forensic marking providers SelectaDNA , Smartwater and Red Web are all accredited by Secured by Design.

Secured by Design is the UK police flagship initiative supporting the principles of "designing out crime" by using effective crime prevention and security standards for a range of applications.

Thurrock Community Safety Partnership does not specifically endorse any of these products. In our view, they are all equally effective.

Ultra-Violet Marking

Ultra-violet marking permanent ultra-violet (UV) marker pens are available from most large stationers. The mark is invisible until it is viewed under a UV lamp.

UV marking is effective because the criminal cannot see the marking and will, therefore, not take steps to remove it. UV marking does not affect any resale value, so it is suitable for electrical goods and other items that you may wish to sell.

Mark antiques and valuable property with a permanent UV marker pen.

Mark on the most porous area where it is least likely to be handled and exposed to direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause UV marks to fade after about 18 months. Re-do the marking when the UV marks fade.

We recommend that you mark all of your valuable and personal items. Take a photograph of them too. We can then return the items to you if they are recovered after being stolen.

What details should I include in the marking?

• Public - The postcode of the premises where the property is located, and your name or part of your name.
• Students and schools – The initials of your university, or school for example – and your student number.
• Businesses should place small notices in their buildings which say that all of your property is marked.

Casual visitors may not notice these but a potential thief will.

Theft of Metal

Lead and copper are expensive commodities and their value has risen considerably in recent years. This is due to a world shortage following an increase in demand from China, India and Dubai. Stealing these metals has, therefore, become attractive and profitable to thieves.

The theft of lead from the roofs of houses, churches, commercial buildings and outbuildings has become much more commonplace than it used to be and lead and other metals stored in open yards are vulnerable.

The following advice can help to reduce this type of theft:

• Remove easy access onto building roofs, such as water butts, waste bins and tall trees located near to the building. Remember to get any necessary approval for tree cutting, e.g. from the local authority, before work starts.
• Store ladders in a secure place. This is particularly important when building works involving the use of scaffolding are taking place.
• Fully brief on-site security personnel to ensure that they perform regular physical checks of open storage yards. During checks it is recommended that high visibility items of clothing be worn as any offenders surveying the premises will readily observe personnel movement, thus increasing the overall deterrent factor.
• Encourage all company personnel, not only dedicated security staff, to report anything deemed to be suspicious on or in the general vicinity of the premises.
• Report any sightings of suspicious pedestrian and vehicular movements to the Police to allow appropriate action to be taken immediately.
• Ensure that installed CCTV systems are fully functional. Consideration should be given to confirming that CCTV systems operated by adjoining business premises are also functional as this may assist in capturing important evidence should a crime occur.
• Ensure that adequate external lighting sources are available at vulnerable areas of storage yards as this will deter criminals from seeking potential 'weak spots' to operate within. If required, consider utilising additional, temporary, flood lighting.
• External security fencing or barriers should be checked for potential 'weak spots'. It is not uncommon for offenders to render fencing insecure only to return at a later date to steal property.
• Consideration should be given to moving vulnerable metal products closer to buildings if this will improve the overall ability to monitor it.
• If possible, permanently mark materials in such a way that if they are stolen and later recovered, identification will be possible. Keep photographic records of particularly valuable or unusual items.
• Consider displaying appropriately worded security signage possibly indicating that metals are security marked.

Your determined efforts to protect your property from being stolen will prove to be a positive deterrent to both opportunist and career criminals.

Dark nights - lights on campaign

Homes left unoccupied during the darker evening of autumn and winter can become more vulnerable. However, there are precautions that you can take to make your home more secure.

Christmas

The Christmas and New Year holiday period can be a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate the season. Unfortunately opportunist thieves also operate at this time of year.

Crime levels in Thurrock are low and there is no need to be duly worried about being a victim of a crime. However, there are a few simple measures that can deter and prevent crime and help you keep the season jolly.

When shopping

• When shopping for Christmas presents remember to keep them locked away in the boot of your car - if they can be seen, they could be stolen.
• Always close car windows, engage steering locks and close all doors.
• Park in a well-lit area or in an attended car park.
• Make sure your purse is secure. Never keep your chequebook and card together and keep your pin number confidential.

At home

Don't leave presents under the Christmas tree in view of the window. Hide them somewhere safe until you need them (which makes it more of a surprise too!)

• Mark expensive presents, such as electronic equipment with your postcode by engraving or using a UV pen.
• Dispose of packing carefully as empty boxes left outside can advertise that you have new goods inside.

If you are away

• If you are going away over the festive period remember to tell your neighbours that you will be away and ask them to keep an eye on the house.Cancel milk and papers.
• Buy some timers for your lights, radio and TV so it looks as if you are at home. These can be picked up cheaply from any DIY store.
• Remember to securely lock all doors and windows.

If you are out on the town:

• Don't leave bags over the back of your chair and keep wallets and purses close to your body.
• Make prior arrangements as to how you will get home.
• Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be back.
• Don't get into an unlicensed taxi
• Don't drink too much - you could become a target for thieves

Thurrock Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) - Home Safety Checks

Help us lock away burglaries

Keep the burglars out of your car

Most car crime can be prevented, don't give opportunists a chance

1. Never leave your car unattended with keys in the ignition.
2. Always lock your car at when filing up with petrol
3. Don't leave your car windows open - unless your dog is guarding the car
4. Park in well lit areas - if you have a garage, use it
5. Fit alarms, immobilisers or locking systems. If you have a Ford P reg or older apply to the Community Safety Partnership for a FREE crook lock!
6. Never leave anything on show. Remove everything from your car, thieves 'smash and grab' then think of the value. Always remove property from your car, especially satellite navigation systems, stereos & mobile phones
7. Shopping? If you drop your parcels off in the car, always change spaces

For further information on crime prevention visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Contact Vehicle security national helpline on 0870 550 2006

Need crime prevention advice? Contact your local community liaison officer or the Police Community Safety Manager on 0300 333 4444

Contact Number for the Community Safety Partnership - 01375 652301

E-mail Safer.Thurrock@thurrock.gov.uk