Love it Lock it to stop the burglars
Burglary went down by five per cent in Kensington and Chelsea last year and
the latest figures for 2005 indicate, as with most areas of crime, the downward
trend in burglary is continuing. However, many burglaries could be prevented
through improved home security measures. In this issue of RBKC Direct we explain
how the Council is teaming up with the police for a new burglary prevention
campaign, urging residents to Love it Lock it.
In the spotlight
Burglary is not a massive problem in Kensington and Chelsea, particularly
compared with other areas of London. Unfortunately, the fear of burglary amongst
some residents is disproportionately high, which could be partly due to a few
high-profile burglaries in the Chelsea area recently.
Love thy neighbour
The Council has already put measures in place to help make the community
safer. More and more Police Community Support Officers are being deployed onto
our streets. Neighbourhood Watch schemes are operating in more than 150 streets
across the borough and members are doing their bit to keep an eye on their homes
and each other to help keep burglars away. Additional measures to tackle
burglars, including Antisocial Behaviour Orders, are being tested as a
postscript to prison to keep persistent burglars out of the borough.
Although the number of burglaries fell last year, police warn that any
further reductions can only be achieved through crime prevention. And the
Council has jumped to the task, teaming up with the police for a major awareness
raising burglary prevention campaign.
Love it Lock it
Analysis of police statistics show that after break-ins using force, the most
common method of entry for a burglar is climbing or walking through an open,
unlocked or poorly locked window or door.
Let's be honest, have you ever popped out to the shop for ten minutes
thinking it will be okay to leave a window open, or gone off to work forgetting
to double-lock the front door? These small mistakes could make the difference
between becoming a victim of burglary or not and the Love it Lock it campaign
aims to highlight this simple fact. It focuses on the emotional impact of
burglary, emphasising that beloved possessions cannot be replaced by insurance.
The warm weather makes the summer a prime time for leaving property open to
offer for burglars. Not only are windows more likely to be left open but also
many residents will leave their properties vacant as they enjoy extended summer
holidays. That's why the Love it Lock it campaign is taking place right now.
Targeting "red streets"
Alongside the borough-wide campaign, which will be appearing in underground
stations, bus shelters, Council offices and other sites across Kensington and
Chelsea, the striking Love it Lock it imagery will also be used to target a
specific area of Chelsea. This pilot scheme will focus predominately on the
streets in this area which suffered the highest number of burglaries last year,
warning residents of the dangers of leaving their home open to burglars.
Residents in flats that are part of converted mansion blocks can be
particularly vulnerable to burglary if the communal front door is left unlocked
or open. This gives burglars easier access to the block to kick in interior
doors, which are often not as strong or not fitted with secure locks, and help
themselves to valuables from several flats at once. Love it Lock it aims to
get the message across to close and lock communal front doors at all times to
avoid letting burglars in.
Survey your home
Residents living in the pilot area will be invited, by postcard, letter or
personal visit, to contact the Love it Lock it hotline to book an appointment
for a free home security survey. A Police Community Support Officer will visit
the property and submit a report offering recommendations on home security
improvements. If further specialist guidance is needed, a Crime Prevention
Officer can offer expert advice. A follow-up will check to see if residents have
implemented the security advice. If the surveys prove successful, it is hoped in
future that the scheme will be rolled out to other streets in the borough.
Security Checklist
- Lock all windows and doors, even if leaving your home for just a few minutes
- Keep valuables out of sight
- Mark your property
- Don't let strangers into your building if you live in a communal block
- Fit mortice locks to all front and back doors, and good locks to all downstairs windows and use them
- Keep your house and car keys safe and away from doors and windows
- Fit a letterbox cage to the back of your front door
- Make sure you have up-to-date contents insurance
For more information go to www.rbkc.gov.uk/communitysafety or
www.met.police.uk or email
commsafe@rbkc.gov.uk.
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