Don’t let the burglars strike when the clocks go back

The Royal Borough’s community safety team has once again joined forces with Thames Valley Police to issue a warning to residents about opportunist burglars taking advantage of the nights getting darker earlier when the clocks going back at the end of October.

Working in partnership to support Operation Lioness, community wardens and police community support officers (PCSOs) will be running burglary prevention roadshows throughout the Royal Borough – these have taken place since the summer but the emphasis for the latest roadshows is on nights getting darker earlier. The events are designed to complement Thames Valley Police’s winter burglary campaign.

To reinforce the message – a series of leaflets have been produced and these will be distributed by community wardens and PCSOS from Monday 15 October to a range of venues and organizations including doctors’ surgeries, community centres and schools.

Hints and tips to keep the burglars at bay include:

  • Lock all doors and windows securely before you go out or to bed. If you have a UPVC door make sure you double lock it.
  • Prevent access to the rear of your property by locking your side gates. Rear fencing should be high (1.8m) and consider planting prickly plants to deter intruders
  • Light the perimeter of your home. Consider installing dusk to dawn lighting, illuminating front doors and driveways. It’s a cost effective way to protect your home and can ensure that unwanted visitors can be seen
  • Lock garages, sheds and garden tools and consider buying and fitting a PIR shed alarm. A loud siren is activated if the shed is targeted.
  • Is there anyone at home? Use lighting timers and socket-based timers which can be used with a lamp, radio or TV to give the impression that someone is at home.
  • Alarm: If you have a burglary alarm please use it and if not, consider installing one.

The roadshows will be at a variety of locations including High Street Maidenhead, Waitrose, Windsor, the Sikh Temple in Maidenhead, Tesco, Datchet and the Mosque in Maidenhead.

Details of all the roadshows are available on the community safety website

Cllr Phill Bicknell, cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, said: “The clocks going back at the end of October can present would-be thieves with greater opportunities. Simple measures such as outside lighting and timers on lamps or radios can make the difference and make your house appear occupied – which is often the deterrent needed.

“We have been running the roadshows since the summer and they have been well attended and I would urge residents to come along to one in their area.”

Lee Townsend, the Deputy Police Commander for Windsor & Maidenhead said, “Whilst we have significantly reduced the number of burglaries in recent years, inevitably we have found that opportunistic criminals use the earlier cloak of darkness to commit crimes against property that appears unoccupied and insecure. We are working in partnership with the RBWM Community Safety Team and other agencies to provide information to our communities that can help people take measures that reduce the risk of being a victim of crime. We will also be deploying staff on the streets at key times to provide reassurance and to identify those who maybe committing these crimes. We would urge anyone to report suspicious activity to Thames Valley Police at the time – thank you your support and help.”