Local News
Dark Nights Could Mean Increased Risk Of Burglary
With the dark nights starting to draw in, Detectives are reminding people to turn their home bright at night to deter burglars.
Members of the public across Cleveland are urged to use timer switches or to leave a light on when a property is empty, which could keep them one step ahead of the burglars and prevent them from becoming a victim of crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Downes from Cleveland Police said: “A property left empty or in darkness is an attractive prospect for a criminal. It’s really important to use lights when a house is going to be unattended, even if it means using a timer switch just so that the lights are on when someone gets home. Simply leaving on a lamp or a light can be enough to prevent your home from being targeted by a criminal."
He added: "It is also important to keep doors and windows locked, whether at home or not, as insecure burglaries account for almost half of overall burglaries across Cleveland.”
Figures show that during October 2014 to March 2015, when the darker nights were set in, there were 1346 burglaries across the force area and Cleveland Police’s ongoing campaign aims to prevent burglaries and target those criminals that commit them.
Further crime prevention advice is available on the Cleveland Police website www.cleveland.police.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
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