With the clocks due to go back an hour on Sunday 29 October, GMP Neighbourhood Alert have issued their annual reminder to residents to stop burglars using the shield of darkness and targeting their homes.
There is an increased threat of burglary during the winter months, often due to homes that are left in darkness signalling to burglars that no one is home, but GMP highlighted that there are precautions homeowners can take to deter criminals - such as using light timers, leaving lights on and even leaving the television on.
Figures show that one in three burglaries occur as a result of homes being unsecure, so they also said they recommend:
- Always locking doors, even when inside your home
- If you have one, set your burglar alarm when leaving the house
- Keeping bins away from windows when they’re not being used as they can be used as a climbing aid for burglars
- Registering your valuables on immobilise.com so property can be returned to its rightful owner if stolen
During these darker nights, neighbourhood officers will be stepping up patrols in hotspot areas and knocking on the doors of homes that appear to have been left unsecure.
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