Aladdin's cave for burglary victims

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Saturday, September 20 Wandsworth Town Hall - 10am and 4pm.

An Aladdin's cave of stolen goods is to be put on display at the town hall next week in a bid to reunite the borough's burglary victims with items they have lost.  The goods, which include a range of electrical goods, bikes, jewellery and other stolen loot.

The items have all been recovered from suspected burglars having been unearthed by the police during the course of their inquiries. Now the police and council have teamed up to try and return these items to their rightful owners. Some form of proof of ownership will be required before the items are handed over.

The loot will be on display in the main town hall in Wandsworth High Street in rooms 122 and 123. All recent victims of burglary in the borough have received a written invite to the event.

Officers from the council’s community safety division will be on hand to offer a range of crime prevention advice and will be focusing on promoting the use of shredders to combat identity theft. They will also be able to provide information about joining or setting up a neighbourhood watch group, which can be a good deterrent against burglars.

Councillor James Cousins, executive member for regeneration and community safety said:

"There are lots of simple measures that households can take which will help them beat the burglars. Most burglars are complete opportunists so sensible steps like shutting doors and windows and leaving some lights on when you go out at night will deter most of them.

"Another important tip is to make sure that all your valuables are marked. This is normally done with invisible ink that shows up under ultra-violet light and ensures that the police can trace the owners if the goods are recovered.

"This is especially important for undistinctive items like Ipods, music systems and DVD players. It is always a good idea to keep a note of serial numbers too as a good back-up. More distinctive items like jewellery or pieces of art should be photographed so that the police know who they belong to if they find them.  Hopefully this initiative will help reunite lots of people will their lost valuables."

Inspector Diane Northway of Wandsworth police said:

"The majority of the goods on display have been recovered from our anti-burglary operations across the borough. The property is believed to be stolen and this is a good chance for the rightful owners to reclaim it."

Burglary victims often wonder why their house has been chosen. A building that presents itself as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured. Any of the following factors can increase the risk of a break-in:  

• side gates open
• accessible windows open
• ladders left out, allowing access to otherwise inaccessible windows
• garden tools available to force entry
• untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance

 

Other factors which may increase the likelihood of a break-in include:

• milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep
• newspapers and mail in the letter box
• unlit houses after dark
• all windows shut in very hot weather

 

Simple steps which can reduce the chances of being burgled are:

• Prevent letterbox burglaries by storing keys away from the front door
• Do not label your house keys in case you lose them and they fall into the wrong hands.
• Where possible, try to keep valuables out of sight from windows.
• Install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically.
• If you're away have a neighbour or friend pop round to clear your letterbox or doorstep.
• Encourage a neighbour to park on your drive.
• If going out after dark, draw the curtains, leave some lights on and a radio playing.

 

If you are away for extended periods:

• Cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers
• Disconnect the telephone answering machine, or re-word your greeting message to give the impression that you are only temporarily unable to answer.
• Enlist the help of a neighbour, friend or relative to keep a regular eye on your property and keep the front door clear of deliveries.
• If you are prepared to leave a key with a willing neighbour/relative, ask for curtains to be drawn and lights to be put on at night. If snow is on the ground a few footprints will make the house appear inhabited.
• Check your insurance policy. Some insurance policies for contents don't cover you if you are away for more than 30 days.
• Set your burglar alarm.
• If you do not have an alarm, consider investing a few pounds in a dummy alarm box. It may well deter the opportunist thief.

 

September 12, 2008