Gosport is seeing an increase in acquisitive crime. Police are asking the community to play their part. By taking proactive steps local residents can avoid being a victim of crime.
Dwelling Burglaries
Alverstoke/Anglesey is currently been targeted. Empty properties are being entered(by force) and property stolen. It is suspected the homes have been scoped out prior to the burglary taking place. If a burglar is confident the home is empty they will return later. Please keep an eye on empty properties in your area. If you are going away & have a neighbour you can trust to visit your property & make it appear occupied then all the better. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
Dwelling burglary advice:
· Check your insurance documents for any specific security requirements or upgrades.
· Ensure side gates are locked to prevent access to the rear of the property.
· Ensure rear fencing is in good repair.
· Lock all windows and doors, remembering to double lock UPVC doors (lift handle and turn key)
· Keep all keys out of reach and sight from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through letterbox).
· Do not leave ladders and garden tools in your garden; lock them away in your shed.
· Improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges.
· Consider fitting security lighting and a burglar alarm.
· Mark your property with postcode and house number.
· Make use of timer switches to make the property appear occupied.
· Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
· Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
· Remove valuables from view of ground floor windows.
· Store any high value items (i.e. jewellery, passports) in a properly secured safe or bank vault.
· Consider fitting a video doorbell. Linked to your smartphone. This technology is fitted with night vision. Providing clear view day and night. Motion activated sensors will send you an alert to notify you of visitors to your home.
Report any suspicious activity immediately
Vehicle Crime
· Most offences of theft from vehicle are opportunist. If valuable possessions (e.g. handbags, laptops, sat navs, iPods, mobile phones, cameras) are left on show inside a vehicle, it is much more likely to be targeted by thieves.
· Even items of little value, such as shopping bags and clothing, may tempt a potential thief to enter a vehicle to see whether they contain anything worth stealing.
· Offences can take place during the day or night, whether a vehicle is parked in a driveway, on the street or in a public car park.
Vehicle crime advice:
· When leaving your car, close all windows and lock your car.
· Upon locking your vehicle try your car door to ensure it is actually locked. Unlocked vehicles are the target of choice for local criminals.
· Park your car in an attended car park.
· Look for public car parks approved by the Park Mark scheme.
· When parking at home, use your garage. If you don’t have a garage, park in a well-lit area.
· Don’t leave anything on display in your vehicle.
· Take all your personal possessions with you.
· Remove sat nav holders and visible sat nav ring marks from windscreens.
· Leave the glove box open to show there’s nothing inside.
· Fit an alarm or immobiliser to your car.
· Record the details of your property.
· Do not store your car’s documents in the car.
· Secure your wheels using locking wheel nuts.
Report any suspicious activity immediately
Theft of pedal cycles
People are being encouraged to take up cycling, both to improve their health and as an alternative form of transport to reduce congestion and emissions. With increasing numbers of people owning bicycles, it’s important to know how to keep them safe.
Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of bikes are stolen each year. This toolkit will provide some simple tips to help keep your bicycles secure while at home and out and about.
Theft of pedal cycles advice:
· Get an approved bike lock. Look for the Sold Secure logo on approved locks.
· Always lock your bike at home, even when it is in your garage.
· When out and about, lock your bike up in a secure location at a bike rack or lamp post
· Always lock your bike even if you’re only leaving it for a couple of minutes.
· Make the locked bike difficult to manoeuvre. Keep any gaps between the lock and bike frame small.
· If you have quick release wheels, lock them up too or take them with you.
· Remove lights from the bike and take them with you.
· Identify and record your bike details. Take photographs & note any unique identifying features.
· Consider etching your postcode on to your bike frame.
· It is thought that thieves actively use ride recording Apps (such as Strava, Endomondo, “Map my ride”) to identify where high value bikes may be kept. This primarily occurs when individuals post their recorded rides to the public domain. It is believed they head over to the ride start/finish and possibly target likely garages/sheds/etc in the vicinity until they find what they want. The general advice is to start recording a short way from home, and stop the recording a short way before you arrive at your door.
However, with Strava privacy zones for home, work or wherever using a post code can be set up. To enable this, access "settings" on the account and go to "privacy". This option causes Strava to blank out the first 1/2 mile or so of the ride.
· If you have bike racks on your vehicle, remove them as this might be an indicator to thieves that a good quality bike is located at the property. If it is not practical to remove the racks, then ensure that your bicycle is securely locked and stored away.
Report any suspicious activity immediately
Do you have any information that can help the police with their enquiries?
You can report any information anonymously via Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 or by using Crime stoppers Anonymous Online Form.