Turn your lights on to turn burglars off

Hampshire Constabulary is launching a new campaign to encourage homeowners and residents in the Central Hampshire area to make their home less attractive to the opportunist burglar by ensuring the lights come on as the sun goes down.

Police are hoping that residents will take extra steps to make their homes look lived in as the nights draw in earlier when British Summer Times ends.

"What we need residents to do is install timer switches which can be easily programmed to automatically turn on plug in lamps or radios and televisions to give your home the lived in look during the hours of darkness."

"It is very simple to do and can turn a burglar off your property by making it look like someone is home."

Community Beat Officers will also be helping to identify vulnerable properties as they patrol their beat areas. Officers will be on the look out for insecure properties or houses that look in complete darkness and will ensure that a leaflet is sent to these homes offering crime reduction advice.

"We don't wish to scare people or make them think that they are definitely going to be the victim of a burglary. In fact, the burglary rate has halved over the last ten years and we're now solving a greater proportion of break-ins than ever before."

"But there's no room for complacency. What we want to do is to help people to help prevent themselves from becoming a victim of crime by following a few simple steps. If you have a light on when it gets dark that tells a burglar there is someone home - make your home even safer and don't give burglars a hint. By doing this residents will be helping us to reduce crime and warn burglars away from Central Hampshire."

Timer switches and other home security devices can be bought from hardware or DIY or shops.

Some Facts about Burglary

Two out of every ten burglaries are committed as a result of doors and windows being left unlocked. Lock up or look out - don't give burglars an open invitation.

If in doubt, keep them out. Don't let people you do not know into your home until you have first checked that they are who they claim to be. Genuine callers won't mind waiting until you check out their credentials. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Almost half of all burglaries happen when a flat or house is empty. Make sure your holiday doesn't provide a break for a burglar - cancel all deliveries, hide valuables away out of sight and get a neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you're gone.

The following crime prevention advice is offered by Central Hampshire police:

• Keep valuables out of view - If you have electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds, don't keep it by the window where passers by can see it.
• Never leave a key under a door mat or on a string through the letter box - it' s the first place a burglar will look.
• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place - burglars will happily use your own garden equipment to break into your home.
• If you have taken extra security precautions let them know - if you have an alarm, made sure the box can be clearly seen, if you take part in neighbourhood watch, display a sticker in your window, and if you have a dog, put up a warning sign.

• Make sure you secure all doors and windows every time you leave the house, even if you're just 'popping out'
• If you are in the garden or upstairs make sure the downstairs doors are locked.

• Use time switches - available from most DIY stores - to switch on lights, radios and other appliances when you're away.
• Hide financial documents and keys - if someone does break in you don't want them to also steal from your bank or car.
• Get a friend to collect your post, draw curtains, park on your drive and make your home look lived in.
• Cancel milk and papers