Working in partnership to reduce crime

The fact that crime in Northern Ireland is falling and that it has always been a relatively low crime area is good news – but little consolation to anyone affected by crime such as burglary.

According to Inspector David Connery, Senior Crime Prevention Officer with the PSNI, there are a lot of simple - but effective – actions members of the public can take to greatly reduce the threat of becoming a burglary statistic.

And each police area has dedicated a crime prevention officers who can visit households and offer advice on all aspects of home security. This service is FREE to all members of the public.

In the Home:

Lock doors and windows when going out; Keep valuables out of sight, ideally security mark items or take photographs of the likes of televisions, and take note of their serial numbers; If a property has an alarm fitted – use it.

Vehicles:

Car theft is falling due to new technology, but theft of mobile phones or sat nav systems is still a problem.

Keep cars locked;

Remove valuables from sight – remember when putting a phone or sat nav in the glove pocked – is the clip that attaches it to the dashboard still visible?

A thief can enter a car in seconds.

Seasonal Crime:

Lock sheds and garages all year round, but they are particularly vulnerable in the Summer. Garden furniture, tools, electrical equipment can all be stolen.

If a shed is locked a thief will probably go elsewhere.

Unexpected Callers:

Inspector Connery said people should not feel bad about challenging a visitor to a house about identity. Ask for photographic identification, ask for a telephone number to confirm a genuine caller, he stressed. The PSNI, he said, also welcomed reports of unusual activity in an area. “Police will, when possible, look into it. Local people know just what is not right in their own local area,” he said.

Crime Prevention Officers can be contacted via the PSNI main switchboard on 028 9065 0222 or you can get information on website www.psni.police.uk