Entries on social networking sites - Can burglars see your information this Christmas?
Warwickshire Police would like to remind those using social networking sites not to post too much information about their movements and whereabouts this Christmas.
George Stepney, Crime Prevention Manager at Warwickshire Police said: “Whilst we understand the popularity of social networking, posting when you’ll be away over the festive season or days when your property will be empty could be all the information an opportunist thief needs to burgle your home. Often the comments are innocent, made purely because people want to share what they are doing over Christmas and New Year with people they know."
To help protect yourself and your property from this harm, please follow the below advice:
- Check your privacy settings on social networking sites. Make sure the information you are posting can only be seen by friends and family, not strangers.
- Think - Are the people who have access to this information people you really know and trust? If not, remove their access.
- Remind children and young people in your household of the importance of the aforementioned points. How well do they know the people they have allowed access to their information? Have they met them before?
- Before you post an update think, does this information need to be seen by everyone who has access to your area? If not, consider a one to one form of communication.
Exciting packages full of the latest gadgets, sparkly trinkets, favourite CDs, tasty treats, a bottle of good cheer - all things we would love to give and receive for Christmas.
But car thieves don’t bother to join the hustle and bustle of everyone else, shopping for their Christmas goodies. They do their own window shopping looking into parked cars, to see what has been left on display inside - and what they can steal. So as the Christmas shopping spree gears up Warwickshire Police is reminding people not to leave their Christmas shopping in their cars unattended.
George Stepney, Community Protection Manager with Warwickshire Police said, “It can be difficult walking round with lots of packages, but don’t be tempted to take them back to the car and leave them unattended. If you have large packages you could ask the store where you have bought them if you can collect them when you have finished your other shopping. If Christmas presents are stolen, in addition to being an upsetting and costly experience, you may find it difficult to replace them in time for Christmas. Thieves will steal anything from your car and while it only takes a matter of seconds for them to break in, for the motorist it takes time to get the vehicle repaired, deal with the insurance and cope with the disappointment of losing your property.”
Other advice to reduce the chances of your car being broken into include:
- Always park you car in a well lit, well used street, or a public car park which has CCTV coverage.
- Always make sure it is locked - check the automatic locking system has operated properly.
- Use additional in car security, such as a steering wheel lock.
- Remove your Sat Nav, and the front cover from your music system. Don’t hide them elsewhere in the car - thieves know where to look.
- Don’t leave other items, such as coats, bags, briefcases or mobile phones in your car.
- Review how many CDs you need with you in the car, and write your name on them. They will be less easy to sell if they are stolen.
- When travelling in your car lock all the doors to prevent uninvited people getting into your vehicle at the start of your journey, or if you are stopped at traffic lights.
- Unload your shopping from the car as soon as you get home.
- Always take your car keys out of the ignition whenever you get out of the car, even if it is only for a couple of seconds, and even if you are parked on your driveway.
Warwickshire Police would like to remind the public to secure their vehicles and belongings whilst enjoying their work’s Christmas party.
George Stepney, Crime Prevention Manager at Warwickshire Police said: "We know there are teams of car thieves who visit hotel and public house car parks where they know there will be company drinks or parties taking place after work. Some look for cars arriving just after work and check to see if there are a series of vehicles of the same make, with similar registration numbers or company parking badges in their windscreen, indicating that they are being driven by people from the same organisation. Other thieves will simply sit and watch people arriving at a restaurant, pub or hotel to see if they transfer anything to the boot before they go inside. Car thieves know that once the driver is inside they have a certain amount of time to break into their car and steal any items of value. Thieves tend to target company cars because the likelihood of finding a lap top computer or other high value equipment inside is higher, but all cars are potential targets.”
Those attending work social functions can help to protect their car by:
- Removing everything of value from their vehicle before leaving the office for a night out.
- Leaving the lap top at work or at home
- Asking yourself if you really need to take your briefcase with you in the car when you are going to attend a social gathering.
- Leaving the glove compartment open and removing or opening the rear parcel shelf to show there is nothing in the boot.
- Removing anything from the car that you don’t need.
- Keeping the number of CDs in you car to a minimum.
- Not hiding items in the glove compartment - it's the first place a thief will look.
- Using a visible anti theft device such as a steering wheel lock, even if your vehicle is fitted with an immobiliser.
Party venues can take the following steps to improve security:
- Install CCTV surveillance equipment in car parks,
- Employ security officers to patrol car parks,
- Wherever possible have gated exits,
- Have clear crime prevention signs visible reminding motorists to remove their property from their car,
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As well as these messages being sent out, the team here at Southam also rely on the vigilant members of our community to keep us informed of any information that is not reported to the Police.
We encourage all members of our Community to report incidents no matter how big or little they are.
This message if possible needs to be past onto all co-coordinators for your areas. I really appreciate your help, your continued support and look forward to working with you all.
Please report all crimes and/or incidents on the new non-emergency reporting number 101.
All emergencies on 999
Kind Regards,
Claire Murray
on behalf of . . .
SOUTHAM / WELLESBOURNE FARM WATCH & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Southam Police Station
High Street
Southam
Tel : 01926 684984
Email : southamfarmwatch@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk / southam.snt@warwickshire.police.uk
Please do not report crime directly to the team, the correct number for reporting is 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency).
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Please visit http://www.warwickshire.police.uk/ for force news and information.
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