Police urge football fans to lock up on way to Wembley

Barrow police are encouraging Barrow football supporters to secure their homes and property before they travel to Wembley this weekend.

As around 8,000 fans make their way to Wembley to support Barrow AFC in a FA Trophy final against Stevenage on Saturday 8 May 2010, Barrow police will be deploying additional patrols around the town as part of Cumbria Constabulary’s ongoing burglary campaign to ensure that fans’ homes and vehicles are watched over while they are away.

However, officers emphasise that local residents have a very important role to play in keeping their homes and property secure by following basic crime prevention advice.

Barrow Inspector Dave Bosson said: “We want BarrowAFCsupporters to really enjoy their weekend - don’t run the risk of spoiling it by leaving homes insecure or valuables on display in vehicles.

“We want local residents to be confident that we are doing all we can to deter criminals and protect their property. We will be putting extra officers on patrols throughout the weekend while fans are away but around 50 per cent of burglaries that occur in Barrow happen in homes that are insecure – so residents have their own role to play.

“Basic security measures can prevent an opportunist thief so I’d urge anyone who is going away for the weekend to take a moment to check your home security. Remember to lock doors and windows, secure sheds and garages and remove valuables from your vehicles.

“Burglary is a crime that we can only tackle as a community so I’d also encourage neighbours to look out for one another and report any suspicious activity in their areas immediately. We would rather be called to a false alarm than miss an opportunity to prevent a crime or catch an offender.”

To report suspicious activity in your neighbourhood or for more information on home security please contact a member of your local policing team on 0845 33 00 247.

The following advice can help you to make sure your property is secure:

Top Tips to keep your house safe
 

• Fit burglar alarms & good outside security lighting, check regularly to ensure they work
• Lock doors & windows before you go out
• Remove keys from locks & keep out of reach of windows & doors
• Ensure your house is secure, preventing someone entering when you are busy elsewhere in the house or garden
• Ensure side gates & sheds are locked
• Keep gifts, cash & valuables safe & well hidden, so they can’t be seen or reached by thieves
• Postcode your valuables with a UV pen
• Leave a light on in a room & draw curtains when you go out at night
• Look out for your neighbour’s property
• Consider joining a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
• Cancel newspapers, milk etc when you go on holiday
• Make sure callers to your home are genuine, always ask for ID

Top Tips to keep your car safe

• Never leave keys in the ignition or in your car, even for a short time
• Park with care, if possible in a busy, well lit area
• If you have a garage, use it. If you park on a driveway, close & lock any gates
• Close windows, sunroof, lock doors & activate security alarms when leaving your car
• Take valuables with you when you leave your car, e.g. cash, credit cards, mobile phones, satellite navigation systems etc.
• If you have no choice make sure valuables are locked in the boot, taking care no-one is watching you
• Keep your driving and vehicle documents safe & not in your car
• Postcode your valuables with a UV pen
• Make sure your keys are secure at home & work
• On cold mornings, don’t leave your car unattended with the engine running while it warms up

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