Preventing Christmas Home Burglaries

This is the season for a higher incidence of home burglary.

In this article (link posted here) facts and help is available to prevent a trajedy

[link to www.leics.police.uk]

Christmas burglary reduction campaign launched

‘Don’t rip you Christmas apart’ – that is the message Leicestershire Constabulary is issuing to people this festive season.

Leicestershire Constabulary has launched its Christmas burglary reduction campaign today (Wednesday December 14).

Being a victim of burglary is never pleasant but at Christmas-time it can be felt two-fold, especially if gifts are stolen.

However, there are simple measures householders can take to help reduce the chance of their house being burgled this festive season.

Supt Rob Nixon at Leicestershire Constabulary said: “We want to ensure that people don’t make Christmas shopping easy for thieves this year. Without realising it, householders are advertising all the new things they have in their homes by displaying wrapped gifts under the tree and packaging from new items at the side of their houses or out the front with their dustbins.

“Last year 470 homes were burgled over the Christmas period. We can reduce this if we work together to stop burglars so I appeal to homeowners to take all possible steps to secure their home and keep valuables out of sight.”

Various initiatives are being run across the Force area to communicate the crime prevention advice. In the West area fluffy mini Santa pom-poms carrying a Christmas crime prevention message have been distributed to parents and school children while officers in the North are attending community events to talk to local people about steps they can take to protect their homes.

The following top tips are being issued by the Force:

Most burglars get into homes through open or unlocked window or doors. Always make sure these are securely shut or locked.


Avoid leaving gifts and valuables on display.


Visible burglar alarms, exterior security lighting and timer lighting switches deter thieves and give the impression that somebody is at home.


Mark or etch your postcode onto the gifts you receive for Christmas. This makes it harder for burglars to sell the items and allow the Police to return them to you.


Never hide spare keys to your home outside your property, for example, under a plant pot or under a door mat. This is an open invitation for potential burglars.
If you have any information about house burglaries, please contact Leicestershire Constabulary on Leicester (0116) 222 2222 or alternatively telephone Crimestoppers which is free* and anonymous on 0800 555 111.

* Some mobile phone networks may charge for this call.

‘Don’t rip your Christmas apart’ is Leicestershire Constabulary’s Christmas crime prevention campaign. The campaign has three strands: burglary, car crime and alcohol misuse. Posters, leaflets and beer mats have been distributed across the Force area to promote the campaigns key messages to members of the public.

Issued on 14/12/05 at 14:40