Police in Scunthorpe offer advice on beating burglars

Scunthorpe police today issued important advice to the public across North Lincolnshire on how to beat burglars who may target their homes now the nights are drawing in.

Recent burglaries in the Scunthorpe area include:

October 3 to 4, Frodingham Road: Cash was stolen after the thief entered the property through insecure window.

October 8, Priory Crescent: A wooden box containing medication was stolen with entry gained through an insecure window.

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October 8, Barnstaple Road: Cash was stolen, entry being through an insecure door.

October 9, Tee Lane, Burton-upon-Stather: The homeowner was working in the garden when someone entered the house through an insecure door and stole an iPhone.

October 10, Vicarage Gardens, Scunthorpe: A Thinkpad, Acer laptop, jewellery, Nintendo Wii, Chanel Handbag, a DKNY watch and a silver Vauxhall Corsa were all stolen.

October 10: Beechway: Two Blackberry mobile phones and a 22-in television were stolen after entry was gained through an insecure door.

October 14 to 15 October, Smithfield Road: A television and jewellery were stolen after entry was gained through an insecure window.

October to 23, Hilltop Avenue: A phone, wallet and number of other items were stolen along with a blue Ford Focus.

THIS IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE POLICE

Would YOU let a stranger enter your home, have a look at all of your valuables and take what they wanted before leaving, even if it meant giving them your car keys and taking your car?

The answer is going to be NO, but that is what, in effect, people across North Lincolnshire are doing by leaving their doors and windows open.

Day after day, calls are made to North Lincolnshire police reporting that homes and garages have been broken into and, in some cases, cars stolen. Valuables, some of sentimental value, mobile phones, televisions and handbags, wallets and cash are often stolen by an opportunist thief who will stop at nothing to take what they think might make them some money.

The stranger(s) who enter your home often don't care if you are in bed, sat in the living room watching television or eating your dinner. They have one very simple objective and this is to get their hands on whatever they can to sell on and make money, which can often used to buy drugs and alcohol.

So, if you are not so keen on the idea of letting somebody have free rein of your home and for them to take whatever they want, just what can you do about it?

The answer is simple, it won't even take a lot of your time... keep your home and out buildings secure.

We all know that the time of year is changing and by tea-time the daylight hours disappear and we are almost in complete darkness.  Anyone who may be eyeing up your house can be well hidden in the hours of darkness.

They can make a quick entry into your house and run away before you have even had chance to notice.

Make your home as burglar proof as you can.

There is no magic plan or difficult challenge that has to be put in place to stop that stranger making your house its number one target.

It really is as simple as locking your doors and keeping your windows closed. Lock your door as soon as you enter your house, keep your garage locked at all times and don't leave a window open, unless required, when you are not in the same room. Thieves will even try to get in through tiny bathroom windows, so bear that in mind.

The Humberside Police website offers crime prevention advice to those people who want to start making their home and garages safe and secure.

It offers tips such as making sure you have an outside security light, not putting spare keys where people can find them and keeping garden hedges short.

For help and advice visit www.humberside.police.uk/staying-safe-at-home/crime-reduction/dwelling-burglary