Residents in Surrey Heath are being advised to ensure security measures are in place following a number of offences in which outbuildings have been targeted this week.
Offenders forced open a lock to gain entry into a summer house in Camberley during the early hours yesterday (Thursday, 23 February) and made off with a digital camera and computer equipment. The incident happened sometime between 00.30am and 7am and items worth more than £1300 were stolen and £150 worth of damage caused to the unit which is used as an office.
A store room at a property in Lightwater was forced open and numerous electrical items worth more than £2,000 were stolen. Thieves stole the power tools, including drills and saws, sometime between 9pm on Wednesday (22 February) and 7.30am on Thursday (23 February).
Earlier in the week an attempt was made to enter a garden shed at an address in Frimley but on this occasion offenders were unsuccessful. The incident happened sometime between 11am and 2.15pm when thieves caused £50 worth of damage to the wooden door before making off empty handed.
Neighbourhood Inspector Martin Goodwin said: Householders should be mindful of their home security and should do everything possible to protect their property. I would encourage residents to use the Surrey Police security checklist to ensure they are aware of preventative measures to use in relation to outbuildings. If anyone needs further crime prevention advice the boroughs Crime Prevention Advisor can be contacted via the Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Surrey Police recommends the following safety tips should be followed:
- Fit a good quality padlock, which has a hardened steel shackle (the part which opens and passes through the hasp) to all shed and garage doors. The shorter the shackle the better because it prevents the jaws of bolt croppers being able to be placed around it.
- Lock or permanently fix windows shut and cover them, perhaps with an old curtain, so no one can see what is kept inside.
- Install a shed or garage alarm and place a sticker in the window or on the door to advertise the fact.
- Mark valuable property, including lawnmowers, power tool, bikes, and garden furniture by permanently etching on your postcode and house number.
- Chain up bicycles, lawnmowers and motorbikes and secure them to a fixed point in the shed.
- Consider storing more expensive electrical goods indoors or in a more secure building such as a brick-built structure.
- Make sure that fences/gates to your property are sound and secure and remember to put any property away at night or when you go out during the day.
- Darkness is the perfect cover for burglars the effective and economic answer is to install outside lighting, which comes on only when people are present.
