Beware the Grinch! Met Police offer advice to beat Christmas burglars

Keep your valuables safe this festive season

The Met Police is reminding residents in Hammersmith, Chiswick and Shepherds Bush to be extra vigilant during the Christmas period to stop burglars ruining your festive fun. A retired couple who were burgled earlier this month have said, if only they had double locked their door, their terrifying experience may have been prevented. With lots of extra valuables in the house this time of year and many families jetting off for a long break, the Met has offered this advice to keep your home safe: Met Police advice: Three steps to beat the burglars

1. Safeguard your building

– A significant number of burglaries could be avoided by always locking windows and double locking doors when you leave your premises regardless of the length of time you are likely to be out and keeping external doors locked when you are in your home to prevent ‘walk in’ burglaries. – Make your home look occupied: use timer lights when the nights get longer and cancel deliveries if you are going away. – Don’t make a burglar’s life easy: Keep tools and ladders secured, minimising the opportunity for a burglar or opportunist thief to use them in accessing your property. Fit British standard locks, join a local neighbourhood/street watch or similar scheme.

2. Protect your valuables

Don’t advertise your goods online. Always keep valuables such as tablets and laptops out of sight from windows and store keys away from the letterbox. Similarly, don’t leave empty boxes outside that may advertise the goods that you have purchased. – Help police identify your property if stolen by using a property marking kit and taking photos. The Met is currently providing SmartWater kits as part of the MetTrace operation. Visit: www.met.police.uk/mettrace for more details. – Consider buying a safe or using other safe storage providers.

3. Secure the outside of your house/building

– Keep gates, sheds and garages locked – Keep hedges at the front low and install outdoor lighting, so burglars have nowhere to hide. – Install trellises and spiky plants to stop burglars from climbing over fences.