Douglasdale police recently reported an increase in break-ins in the area which they believe go hand-in-hand with the warmer weather.
According to Warrant Officer Balan Muthan, head of communications for Douglasdale police, there has been a surge of reported break-in cases where suspects gained entry into the victims’ house through an open window or an unlocked door.
“Residents are making it way too easy to gain access, it’s alarming,” he said.
Muthan explained that burglars would usually bypass a house if it required too much work and urged residents to pay more attention to, and take more care of, their security measures, especially in warmer months, as people usually sleep with doors and windows unlocked or open.
Emilia Anastassopoulos, spokesperson and director of Savika Security, confirmed that break-ins definitely increased in summer and that security providers sometimes referred to summer as being the ‘silly season’.
Anastassopoulos encouraged residents to use the same precautions as they did in winter and provided the following tips:
- Ensure that main gates are closed and locked at all times
- Cut the lawn and maintain the landscaping. Trim the bushes all around your property to make your house is more visible. Keep shrubs in front of the windows trimmed down so windows are not hidden from view
- Criminals are afraid of lighting, so ensure your house is brightly lit
- Ensure doors are locked and windows are closed before going to bed. This also applies to residents who live in flats
- Advise your security provider when you are away on holiday and request extra patrols around your residence
- Test your alarm and panic buttons often, especially after rainy weather, and educate your family about the use of the alarm system and panic button
- Contact the police or your security provider immediately if you suspect suspicious movement on your premises
- Always be alert.
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