15 Tips how to prevent housebreaking over the Easter weekend

The police advice the community to:

– Lock all outside doors and Windows before leaving the house or going to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.

– Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time.

– Keep the garage door closed and locked.

– Do not allow daily deliveries of mail or newspapers while you are away.

– Dispose any packaging of electrical appliances you purchased and place them in a black refuse bag to avoid showing criminals what appliance you have in your house.

– Check locks on doors or windows and replace them with a secure device if necessary.

– Always lock your garden sheds and garages. Use curtains on garage and basement windows.

– When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

Other precautions you should take are:

– Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places. Burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

– Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home. This is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters.

– Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.

– Trim the trees around your home to reduce cover for burglars.

– Be a good neighbour. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call the police immediately.

– Join a Neighbourhood watch group. They help in creating a good relationship with neighbours and reduce risk of burglary.

– Consider installing a burglar alarm system.