Police are advising homeowners in their policing precinct to be extra cautious and vigilant following an increase in house robberies.
According to the Brixton Police Station spokesperson Jeanette Backhoff, areas mostly affected by this increase are Melville and Hursthill but stressed the fact that all other areas are also affected. She stated that these crime happens mostly between 6pm and 9pm in the evenings or in the morning from 9am until 12pm.
According to the crime statistics for the period between April 2019 and March 2020, Brixton Police Station recorded 89 robberies at residential premises and 390 burglaries. This was an increase of two and 66 respectively. To ensure that these numbers along with the recent rise decreases, extra measures by the police have been put in place to prevent this crime. Backhoff said that they need the support of the community to bring house robberies down and offered the following safety tips.
Brixton Police Station house robbery safety tips:
- Ensure that your burglar gates and doors are locked at all times
- Do not open and leave windows open that do not have burglar bars
- Keep outside lights on during the night
- Do not open doors for strangers and verify all service calls
- Communicate with trustworthy neighbours to keep an eye on your home whenever you are not around
- Report suspicious activities immediately to the police or your security company
- Do not take anyone from the street to assist with tasks in and around your house.
