Don’t become a victim of burglary this summer

RESIDENTS in Carmarthenshire are being warned to make sure their summer holidays are not ruined by thieves.

If you are going away, then make sure your home is secure to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Police say there have also been some incidents of thefts from empty properties including those with ‘for sale’ signs outside.

Community safety officer Constable Anthony George said: “Thieves are targeting copper boilers, pipes and central heating systems because the price of scrap metal is currently at a record high.

“We are advising owners to make sure their properties are secure and if possible, have a neighbour keep an eye on it for you. Think about fitting a battery operated alarm to the entrance area, or even a security light. Also make sure the water is turned off at the mains; some properties have suffered serious flooding damage after thieves removed the water pipes leaving water running out, sometimes for days.”

Police say approximately half of all burglaries in the county are the result of insecure properties or open entry. This means they could have been avoided if residents had taken simple precautions such as locking window and doors.

Constable George added: “Residents should take extra care during the summer months and make sure their windows are closed before going out. Valuables such as handbags, car keys and mobile phones, should also be hidden away out of sight and not left on show. If you are going away on holiday, make sure you cancel the papers and the milk, and ask a neighbour to pop in and pick up any mail or park their car in your drive. You could also consider getting an automatic timer for your lights to make it look as if someone is home.

“We are fortunate that Carmarthenshire is a low crime area, but it is not a no crime area. We do not want to alarm residents, but alert them to some simple crime prevention advice.”

Tackling burglaries is a priority for the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, which includes the council and police as well as other agencies.

The council’s Executive Board Member for Community Safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “We are making big strides in the fight against crime with a 25% reduction over the last five years and 2,746 fewer victims last year than in 2006/07*.

“If residents take on board police advice and employ simple preventative measures, we will see even less burglaries in Carmarthenshire.”

For further crime prevention advice visit www.dyfed-powys.police.uk or call 101 to speak to a crime prevention officer.

*8,401 incidents in 2010/11 compared to 11,147 in 2006/07.