fermanagh anti-burglary guide
TRANSCRIPT
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YONESHO
MEISATRISK
DOMESTIC
BURGLARY
Thisfreeguidetodomesticburglary
Thisfreeguidetodomesticburg
lary
preventionisbroughttoyoubypreventionisbroughttoyoubyPOLIC
ESERV
ICE
NORTHERN
IREL
AN
D
FermanaghFermanaghFerma
nagh
Community
Safety
Partnership
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FOREWORD
Although Fermanagh is one of the safest areas to live every home in the
county has the potential to be burglarised.
Local crime surveys in Fermanagh have consistently shown that domestic
burglary is the biggest concern of residents in the county and every year many
homes and outbuildings will be the subject of a burglary or a break in.
A lot of burglaries happen because people dont secure their homes. In 1 in 5
burglaries the thief does not even have to use force they get in through an
open window or door or gain access to your home under false pretences.
Yet in most cases these crimes could have been avoided by taking simple
preventive measures in securing your home. This booklet explains some
elementary steps that you can take in securing your home and property.
Home security is about awareness look at your home through the eyes of
the burglar and reduce the risk of your home being burgled by making sure
you have taken precautions.
This is a practical guide to assist you in making your home safer and therefore
make it as difficult as possible for the burglar to make you his next target.
Please take time to read this booklet which has been delivered to you as part
of a joint PSNI, Community Safety Partnership/District Policing Partnership
Initiative.
Fermanagh
Community
Safety
Partnership
POLIC
E SERV
ICE
NORTHERN IR
ELAN
D
Fermanaghermanagh
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DE
ARHOUSEHOLDER
3
Levels of burglary in Fermanagh remain low in comparison with other
areas of Northern Ireland. However, a recent county wide survey indicated
that domestic burglary remains the biggest concern to householders in
Fermanagh.
Fermanagh DCUs proximity to the Republic of Ireland makes the county an
attractive target for travelling criminals. Recent trends have indicated that
travelling criminals have targeted rural areas in Fermanagh. Fermanagh is the
most sparsely populated county in Northern Ireland and the remote rural
areas enable travelling burglars to move with limited chance of disruption.
There is also evidence that opportunistic burglars regularly make the most of
insecure premises, entering mainly through unlocked doors, open windows and
by using keys left hidden outside unoccupied houses. Home Office research
has also found that a lack of security measures was one of the greatest risk
factors for domestic burglary. Certainly, in Fermanagh burglars prefer to
target houses that are not alarmed and those with minimal security features.
Burglar alarms, deadbolts, security lights, window locks and property marking
schemes are effective deterrents to the burglar.
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REC
ORDYOURPR
OPERTY
Please use this section of the booklet to record details of your valuables.
Think about security marking your property with your postcode and house
number. This not only improves the chances of recovering your property,
it can also deter the burglary and may help with police enquiries, possibly
leading to a successful prosecution.
Item Serial No. Description, size,
colour
Make/model Value
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PROPERT
YMARKING
5
Make your property unique thieves like highly portable, high value, easily
saleable goods. Cash and jewellery are the most common items to be taken
in a burglary and although there is a downward trend for electrical items, it
is still worth marking these types of equipment. Tools and garden equipment
stored in garages or sheds should also be marked.
Where possible, you should mark these items with your postcode, followed
by the number of your house or flat by using a permanent ultra violet (UV)
marker, or special etching or engraving tool.
There are overt means to permanently security code items with special
etching or electric engraving tools, thus making a visible identification mark
which is a particular deterrent to burglars. These are relatively inexpensive
kits and are available from DIY stores or high street retailers. There are also
more permanent covert and overt methods of marking property that can be
utilised for a minimum cost. The PSNI preferred covert method of marking
property is Smartwater - www.smartwater.com Tel: 0800 328 6268
A localised trailer marking and registration scheme operates in Fermanagh
and this is free to all trailer owners. Please contact Crime Prevention Officer
(028 6632 2823).
Property recovered by the
police is scanned under a UV
lamp. Marking your property
will make it easier for the
police to identify it and bring
offenders to justice.
Dont leave your keys on the hall table!
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HO
MESEC
URITYASSESSM
ENT
The key to preventing crime is to identify the potential risk and to putmeasures in place to reduce this risk becoming a reality.
This checklist has been designed to help you assess the security of your own
home and to identify any potential risk factors.
If you tick NO to any of the questions then you should consider takingaction to make your property more secure.
YES NO
(Tick Box) Do you have a hedge/wall/fence to the front of your home? If you have a hedge/wall/fence to the front is it 1m (3ft) or
less to allow natural surveillance?
Do you have a rear garden with a strong, high, wellmaintained hedge/wall/fence around it?
Do you have gates to your property to deny access? Do you have security lighting around your home? Do you have other homes overlooking yours? Are all external doors to your home strong and in
good condition?
Do you have 5 lever mortice deadlocks to BS 3621standard fitted to external doors (wooden) or
multi point locking on PVC doors? How do you check for this? *
Does your front door have a door viewer/intercom/chainfitted to help identify callers to your door?
If you have the above fitted, do you and familymembers use them routinely?
Are your windows lockable? If so, are the windows always locked and keys removed?
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HOMESECURITYA
SSESSM
ENT
7* You can borrow a DVD How secure is my home?
from the Community Safety Office, Townhall.
In the event of an emergency, do all family membersknow where to locate keys?
Do you have a secure lockable place to keep valuables,jewellery, documents etc?
Do you have an intruder alarm fitted and do youuse it routinely?
Do you or family members routinely check that alldoors/windows are secure before retiring for the night?
Do you lock your vehicle at night and are you carefulwhere you leave the keys?
If you have expensive items around your home(eg caravan, boat, etc) are they secured properly?
If you have DIY tools/gardening equipmentetc, are they kept in a secure location?
Is all property both inside and/or outside yourhome security marked and serial numbers recorded etc?
Do you have a good relationship with neighbourswho can keep an eye on your property?
If you are away even for a short spell do you usetimer switches for lights in order to make the house
look occupied?
Do you report your home as vacant to your localpolice station if you are going on holiday?
REMEMBER - If you ticked NO you should review your home security
now. Should you have any queries please contact the Crime PreventionDepartment for free impartial advice on all aspects of home security.
For a more extensive review of your home security go to website
www.howsecureismyhome.com
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ASSESSINGT
HERISK
It would be difficult to write checklists for every type of home, and you mayfind that some do not apply to your specific situation. However, all therelevant areas of concern have been covered in this book should guide you inthe right direction.
The Front Garden or Hard Standing Do the shrubs in the garden obscure the front of the house or flat and
provide cover for a burglar to operate? Are there items in the garden that could be used to force open an entrance
door or break glass? Are there items of value in the front garden that can be easily stolen? Are there items or features in the garden that can be climbed to gain
access to upper windows and balconies?
As you approach the entrance door, are there any blind spots wheresomeone could hide?
Can callers at the door be seen by your neighbours and from the street? Where is the spare front door key? Under the flowerpot or the
doormat? If you do not park your car in a locked garage, are there items of value on
view in your car? Do you have a front gate?After Dark Is there a light in the front garden? Does the light cast any dark shadows that could provide cover for a burglar
to operate? Do fitted lights work?The Front Of Your Home If you have an intruder alarm, can the bell box be seen from the road? Are there items of value on view in the windows? Are any of the first floor windows accessible by climbing? Is the entrance door deeply recessed? Are your ground floor windows, and those that are accessible by climbing,
in good condition and fitted with sufficient window locks of the right type,in the right positions to resist a burglar?
After Dark Are there lights outside the back doors? Do the back-door lights come on automatically when you are away? Do fitted lights work? Do you leave any windows open for ventilation at night?
Risk Assessment Checklist
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ASSESSINGTHERISK
9
Indoors Do you have a plan in the event of a fire? - Get out, stay out and dial 999. Have your gas appliances (cooker, heater, boiler) been serviced recently? Are you overloading your electrical sockets? Do you smoke in bed? Can you hear if anyone walks up to the front of your home? Can you hear close approaches to your windows on the ground floor?
Have you marked your property with your postcode and house or flatnumber? Do you have a safe? Is there an intruder alarm? Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Do you leave cash or credit cards lying about? Where do you keep your spare keys? Do you have contents insurance, and is the cover sufficient?
After Dark Do some of the house lights come on automatically when you are out oraway on holiday?
Do you key lock yourself in at night?
Window locks
KEY
= security risk
= good security feature
Accessible window
from soil pipe
Soil Pipe
View over side
Light Supplementarylock fitted
Tools left outcould be used to
break in
Property on
view in car?
Ladder not
chained up
Items of valueItems of valueleft outsideleft outside
Window
locks Vulnerable
side access
Can callers be seen
by your neighbours?
Milk Bottles
Trimmed
dge
Front gate
Fencing with trellis
Lighting
Potential blind spot
Climbing risk to open window
Light
Burglar alarm Access to window
by climbing
Door locks
Visible valuables
SECURITY ISSUES
AROUND THE HOME
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PRICKLYPL
ANTING
Security starts at the garden gate
PRICKLY PLANTING
1. Climbing roseBramble-like stems are covered in sharp, hooked thorns which make itdifficult for would - be burglars to reach the window or door surrounds.
2. Juniperus Chinensis Obelisk
Evergreen conifer. Planted in appropriate places, its density and needlesharp leaves can deter people from getting close to the property. The
needles grow to 15 mm in length.
3. Berberis temolaica
Pale yellow flowers and red berries. Grows to 3 metres. Thickly coveredin thorns.
4. Multi-frond palm
Long razor sharp edges to fronds provide an ideal barrier between yourborders and the windows.
5. HollyEvergreen shrub or tree with prickly leaves. Provides round the year
interest.
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PRICKLYPLANTING
11
6. Phormium tenax
Evergreen sword shapedspiky leaves that grow up
to 3 metres long. Its heightand spikes make it difficult
to push through or climbover. Flowers purple and
brown in the summer.
7. Noise
Gravel or slate pathsNoisy when walked on. Sound alerts you to someone approaching the
house, acting as a deterrent to would-be criminals.
8. Bamboo
Attractive feature. When planted against walls or fences it will preventburglars climbing into upstairs windows by alerting you to their presence.
If the canes are forcibly broken they will make a loud snap.
9. Security locks and light Windows and door locks
Ensure all windows are fitted with security locks. Front and rear doorsshould be fitted with mortise locks (BS 3621), hinge bolts and no weakpanels. Add motion sensor lights around the exterior of the house and
garden or use dusk-to-dawn lighting.When installing new doors improve security standard by purchasing
doors and door sets which conform to PAS 23/24 security standard. Askfor accessories such as a door chain/door viewer to be installed at timeof manufacture.
10. Perimeter security
Walls, fences, railings and gatesSupplement walls, fences and railings with thorny shrubs. Higher fences
existing fences should be made higher with trellis (minimum 1800 mmhigh) creating difficulty for the intruder to navigate. Fit gates to all accesspoints with locks. Plastic spikes can also be applied to top of walls.
11. VisibilityThere should be maximum visibility to the front of the property. Keepwalls, hedges, shrubs, etc, at maximum height of 1 metre. Hedges, fences,
etc, to rear can be higher for privacy.
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HO
LIDAYS
Tips to make your home secure while on holiday.
Make sure your home looks like someone is living in it. Dont close your
curtains in daytime this shows the house is empty. Think about getting
automatic time switches to turn your lights on when it gets dark.
Fit mortise deadlocks or bolts to all outside doors and locks on all downstairs
or easily accessible windows.
Cancel all milk or newspaper deliveries.
Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that the burglar could
hide behind.
Get a friend or neighbour to look after your home. They can collect your
mail, mow your lawn and so on. This gives the impression that someone is
living in your home. If you leave keys with a neighbour, dont label them with
your address.
Dont leave valuables, like your TV, hi-fi or video where people can see them
through a window.
Consider using Royal Mail
Keep Safe service. Mail can
be held for you to avoid a tell-
tale build up behind your door.
Contact 0845 7740740 for further
details or contact your local Post
Office.BEWARE OF BURGLARY
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N
EIGHBOURHO
ODWA
TCH
13
A PRACTICAL STEP IN CRIME PREVENTION
Neighbourhood Watch is a practical community safetyinitiative jointly administered by NIO Community SafetyUnit, the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the PoliceService of Northern Ireland. Neighbourhood Watch
works by developing close liaison between households in aneighbourhood and the local police. It aims to help peopleprotect themselves and their properties and to reduce thefear of crime by means of improved home security, greater vigilance, accuratereporting of suspicious incidents to the police and by fostering a communityspirit.
Neighbourhood Watch schemes and associations across Northern Irelandare coming up with new ideas and initiatives to extend the effectiveness of
this valuable community safety organisation.
If you would like to be part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your area,contact the Crime Prevention Officer in Enniskillen PSNI Station (028 66322823) or either the Community Safety Co-ordinator or the District PolicingPartnership Manager (both 028 6632 5050).
There are already over 200 Neighbourhood Watch schemes operating inNorthern Ireland and many communities in both urban and rural areas are
finding the benefit of this practical community initiative.
CRIMESTOPPERSWith your help we can beat crime successfully
Tel: 0800 555111 in complete confidence
Crimestoppers provides a telephone number whicheveryone can ring 24 hours a day to provide informationabout criminals. No one is ever asked for their nameand the calls are not recorded and cannot be traced.
If information provided leads to the arrest and charge of an offender a rewardof up to 1000 can be paid. The process is also completely anonymous.
Crimestoppers has been successfully operating in Northern Ireland since 1996.It has received over 14,200 calls during this time, been directly responsible forsome 1200 arrests and recovered 2.25 million in property. It is supportedby a registered national charity, Crimestoppers Trust and a local board of
directors who are volunteers.
Remember all calls are treated anonymously and that with your helpTogether we can crack crime.
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DIS
TRACTIONBURGLARY
BOGUS CALLERS
Some burglars will try and trick their way intoyour home. They may say they are from thewater, gas or electricity company or the localcouncil. They may ask for a glass of water, orto wash their hands, or they have lost a pet ora ball. In fact they will use any story they canto get in. They can be young (even children),old, male or female. They may work in teams orwork alone. They often target the elderly.
Criminals will normally target unoccupied property. In order to checkwhether a home is unoccupied it is likely that the criminal will knock the door
or ring the doorbell. If there is no one about they may proceed to the rearof the property where they will be out of view. If you have a strange callerat your door with an unlikely story take a brief description and details of anyvehicle and tell the police. The same procedure should be taken with anysuspicious incident. Calls to police reporting suspicious activity have resultedin successful apprehension of criminals.
TOP TIP: Always make sure your back door is locked before
answering the front door
Remember:
POLICE TELEPHONES: 0845 600 8000 (non-emergency number);
999 (emergency number).
LOCK - keep your doors and windows locked even when you are at home.STOP - are you expecting anyone? Do they have an appointment? Makesure the back door is locked - some thieves work in pairs with the other one
sneaking in the back doorwhile you are at the front door. Use the doorviewer or check who is there by looking out a window.CHAIN- put the door bar or chain on before you open the door.INTERCOM - installation will also ensure that the door does not have to beopened to speak to a caller.CHECK - check their identity carefully. Ask for an ID card. Close the doorand check using the phone numberfrom thephone book, not the one onthe card.
IF IN DOUBT - KEEP THEM OUT particularly if you are on your own.Ask them to make an appointment to come back later when someone else isaround. Genuine callers wont mind.
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ALA
RMS
15
A burglar alarm is a deterrent in itself.
Many burglars will avoid breaking into a
property with an alarm. If you have one
use it! There are 3 main types of alarm.
The first type is an audible bell/siren alarm
that sounds when activated. Ideally thereshould be alarm/bell boxes front and back
of the premises. This type of alarm is
reliant on the response of neighbours or
the householder being at home but asleep.
Due to the high number of false alarms,
the police will normally only respond to
these activations if there is confirmation
of associated suspicious activity.
The second type of alarm is connected to the telephone system and if activated
will also sound the bell or siren but automatically dial up pre-programmed
telephone numbers with a message notifying the keyholder to respond. Again
police will normally only respond where there is confirmation of associated
suspicious activity.
The third type is a monitored alarm which sends a signal to a monitoring
station. A confirmed activation will also be passed to police for response.
Remember to always set the alarm when leaving the premises unoccupied
even for a short period. In over 99% of burglaries committed in 2005/2006
there was no alarm installed.
Use you alarm when going to bed many people think that if they are at home
and going to bed there is no need to set the alarm. This is not the case. Ifyour alarm can be set to cover zoned areas, set the alarm downstairs when
going to bed. Burglars will consider breaking into homes overnight because
they know that some householders do not set the alarm when going to bed.
Social alarms often known as helplines are available to provide reassurance
and response to individuals living alone, or with medical or mobility problems.
Many organisations provide this equipment including Age Concern, Help the
Aged, Fold Telecare, etc. Many of these systems now also have additional home
security measures added including bogus caller alert buttons and movement
sensors.
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USEFUL CONTACTS
PSNI CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER
Enniskillen0845 6008000
FERMANAGH COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP
FERMANAGH DISTRICT POLICING PARTNERSHIP
The Townhall, Enniskillen,
Co. Fermanagh, BT74 7BA.
028 6632 5050
Textphone: 028 6632 7969
VICTIM SUPPORT
22 Campsie Road,Omagh, BT79 0AG.
028 8224 0012 / 0845 3030900
9.00am - 9.00pm
CRIMESTOPPERS
0800 555111
NI HOUSING EXECUTIVE
Grants Office, Riverview House,
Head Street, Enniskillen, BT74 7DA.
028 6632 5770
HMSO Core Licence Number C02W0005084