Police officers are stepping up patrols in in burglary hotspot areas to keep residents safe as the dark nights drawn in.

With the clocks set to go back this Sunday, police say there are traditionally more opportunist burglaries in the Chiltern and South Bucks areas at this time of year.

Thames Valley Police is working with Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council’s Joint Community Safety Team to tackle the problem.

Officers will be patrolling neighbourhoods and burglary hot-spot areas identifying houses that may be at greater risk of burglary and advising residents of how to reduce the risk of being targeted.

Residents are also being advised on how they can protect their homes:

  • Don’t leave your home in darkness - invest in a timer light switch and vary the time it comes on each day to make it look more natural. It can also be used with a radio or TV to give the impression that someone’s home.
  • Purchase a fake/simulated TV device which lights up a room like a real television.
  • Keep valuables out of sight and mark them with your house number and postcode using a UV pen. The Community Safety Team can provide a free UV pen, call 01494 586535 for this and information on alternative protective marking available.
  • Register your valuables via the free Immobilise website and keep an inventory list.
  • If you have jewellery at home, photograph it for insurance purposes and consider storing it in a safe.
  • Lock doors and windows, if you have a UPVC door make sure you have double locked it by lifting the handle and locking it with the key. Make sure the key is removed from the lock and out of reach.
  • If you are going away over the half-term holiday, remember not to post details of your holiday on social networking websites, cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries and if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set before you leave.
  • Look out for neighbours’ houses and call 999 to report anything suspicious. If you want to report something which does not require an immediate response call Thames Valley Police’s non-emergency number 101.
  • If you are not a member of a Neighbourhood Watch Group you can find details of your local group by contacting the Community Safety Team on 01494 586535. If none exist in your area, consider establishing your own group.

For more crime prevention advice, visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk, www.chiltern.gov.uk or www.southbucks.gov.uk.