Advice on beating winter burglars

Burglary of homes fell by 32.5 per cent, 69 fewer, over the last 12 months to the end of October, and other burglary, such as burglary of sheds, schools and shops, was reduced by 7.1 per cent.

At this time of year, as the autumn evenings approach, there is often a spate of early evening burglaries associated with the clocks going back.

So the Safer Rother Partnership has a range of advice to help you keep your home and other property secure:

• Use an automatic time switch on an indoor light, either in a room that cannot be peered into from the road or upstairs. Regularly change the timing on the switch.

Put a time switch on a radio that has been tuned to a chat station. Again, regularly change the timing on the switch.

• Fit security lighting. Either dusk-to-dawn energy-efficient lighting that will come on automatically as dusk sets in, or brighter motion-sensitive lighting.

• Ensure that gates or access to the rear of the house are locked and secure. Don’t forget to lock your shed - your tools can be used to break in to your house.

• Trim overgrown plants; don’t give burglars a hiding place.

• Secure windows, especially those on the ground floor and above flat roof areas. Use locks and bolts and keep all your keys (including car keys) out of sight and reach.

• Property-mark your valuables with your post code and house number. Photograph any items unsuitable for marking. And register them on Immobilise, www.Immobilise.com. Free UV property marking pens and Immobilise leaflets are available at your local police station.

•Intruder alarms are an effective deterrent against burglars.

•Trust your instincts: if you think a crime is about to happen, dial 999.

If you would like to know more about our work to tackle crime in Rother, visit the community safety pages at: www.rother.gov.uk