Police are reminding residents to keep their outbuildings secure over the summer following a number of thefts from sheds and garages on the Isle of Wight.
Between 9th July and 16th August Police have received 27 reports from addresses including; Blackwater Road, Noke Common Road, Woodbine Close, and around the Shide area. Items stolen include power tools, bicycles and alcohol.
Enquiries are ongoing to progress these investigations and members of the Neighbourhood Policing are carrying out regular patrols in the area.
In one particular case, 4 bikes were stolen from a secured garage on Parkhurst Road between 23:00 on 18th July and 02:00 the following morning. The bikes taken include a specialised Venge bicycle with red wheels; a Scott Plasma Tri bike; a Cannondale Caffeine and a blue Ribble with black mudguards. In total the 4 bikes are worth more than £13,000.
General home and outbuilding security
• Keep the boundaries of your property well-maintained and secure to try to keep out unwanted visitors.
• Ensure all doors and windows are shut and locked when not in use.
• Ensure windows and door frames are in good repair.
• Fit adequate locks to sheds, garages and outbuildings and consider fitting shutters or grilles to windows, or blocking them completely.
• Fit good quality window locks.
• Consider fitting a monitored home intruder alarm.
• Check security equipment regularly to ensure it works properly.
Security lighting
• Install automatic security lights that come on at dusk and go off at dawn.
• Help make your property look occupied by fitting timer switches to lamps in different rooms and set them to come on at staggered times.
• Make sure the manufacturer’s instructions are adhered to at all times when using electrical security devices.
CCTV and intruder alarms
• Consider installing CCTV to provide formal surveillance to the most vulnerable areas of the property.
• Consider installing an audible and monitored intruder alarm system.
Equipment security
• Leave vehicles out of sight when not in use.
• Vehicles and plant equipment should be locked when left outside and the keys kept in your possession or in a locked key safe.
• Consider the use of hitch locks, wheel clamps or ground anchors. You may require a combination of the above to meet insurance requirements.
Security marking
• All property, including vehicles and tools, should be uniquely marked, photographed and details such as serial, chassis and model numbers recorded.
• The purpose of marking property is to:
– reduce the payoff to the thief – traceable property may be more difficult to sell on.
– increase the likelihood of identifying property as stolen – thereby assisting prosecution.
– increase the likelihood of re-uniting property with the owner.
There are a number of methods for marking property effectively.
• Covertly – for example through use of Forensic DNA marker as liquid, gel or grease; UV pen; tracking or tagging technology; micro-marking.
• Overtly – by engraving/chemical etching; labels; postcoding or use of bar codes.
Log your property for free on www.immobilise.com.
Anyone with any information relating to the case of the 4 stolen bicycles should contact Police on 101, quoting reference 44170277552.
