SPATE OF BURGLARIES PROMPTS POLICE TO ISSUE ADVICE ON KEEPING PROPERTY SECURE

Police on the Isle of Wight are encouraging people to keep sheds and outbuildings locked up, and to keep tools secured and locked away when not in use, following a recent spate of burglaries.

Criminals will take advantage of the darker evenings this time of year, with incidents of burglary and theft already being reported on the Isle of Wight.

These include an incident in Freshwater overnight on 20th October in which some industrial machinery was stolen from a business. Between 17th October and 23rd October a shed was broken into in Arreton and a number of power tools were stolen. Then, overnight on 5th November a container was broken into in Newport and some tools were stolen from within.

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Officers have been conducting enquiries from business-to-business in recent weeks, including in the Riverway area of Newport.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary says that rural outbuildings and barns could be at risk too, and encourage people to read the below advice about how to keep your property secure. If you see any suspicious activity, contact police. Dial 999 in an emergency or if an incident is in progress.

General home and outbuilding security:

• Outbuildings such as hay barns may not be visited for weeks at a time. Ensure all doors and windows are shut and locked when not in use.
• Ensure windows and door frames are in good repair.
• Fit good quality window locks and deadlocks conforming to the latest British Standards to all external doors. Advice is available from the Master Locksmith Association.

Security lighting:

• Install security lights that come on automatically at dusk and 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.
• Due to the potential fire risk in using any electrical device, it is important that all manufacturers’ instructions are strictly adhered to at all times.

CCTV and intruder alarms:

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• Consider installing CCTV to provide formal surveillance to the most vulnerable areas of the property.
• Consider installing an audible and monitored intruder alarm system. Get comprehensive advice from a reputable security company that conforms to national standards: National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB)

Natural boundary protection:

• Plant thorn hedges to use as natural boundaries.
• Restrict vehicle access by digging deep ditches. Please contact the Environment Agency for advice and considerations before doing this.

Suspicious activity advice:

• All communities should remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour to the police.
• Report individuals asking specific questions about, or taking pictures of, a facility or a farm’s processes.
• Report any attempts to purchase fertilisers, diesel, herbicides or pesticides by those not authorised or suspicious individuals.

Property Marking Considerations

• Make your valuables less attractive to thieves by using a property or police approved forensic marking solution only visible under Ultraviolet (UV) light. This can take the form of a special marker using ink or paint. Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your address. All of these measures help police identify stolen goods, making it harder for thieves to sell. So make your mark. For information on police approved marking products, visit the Secured by Design website.
• And property marking isn’t only for things like electrical items and bikes, you can also mark high value belongings like antiques. However, we recommend that you seek specialist advice.
• Register your property for free on Immobilise– it helps the police identify the owners of recovered property. You can register anything that has a serial number with Immobilise.
• You can also consider using smart/GPS tags on high value items to enable them to be tracked.

For more advice and guidance on the broader spectrum of rural crime, read the Rural Crime Guide at https://www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rural-Crime-Guide-guide.pdf.