Officers in Middlesbrough Ask Residents to Get a 'Sheducation'

As people stock-up on new garden furniture and garden tools, officers are warning that the property in sheds can soon be worth hundreds of pounds and be a target for criminals.

Crime Reduction Officer, PC Ged Kirkbright, has put together a range of crime prevention tips to help householders to keep their belongings safe over the summer months.

He has also recently launched a blog on the Cleveland Police website, which aims to cover all aspects of crime prevention and offer tips and advice to communities.

PC Kirkbright is offering the following tips to residents wanting to keep down crime in summertime.

- Invest in good quality locks with bolts for your shed, rather than screws, which can be easily removed.
- Lock valuables together inside a shed, for example a bike can be chained to a lawnmower.
- Garage owners with up and over doors should also consider investing in extra security, particularly if a motorbike or mountain bike is stored in there.
- Consider alarming a garage or extending a house alarm so that it covers the garage.
- Remember to mark all property with a postcode and house number so that it is easily identifiable.

PC Kirkbright said: “People go to great lengths to secure their home but often forget about the shed and garden, which can sometimes contain property worth a great deal of money.

“It is important to be prepared and these handy tips will give householders that extra peace of mind that they have put the correct measures in place to deter unwanted criminals.

“People can also get this advice and tips from anywhere in the world and at anytime thanks to the blog on the website. It’s just one of the ways in which we are getting messages out to the public.”

Anyone wanting to visit the blog can click on http://www.cleveland.police.uk/news/blog.aspx.