Advice for residents on how to protect their homes against burglars

As the nights get darker, officers are issuing advice on how residents can keep their homes safe and secure.

We’re urging residents to be vigilant as the winter months approach and make sure they get into a habit of locking doors and keeping keys in a safe place.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out:

• Close and lock all your doors and windows - even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
• Double-lock any door
• Make sure that any valuables are out of sight
• Keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening
• Never leave car documents or ID in obvious places such as kitchens or hallways
• In the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on
• If you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night
• Set your burglar alarm
• Make sure the side gate is locked

You can find out more information on residential burglaries on our website here: Seven facts about residential burglary | Crime Prevention | Cleveland Police

If you need to report a crime to us, call us on 101. Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111.