Date: 01 October 2006 17:01

Dwelling Burglaries Do'and Don'ts

Do
*     Lock all your doors and windows when you go out, particularly at the 
back - a popular entry point for burglars.
*     Fit British Standard five lever locks to doors and use a 'deadlock' on 
front and back doors.
*     Keep your shed and garage locked - your tools could be used to break 
into your home.
*     At night, close the curtains and leave a light on when you go out.
*     Illuminate dark areas around your home - burglars don't like the 
light.
*     Make sure your contents are fully insured.

Don't
*     Leave door keys in hiding places - burglars know them all.
*     Leave a window open a few inches for the cat to get in - burglars can 
get in too.
*     Leave ladders lying around. If you have to keep them outside padlock 
them to something secure.
*     Leave curtains and blinds drawn in the daytime - they attract thieves.
*     Leaves 'back soon' notes on display Burglars love a written guarantee 
that your home is empty.
*     Forget to postcode your valuables.

The chance of having valuables such as videos, cameras etc, stolen is 
reduced by marking them with your postcode, which makes them easily 
traceable. Every year hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of property is 
recovered by the police but not returned to its owners, simply because they 
cannot prove it legally belongs to them. Make your property easy to 
identify - use an ultra violet pen or engrave your postcode and house number 
on all your belongings. If your property was stolen could you describe it in 
detail or provide the serial numbers? Keep a detailed record of valuable 
items including serial numbers, make, model and colour. Take colour photos 
of jewellery and get
it valued.

FINAL THOUGHT          Did you know...?

Windows and doors are left open in three out of ten house burglaries.
96 per cent of ALL reported crime involves property.

New legislation for child car restraints.

FROM  Monday (September 18), new legislation has meant that anyonecarryinga 
child  under  the age of 12 or 135cm in height in their car will need to use 
approved child restraints such as a booster seat. The  legislation  has been 
introduced in a bid to reduce child injuries and casualties  on  the road by 
up to 2000 a year nationally. The laws apply to any  child  carried in any 
car, even if you don't have children of your own but give someone else's 
child a lift. Children over the age of 12 or 135cm tall (approx 4ft 5in) can 
use an adult belt.  Children  under  the  age  of three must continue to use 
a restraint appropriate  for their weight in any vehicle (except a taxi if 
no restraint is available).
There  are  a few exceptions which allow children to travel in the rear and 
use an adult seat belt:

In a taxi, if the right child restraint is not available; For a short 
distance in an unexpected necessity, (for example emergency journey to 
hospital) if the right child restraint is not available; Where two occupied 
child seats in the rear prevent the fitting of a third child seat. An 
additional reminder that rear-facing baby seats must not be used in a seat 
protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated. 
Further information is available on the Department for Transport web site

Yours

John Reynolds