York Police offer help following increase in burglaries

An operation to protect York residents against a new garage burglary ‘exploit’ saw dozens of properties visited and more than 100 items security marked in a single night.

Student burglaries
On Tuesday 15 September, one police officer and eight PCSOs from York North Safer Neighbourhood Team, boosted by the support of 12 Special Constables, took to the streets of Rawcliffe.

The clampdown follows a significant rise in burglaries in the area, often involving offenders exploiting a weakness in certain garage doors in order to steal property, particularly pedal cycles.

Residents in the Rawcliffe area were shown how criminals commit such burglaries, and given advice on how to simply and effectively secure their garages in response.

Officers also brought with them three ‘dot peen’ marking kits which were made available to residents to get their property security marked and registered. In total, 66 bikes were marked, as well as 17 tablets, 12 laptops and 11 other items including phones and guitars.

Officers visited every property in Beaverdyke, Angram Close, Leighton Croft, Eldwick Close, Swinsty Court, Chelkar Way, Baden Court, Fewston Drive, Lindley Road, Barnby Close, Ebsay Drive, Lanshaw Croft, Redmires Close, Whitley Close, Haythorth Close, Handley Close, Wellesley Close and Bransholme Drive.

When there was no answer, a letter was posted through the door offering crime prevention advice and inviting people to a dot peen property marking drop-in session on 26 September 2015 at Clifton Moor Church and Community Centre from 6pm to 8pm. More information about dot peen is available at www.northyorkshire.police.uk/whatisdotpeen

PC Steve Gillespie, of York North Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “I’d like to stress the importance of adding additional security measures to your garages to ensure that you too do not become a burglary victim.

“I strongly recommend the installation of security measures such as garage defenders or ground anchors. I am sure the cost of having to replace stolen items will far outweigh the cost of installing this equipment.

“Furthermore, allowing the police to mark your items – such as pedal cycles, gardening tools, golfing equipment, mobile phones and almost anything else you can think of – ensures that our chances of reuniting you with your property, should it be lost or stolen, are greatly increased. It also assists us in ensuring that the North Yorkshire Police area remains the safest place in England.”

The crime prevention campaign will continue, and officers have stepped up patrols in the area, including patrols in marked and unmarked vehicles, and on marked and unmarked bikes throughout the night.

Anyone who sees any suspicious activity is urged to report it to the police immediately. Such reports assist officers in preventing crime and catching offenders with stolen property in their possession.

PC Gillespie praised the contribution of North Yorkshire Police Special Constables, volunteers with the same powers as full-time police officers: “Without the support of our colleagues from the Special Constabulary giving up their midweek evening to assist these patrols, it would not have been possible to visit as many people, on as many streets, or to have marked as much property as we did.”

Two boys, aged 16 and 14, were arrested on 13 September on suspicion of burgling a garage in the Rawcliffe area. Both have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Make your home BurglarProof with new app

North Yorkshire Police has launched an online app to help you make sure you don’t become the victim of burglars.

NYP App Store

BurglarProof is a quick and easy step-by-step guide to help you assess your home’s security.

A quarter of all burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves taking advantage of an unlocked door or window.

Homes that don’t have basic security devices, such as window locks and sturdy door locks, are far more likely to be broken into.

BurglarProof features:
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Concern at number of insecure student properties

York police and the Safer York Partnership are urging students and local people to be more security conscious after they found 29 insecure properties during an operation in York last night.

Student burglaries

As part of a week-long national campaign targeting burglary, officers from York Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Special Constabulary targeted properties in the east of York following a number of sneak-in burglaries at students’ houses.

The operation was supported by the Safer York Partnership and “Burglar Bill” to raise awareness of the importance of basic security measures such as locking your doors.

Sergeant Andrew Godfrey of York Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “There was a very serious message behind this operation. Sneak-in burglaries – which is where opportunist thieves target unlocked doors and windows – account for around a third of all burglaries reported to the police.

“Simple measures can be taken to stop these happening. We know security is the last thing on students’ minds, but it is important to get the message across about the basic measures they can take.

“Thieves are on the look out for items left on view, unlocked doors, open windows and properties left in darkness. So please make their lives as difficult as possible by following our top security tips.”

Jane Mowat of the Safer York Partnership, added: “We are pleased to be supporting this initiative and we can’t stress enough the importance of securing your property.”

Follow our top security tips

  • • Take you valuables home with you when you leave for the holidays
  • • Always lock your accommodation – whether it’s the main door or your bedroom door.
  • • Make sure you have strong locks on your doors
  • • Fit timer switches to lights if you are going to be out during the hours of darkness, if a property looks occupied, it is less likely to burgled
  • • Remember to set timer switches to come on when you are away during holidays
  • • Don’t leave valuable items on view where opportunist thieves can see them through windows and doors
  • • Lock your door if you are in halls, even if you are only going down the corridor
  • • Make sure that main entrance doors shut behind you and don’t let other people in with you
  • • Don’t advertise your expensive Christmas presents by leaving packaging outside for all to see
  • • Get home contents insurance. You may be able to extend your parents’ home insurance policy for no extra cost. Alternatively, many insurance companies have competitive deals for students

Burglaries peak as Energise plan post Christmas cycle security marking

November busiest month for burglars

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Post Christmas cycle marking at Energise

Sunday, 29 December 2013. 11:00 until 16:00. We have teamed up with North Yorkshire Police to offer everyone the opportunity to get their bikes registered just after Christmas. We are also closing the rear car park so that people can ride their bikes that they got for Christmas with no cars around.

York police host free property registration road-shows

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York Police and the Safer York Partnership are hosting free property registration events as part of a week-long, national campaign targeting burglary and stolen goods.

Safer York Partnership and North Yorkshire Police have purchased new equipment called Hermes and Apollo which gives officers, volunteers and partners the ability to register property directly to the Immobilise National Property Register.

It also allows officers to scan recovered items and interrogate the National Mobile Property Register to identify if those items have been stolen.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your valuables registered quickly and for free. Come along to any of the following venues during the week 18 to 24 November 2013:

 

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