Countywide campaign to beat distraction burglars
Monday, 28th March 2011.
The Suffolk Safe and Sound group today launched a week-long distraction burglary campaign with an aim to raise awareness of this type of crime and to prevent residents from becoming victims.
The group includes Suffolk police, Suffolk Fire and Rescue, Suffolk Trading Standards, councils, Age Concern and other partners, all working together to ensure that people remain safe and confident in their homes.
The campaign is running all week, with each day seeing information and advice offered from a different organisation in the group.
Figures show that the number of reported distraction burglaries increases during the spring and in late summer, so it is hoped that this campaign can help prevent this trend being repeated this year.
Distraction burglars use tactics such as claiming to be from the council, the police, a utility company or a health organisation to gain access to homes.
They may ask for a drink of water, to wash their hands or to use the telephone in an emergency. They may sometimes claim to have lost a pet or a ball in the back garden. They may also work with an accomplice, who steals from the property while you are engaged in conversation.
A total of 69 distraction burglaries were recorded in Suffolk in 2008, 73 were recorded in 2009 and 74 in 2010. So far in 2011 this figure is at five.
These crimes often involve older members of the community. In 2010 the age of the average victim was 78, so police are particularly keen to raise awareness among the elderly.
Ch Insp Kerry Pauling, from the constabulary’s community safety unit said: “We hope that this campaign will alert people to this type of crime and to the potential extremes that criminals will go to gain access to the homes of vulnerable people.
“Distraction burglars prey on the good nature of members of the public to commit these crimes, and we want people to take a few simple steps to ensure that they do not fall victim to these tactics.
“The majority of people who call on homes are genuine, but we would like people to be aware of potential criminals and to take some simple steps to avoid becoming a victim.
"The simple routine of ‘lock, stop, chain, check‘ can prevent an offender gaining access to your home, and the ‘Knock Knock’ leaflets that we are distributing across the county highlight the stories that these criminals will use to gain your trust.
“Distraction burglars leave a lasting effect on their victims, who are often elderly or vulnerable, and the Safe and Sound Group is an excellent way for us to work together with the partner agencies who all share the aim of protecting these people and providing support for those affected. This targeted campaign allows us to highlight our messages together.”
The simple routine of ‘lock, stop, chain, check’ is as follows:
1. LOCK – Keep your front and back doors locked, even when at home.
2. STOP – Before you answer the door, stop and think if you are expecting anyone. Check that you have locked any back door and taken the key out. Look through the spy-hole or the window to see who it is.
3. CHAIN – If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the chain or bar on while you are talking to the person on the doorstep. (Normally when the door is shut and locked, leave the chain or bar off in case you need to get out in an emergency.
4. CHECK – Check their details and identity before you let them into your home. If it is someone looking for help only go out to help if you have someone else with you. If it is someone claiming to be an official, ask for and carefully check their identity card, make sure the caller’s name and picture are the same as on the identity card, even if the visit is pre-arranged. Check their identity with the company concerned if you are at all suspicious.
The group includes Suffolk police, Suffolk Fire and Rescue, Suffolk Trading Standards, councils, Age Concern and other partners, all working together to ensure that people remain safe and confident in their homes.
The campaign is running all week, with each day seeing information and advice offered from a different organisation in the group.
Figures show that the number of reported distraction burglaries increases during the spring and in late summer, so it is hoped that this campaign can help prevent this trend being repeated this year.
Distraction burglars use tactics such as claiming to be from the council, the police, a utility company or a health organisation to gain access to homes.
They may ask for a drink of water, to wash their hands or to use the telephone in an emergency. They may sometimes claim to have lost a pet or a ball in the back garden. They may also work with an accomplice, who steals from the property while you are engaged in conversation.
A total of 69 distraction burglaries were recorded in Suffolk in 2008, 73 were recorded in 2009 and 74 in 2010. So far in 2011 this figure is at five.
These crimes often involve older members of the community. In 2010 the age of the average victim was 78, so police are particularly keen to raise awareness among the elderly.
Ch Insp Kerry Pauling, from the constabulary’s community safety unit said: “We hope that this campaign will alert people to this type of crime and to the potential extremes that criminals will go to gain access to the homes of vulnerable people.
“Distraction burglars prey on the good nature of members of the public to commit these crimes, and we want people to take a few simple steps to ensure that they do not fall victim to these tactics.
“The majority of people who call on homes are genuine, but we would like people to be aware of potential criminals and to take some simple steps to avoid becoming a victim.
"The simple routine of ‘lock, stop, chain, check‘ can prevent an offender gaining access to your home, and the ‘Knock Knock’ leaflets that we are distributing across the county highlight the stories that these criminals will use to gain your trust.
“Distraction burglars leave a lasting effect on their victims, who are often elderly or vulnerable, and the Safe and Sound Group is an excellent way for us to work together with the partner agencies who all share the aim of protecting these people and providing support for those affected. This targeted campaign allows us to highlight our messages together.”
The simple routine of ‘lock, stop, chain, check’ is as follows:
1. LOCK – Keep your front and back doors locked, even when at home.
2. STOP – Before you answer the door, stop and think if you are expecting anyone. Check that you have locked any back door and taken the key out. Look through the spy-hole or the window to see who it is.
3. CHAIN – If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the chain or bar on while you are talking to the person on the doorstep. (Normally when the door is shut and locked, leave the chain or bar off in case you need to get out in an emergency.
4. CHECK – Check their details and identity before you let them into your home. If it is someone looking for help only go out to help if you have someone else with you. If it is someone claiming to be an official, ask for and carefully check their identity card, make sure the caller’s name and picture are the same as on the identity card, even if the visit is pre-arranged. Check their identity with the company concerned if you are at all suspicious.
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