Police warning after 30 shed and garage burglaries in Uttlesford
POLICE are warning residents to be on their guard after more than 30 shed and garage burglaries in Uttlesford in the past few weeks.
Peter Caulfield, the district’s crime reduction advisor, said: “Victims are losing a wide assortment of possessions including bicycles, tools, lawn mowers and equine tack, and I’m concerned that most of the items stolen had no visible security markings.”
He is urging owners to lock up their belongings securely and take other measures to deter thieves.
Mr Caulfield said: “You should not rely on the flimsy locks that usually come with a new shed. most are designed to keep the door shut, not keep criminals out. although many residents have been fitting the shed alarms obtainable from Neighbourhood Watch, we need more people to check on their security and take action if necessary.”
His top tips to keep possessions safe include –
* Site the shed as close as possible to the house.
* put crunchy gravel around the shed or garage, and plant thorny plants under windows.
* Obscure shed and garage windows with net curtains or whitewash.
* Fit mortise locks or padlocks and ensure the fittings are bolted and not just screwed.
* Fit hinge-bolts in the back edge of garage rear doors to prevent thieves from getting in by removing hinges.
* for sheds, if the door is not suitable for hinge bolts, make hinges harder to remove by bolting them to the door or drilling out the screw heads.
* Secure up-and-over garage doors from the inside and also fit padlocks to the runners.
* Secure bicycles, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and other garden equipment with a lockable steel cable and ground anchor.
* Visibly mark any removable items.
For more information about shed and garage security, or for details of visible security marking products, you can contact Mr Caulfield at Essex Police by calling 101.
