National Homesafe Week

Secure your home

Carlisle and Eden CDRP in support of the fifth National Home Security Week, running between 25 August - 31 August 2007, is giving residents the opportunity to have free home security assessment. Home security is the best way to reduce your chances of being burgled. Forget the myth that all burglars are master criminals who case the joint, studying your movements. In the world away from television, opportunists commit most domestic burglaries.

National Home Security Week is designed to help combat property crime by making people more aware of the simple and affordable options available to make their homes more secure. This year the is the aim of National Home Security week is to focus on the simple measures that can be taken to prevent burglaries over the holiday period.

Carlisle & Eden CDRP working proactively with the Police is determined to continue to reduce domestic burglary, which thus far has fallen by 5.3% on the same period last year. To emphasis National Home Security Week the Police as part of Operation Nova are undertaking high visibility patrols, and the Safer Homes Team are on hand offering residents free home security advice.

To arrange a free home security visit from the Safer Homes Team to get advice and assistance on bringing your house up to national minimum security standard (subject to availability and eligibility), contact the Safer Homes administrator on 01228 558255 for further information.

People should follow the simple ten-point plan below when going away on holiday, after all the last thing anyone wants to worry about is whether their home and possessions are safe.

• Milk and papers cancelled
• Timers set to turn lights/ radios
• Valuable items such as TV's not visible through windows
• Trusted neighbour asked to collect post and park in your driveway
• Plants that burglars could hide behind trimmed back and lawn cut
• Alarms turned on and working correctly
• All windows and doors are securely locked with keys put somewhere secure
• Garage and garden shed locked, tools secure and out of sight
• Don't put your home address on luggage labels
• Contents insurance up-to-date

 CDRP Chairman Cllr Mary Robinson said:

domestic burglary in Carlisle and Eden between April - June '07 has been reduced by 5.3% compared to the same period in '06, this is a significant reduction, initiatives like National Home Security week fully support the work of the CDRP, helping people to help themselves.

Cllr Judy Prest portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing said:

the CDRP and Cumbria Constabulary, proactively promote home security through the Handyvan scheme. By highlighting simple home security measures the aim is to continue to drive down domestic burglary figures, helping to ensure the residents of Carlisle and Eden are able to live and work in one of the safest place in the country.