Reading burglaries mapped

Latest Thames Valley Police (TVP) alerts from February 4 - February 11 show that seven reports were made of break ins to homes and other property in the town in the last seven days.

The map below shows the areas of each burglary, and the details can be seen when areas are clicked on.

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Police advice is to register valuables at www.immobilise.com.

The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police have also provided tips on securing:

Sheds/garages

• Firstly, check that your insurance covers the contents of your shed or outbuildings from theft
• Take a look at your shed and consider how you would break in It’s worth having a good padlock on the door with no exposed screws. Pay attention to hinges, as these are sometimes easily removable. If you have windows then these could be vulnerable unless they’re secured with wire mesh or grills. Keep it locked at all times
• Consider a battery-operated shed alarm. They look low key but they respond to movement or door contact with an extremely loud siren
• Don’t give them the opportunity or the tools to commit a crime. Lock everything away securely. Tools can be locked inside a locker or box or secured with a chain

Gardens

• Low front boundary - keep hedges and walls at the front of your house low (under one metre) so burglars have nowhere to hide
• Secure side gate - keep side gates locked at all times. Open gates mean burglars can easily access your home without being seen by passers-by or neighbours
• High side and rear boundaries with trellis and spiky defensive planting; keep hedges, walls and fences around your back garden high (over 1.8 metres). Add lightweight trellis to gates and fences and plant some prickly plants to make it harder for burglars to climb over
• Gravel driveway and path; gravel driveways and paths make it harder for burglars to go undetected
• Security light - install an outside security light so that intruders can’t approach without being seen
• Intruder alarm system - install a burglar alarm system.
• Secure your shed - always keep your shed locked and secured, and make sure it is anchored down to prevent it from being lifted in order to gain access. Often sheds contain valuables such as power tools and bicycles
• Never leave tools lying around - never leave tools lying around as they can be used as a way of breaking into your home

PICTURED: Burglaries

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Doors

• If your door has a letterbox, a guard fitted to the rear of the door will prevent someone reaching in with a stick and a hook to fish for any nearby items such as a handbag or keys – which should never be kept near exterior doors. Consider cat flaps and dog flaps too
• Windows can be reinforced by using special film or by installing laminated panels
• Spy holes and security chains are recommended so that anyone visiting can be identified before you open the door
• Always remember to use both locks and check to make sure that the mortice lock is double-locked every time you leave your home.
• A simple turn of a double-locking nightlatch gives you added security and peace of mind
• Door bars, such as a London Bar or Birmingham Bar greatly reinforce the doorframe and provide excellent protection against anyone trying to force a door open or kicking it down
• A lockguard does exactly that; it protects the keyhole and lock from being tampered with and is a great deterrent
• If you are putting in a new door, always fit security accredited products as these are tested to British standards and approved by the insurance industry. Talk to your locksmith about standard PAS 24 2016.

For more advice, see the Thames Valley Police website.