Secure the home before going away on school holidays

Tāmaki Makaurau – Police are giving great advice to families heading away for the school holidays just started.

More than 43,000 burglaries were committed in 2020, about 10,000 less than the previous year, because of covid and most people not going on holiday.

Police suggest some tips to help deter burglars from the home:

• Lock doors and windows.

• Keep valuables out of sight.

• Record the serial numbers of expensive electronic items and photograph these and other valuables.

• Install an alarm system and make sure it is in use. Also install sensor lights.

• Keep garden sheds and garages locked when not in use.

• Keep hedges or plants around doors and windows well-trimmed, don’t give the burglar a place to hide.

• It's best to have any cars car secured in a locked garage at the hours and park in well-lit areas if a car has to be parked on the street.

• Keep valuables out of sight such as keys, laptops, mobile phones, GPS devices, wallets, and purses; tuck things out of sight.

• Put a prevention sticker on windows or flashing LEDs on the dashboard.

• Always lock vehicles when leaving them and take keys.

• Any boats or vehicles on a property should be disabled so they can’t be moved or towed away.

• Consider a steering wheel lock. It's a great deterrent.

Joining a neighbourhood support group can be beneficial to deterring theft, as more people in the neighbourhood can keep an eye out for suspicious activity.

Let neighbours know when going away and they can keep an eye on the property.

If people see anything suspicious happening now, call 111.

People can also provide information about non-emergency incidents via the police non-emergency number 105, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.