Spate of Break Ins in Stoke Park - Security message

There have been a few garage break-ins in Stoke Park and I thought it would be useful to reblog Safer Suffolk Communities post 

Shed and Garage Security

Suffolk Police have reported that since 1 June, there have been 50 shed and garage burglaries across Ipswich. An estimated £28,000 worth of property has been stolen, including £5,500 worth of fishing equipment and nearly £6,000 worth of garden tools. Bicycles and power tools were also taken. Of those 50 sheds & garages, 10 were believed to have been insecure. Losing property from your shed or garage is inconvenient and can be costly but tools from the shed can also be used to break into your house, therefore good security is essential.

Please take a few moments to check the security of your shed using the following points:

• Make sure that the shed/garage is in good condition.  If the building is in poor condition, even the best locks won’t protect what is inside.
• Make sure that the screws are concealed on fittings and hinges.
• Fit mesh or bars inside the windows or board them up if you don’t use them.
• Padlocks should be at least 6cm/2.5inches wide, hardened steel and closed shackle.
• Lock the doors – even when you are at home.
• Lock large items together with a good quality lock (www.soldsecure.com) or attach to them a shed shackle or ground anchor (www.securedbydesign.com)
• Get a battery powered alarm or upgrade the house alarm to include outbuildings.
• If you have a garage with a side access as well as an up and over door, consider fitting padlocks to the runners of the up and over door to prevent it from being opened.
• Consider extra security for the garage (www.securedbydesign.com)
• If you see or hear anything suspicious, call police on 101.  In an emergency always call 999.

Please contact Lucy Mures, Ipswich Crime Reduction Officer on 101 if you require any further information.

Please use the following link to pass useful information to Suffolk Police about any incident.http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/reportacrime/tellthepolice.aspx

Additional information can be found on our previous ‘National Shed Week’ Blog.

DO NOT USE THE INCIDENT LINK ABOVE IN AN EMERGENCY, OR IN A SITUATION THAT REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE POLICE RESPONSE,  RING 999