'Lock it or lose it' warning

1:20pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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POLICE and local councils in south Cumbria today issued a reminder to residents to keep their properties secure and help prevent crime.

Officers say the temptation over the summer period to leave doors and windows open can act as an invitation to unscrupulous opportunist thieves so they are reminding people to ‘lock it or lose it’.

Figures reveal that there were 48 burglaries across South Cumbria in June 2008, including thefts from homes, sheds, outbuildings and gardens, of which 17 were from insecure properties. There were 54 burglaries in July, of which 21 were from insecure properties, and there were 22 burglaries from the 1st to the 20th August, of which nine were from insecure properties.

The kind of items stolen range from small electrical goods to mountain bikes but the most commonly targeted items include cash and handbags, which can be carried easily by the offender and offer instant access to money.

Chief Superintendent for South Cumbria, Paul Kennedy, said: “Figures reveal that over 50 per cent of all burglaries reported in South Cumbria last year took place at insecure properties, so by taking a little extra care, and locking doors and windows, there is potential to half the number of similar crimes in our area.

“Neighbourhood policing teams do everything in their power to tackle crime and bring offenders to justice, but the basic message is simple – lock it or lose it.”

“By taking a little extra care to protect our property we can make it harder for offenders to commit crimes, and remove the heartache caused by becoming the victim of burglary or theft.”

Andy Shine, Chairman of the South Lakeland Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), added: “We know South Lakeland is one of the safest places in Cumbria and the whole North West. Last year, we had the lowest level of burglary, yet some of the crime here would not occur if all of us simply remembered to turn a key in a lock. We all have a part to play in helping to keep crime down and the CDRP's 'Lock it or Lose it' campaign reminds us all to do just that."

It is important to secure your property, but a suitable exit route should also be maintained in case of fire.

Gary Wilson from Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service said: “It is important to secure properties to prevent becoming a victim of opportunist crime, but it is just as important to emphasise that occupiers must also ensure that they can escape safely and quickly from their property in the event of a fire.”