PANGBOURNE COMMUNITY POLICING
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| WHO'S EYEING UP YOUR KEYS |
| Important message from West Berkshire Police Crime
Reduction |
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| Police in West Berkshire has recently launched its Key Safe
leaflet and sticker campaign. |
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| The crime prevention initiative is aimed at making people
aware that a high percentage of burglaries are committed simply
to steal car keys and it gives people advice on how to reduce
their chances of becoming a victim. |
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| Pangbourne Neighbourhood Sergeant Barry Walker said:
"Comparatively we have low levels of crime in this area, but we
do experience a number of burglaries where offenders break in to
people's homes, steal the keys and then take their car from the
drive. |
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| "We need the community to help us tackle this by improving
their home security and by not leaving their keys near their
front door. |
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| "My advice is to take your keys upstairs with you when you go
to bed and we hope this Key Safe campaign will get that message
across." |
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| The Key Safe campaign was first launched in Purley in July
and has since been introduced in Thatcham and Newbury. It is now
being introduced across the rest of West Berkshire. |
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| Romy Freiburghaus, the West Berkshire Crime prevention
advisor, said: "You should never leave any keys in locks, on
window ledges or kitchen tables, and never on a hook behind the
door. |
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| "Put the KeySafe sticker on your house window or on your
front door. Tell thieves your Keys are not an easy target." |
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| The following is a security checklist for people's
homes: |
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Check that all doors and windows are locked - even if you are
just popping out for a minute |
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Fit a deadlock to all outside doors |
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Keep the deadlock key well hidden |
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Fit key-operated locks to all the windows |
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Install a visible burglar alarm and use it |
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Do not keep spare keys hidden outside or in garage/shed |
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Keep your car keys out of sight at all times |
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Leave lights and radio on a timer for the evening if you are
not in |
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Prevent access to your garden with a good fence and a locked
gate |
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Keep valuables away from windows |
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Do not leave cash lying around |
| For further information on the Key Safe campaign, please call
Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505. |
