This time of year when the clocks have gone back homes are in darkness early in the afternoon – a gift for opportunist burglars.

Protect your home against opportunist burglars by remembering to protect your home when the clocks go back and the nights draw in.

Unfortunately burglars see the longer winter nights as an opportunity to increase their criminal activities, so to avoid becoming a victim of burglary; Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Councils Joint Community Safety team is encouraging homeowners to take some simple steps to help protect their home:

• Use a timer switch to turn on lights and a radio to give the impression someone is home
• Keep valuables and other electronic equipment such as laptops out of sight
• Security mark valuables with a UV pen and register them with www.immobilise.com
• Double lock UPVC doors or use dead locks on solid doors
• Keep all spare keys, including car keys, away from the front door and out of sight to avoid them being ‘fished’ through the letter box
• Keep windows locked with the key and keep it out of sight
• Don’t leave packaging of expensive items purchased on view as an advertisement to thieves

Neighbourhood Police Officers will be patrolling in residential areas and if they believe a property is at risk of being burgled, they will pop a ‘Here’s a bright idea’ card through the door along with contact details for further crime prevention advice.

Residents can pick up security advice by following @TVP_ChiltSBucks and @csafetycdcsbdc on Twitter. For regular updates on crime and disorder in your area you can sign up to Thames Valley Alert.

For further advice on crime reduction contact Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council’s Joint Community Safety team on 01494 586535 or visit:- https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/ www.chiltern.gov.uk/crimereduction or www.southbucks.gov.uk/crimereduction.