Derbyshire residents are being asked to consider police warnings to take extra care with their Christmas presents and purchases over the festive season to prevent opportunistic theft.
As part of her priority to bolster neighbourhood safety, Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster has supported increase police initiatives in hot spot areas but is also urging the public to follow police advice to help reduce their risk of crime by following simple security measures to stop criminals in their tracks.
Burglary and theft typically spike over the festive period with more homes, sheds and cars storing high-value Christmas presents including bikes and technology such as laptops and mobile phones. Often, however, people can prevent themselves from being seen as an easy target.
Commissioner Angelique Foster said: "Every incident of theft or burglary creates a victim and the impact of becoming a target of crime can be devastating. There is a lot we can do ourselves over the festive season to help protect our property and reduce opportunities for criminals."
The Commissioner has prioritised the delivery of stronger local policing in her Police and Crime Plan, pledging additional police officers on the streets through the Government's Uplift programme and a robust police presence in Derbyshire's market towns and villages.
Her action plan comes in response to conversations with residents across the county which highlighted a countywide desire for more visible policing in neighbourhoods and rural areas and extra resources to tackle the problems that matter to local people.
As part of the festive safety message, people are being advised not to leave presents or valuables on display near windows and to lock windows and doors as well as set house alarms when they go to bed.
Other advice includes using internal timer switches for lights and never leaving the house keys under a plant pot or doormat as burglars are accustomed to ‘secret places'.