With the days getting shorter and the nights drawing in, Police across Pendle and the Ribble Valley are warning people to make their belongings as hard a target as possible for thieves to hit.
Recently, there has been an increase in vehicle crime across these areas and the darker nights are often seen as perfect conditions for opportunistic thieves who are looking for an easy way to steal items of value from an unlocked or unattended vehicle.
Don’t make it easy for criminals – remove it or lose it!
Rob Grey, Local Inspector for Pendle and the Ribble Valley, said: ‘As the nights are becoming darker, thieves will be looking for opportunities to take what doesn’t belong to them. They will often also take advantage of people who leave their vehicles insecure. Don’t give them the opportunity.
“We will continue to target thieves and would encourage people to take extra steps to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of theft.’
Things that you can do to help protect your home and property:
- Check that your fob has done it’s job – always check the doors of your vehicle before you walk away.
- Take a dash cam or sat nav with you when leaving your vehicle.
- Never leave valuables in the glove box as this is the first place that thieves will look.
- Don’t leave shopping on view in your vehicle – make sure everything is out of sight.
- Fit an alarm or immobiliser.
- If you have a garage, use it for your vehicle.
For more advice on how to keep your home and property safe and secure, visit: Lancashire Constabulary - Lancashire Police - Burglary