Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Tunks said: “CCTV is a great tool for the police to help us identify witnesses and offenders when crime has been committed. Sometimes we need the public and the media’s help to identify the people we need to speak with to help us with our investigations.

As the recession continues to adversely affect many people’s finances, it may be tempting to make cut backs on your insurance policies. But as the dark nights begin to approach, it is more important than ever to have the appropriate home insurance cover in place.

This is because as the winter months roll in, burglars are more likely to target your home and personal belongings, with research by Halifax suggesting burglaries increase by as much as 20 per cent during this period.

Andrew Cheney, senior risk and valuation advisor at Insurance company, Hiscox also says that as the hours of daylight reduce, “it is likely there will be an increase in chance burglaries and petty theft.”

This is backed up by the experiences of Confused.com customers, who claim on their home insurance policies more in the winter months than in any other month of the year.

Latest Confused.com data shows that of those customers who applied for a home insurance quote through the website between September 2007 and August 2009, and had previously been burgled, thefts occurred with more frequency during October, December and January, with the worst month for burglary being November.

Meanwhile, the recent 2008/2009 British Crime Survey noted a one per cent rise in domestic burglaries in the past year, with one of the major factors determining whether you fall victim to burglary being the lack of home security measures.

Protect your home from burglars

According to Darren Black, head of home insurance at Confused.com, home security should be high on everyone’s agenda.

He explained:  “Although having a solid home insurance policy is the best way to combat the effects of burglary, prevention is always better than cure.

“Home security has become increasingly important over the past year as recession fuelled burglaries appear to be on the rise.

“Investing in something as simple as security lights or even taking the time to set the alarm before you leave the house can mean the difference between having peace of mind and becoming another crime statistic.”

How can you protect your home?

1: Invest in a full alarm system: Don’t be tempted to buy a dummy alarm just because they’re cheaper, as a determined burglar will easily be able tell the difference. If you have to buy a dummy unit, get it from a recognised alarm company and make sure the company logo is clearly displayed.

2: Clean the visible parts of your alarm system: A dusty or rusted alarm box tells a burglar that your alarm system is not maintained by a professional and may signal to burglars that it is not maintained.

3: Plant painful shrubbery: Barbed wire isn’t exactly legal on domestic properties but planting hawthorn, holly or ornamental brambles at key points in your garden like back walls and under windows is a cheap, natural (and legal) deterrent to burglars.

4: Don’t always think that having a dog in the house is a deterrent: Burglars know that if you have a dog in your property you are less likely to set your house alarm at night for fear the animal will set off the motion sensors. So be vigilant about always switching your alarm system on.

5: Lock doors and windows even if you’re in the garden or have popped next door: Remember to lock windows and doors when you’re out and remove all keys. Many burglaries occur when a property is empty but opportunist thieves may enter your property if they think you are distracted.

Content courtsey of Confused.com

As retail businesses increase stock levels for Christmas it provides richer pickings for thieves. As takings rise and shops stay open longer, the potential for lucrative hold-ups also increases.

Alongside this drunken revelry can lead to malicious damage or even arson attacks on business premises – a particular concern this year as the number of unoccupied and unprotected premises has increased with recession.

Doug Barnett, head of customer risk management at AXA says: “Crime against business is a serious issue and this year we are concerned that the continuing recession could prompt a rise around the Christmas period. We would urge all businesses to work with local communities and police to protect themselves as well as taking sensible precautions, not least making sure they are properly insured should the worst happen.

“With 36,200 businesses⁵ predicted to fail in 2009, we can’t stress enough the importance of insurance to avoid becoming part of that depressing statistic.”

“Business crime can have a devastating impact on a business and its employees – we hope we can work with the business community to keep this to a minimum this Christmas.”

The following advice should be used in conjunction with other sections of the site, such as the candle fire safety page, due to the fact that candles are also used more and more at this time of year.

Fairy Lights

Fairy lights, Christmas tree lights, multiple sets of lights and other kinds of decorative lights get used less often than your everyday lights, and they need more care.

• Check the fuses are the right type (see the box for the maximum size of fuse you should use).
• If bulbs blow, replace them.
• Don’t leave fairy lights on when you go out or when you go to sleep.
• Don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, like paper.
• Don’t overload sockets.

Decorations

Decorations made of light tissue paper or cardboard burn easily.

• Don’t attach them to lights or heaters.
• Don’t put them immediately above or around the fireplace.
• Keep them away from candles.

Christmas Trees

Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases. This can be seen by viewing this video.

Selecting a Tree for Christmas

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Caring for Your Tree

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Disposing of Your Tree.

Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling centre or having it taken away by a community pickup service.

For further information visit http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/christmas.php

Lanterns made from hollowed out pumpkins can also be hazardous as, if they tip over, the candles can set light to costumes, curtains, clothes, and furniture.

Lanterns should never be made from plastic bottles or other potentially dangerous items.

Perry Payne, of the service’s community safety department, said: “We don’t want to stop people enjoying Halloween, but we do want them to celebrate safely by following some simple advice.

“We are asking parents to think very carefully about the fire risks before encouraging children to make their own Halloween lanterns.

“We also want to encourage parents to only buy Halloween costumes and masks that are labelled as flame resistant. Children should be kept away from naked flames at all times.”

Text courtsey of www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk

• 35% of all burglaries are crimes of opportunity, where the burglar lets themselves in through unlocked doors or windows
• You are ten times more likely to be burgled if you don’t have basic security – even something as simple as putting strong locks on your doors and windows will keep your house much safer
• Burglary has fallen by nearly 60% since 1995, but criminals are opportunists who will take advantage of any chance to steal from you, so you should remain aware

www.stjohnsecurity.co.uk

Bonfire night is an occasion enjoyed by tens of thousands of people across  the UK each year. But it is important to remember that bonfires and fireworks can be dangerous. In 2006 over 1,000 people in the UK suffered injuries from fireworks – half of these were children under the age of 16.

The safest way to enjoy Bonfire night is at an organised display.  However if you are planning on holding your own firework party, please make sure you follow the firework code:

• Keep pets indoors.
• Keep fireworks in a closed box.
• Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114.
• Follow the instructions on each firework.
• Never give sparklers to a child under five.
• Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
• Always supervise children around fireworks.
• Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
• Light at arm’s length, using a taper – stand well back.
• Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could still explode.

Contact your local council to find out about organised displays.

For futher safety advice visit http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/bonfires.php

With 744,000* household burglaries taking place annually it’s important to make sure that preventative measures are in place to avoid becoming a victim of burglary.

As the shortened days give potential burglars an extended cover of darkness in which to commit break-ins now especially, is the ideal time to assess your home security and make any necessary changes.

Head of MORE TH>N Home Insurance, Annette Lepper commented, ‘Being burgled is an extremely distressing experience, so it’s important to be safe and look to prevent situations that can aid a break-in. I would urge all homeowners to take the time to regularly review the security of their property – and of course check that their contents insurance is comprehensive and up-to-date.’

MORE TH>N have the following tips to help prevent burglary:

• Front and back doors must be secure: if replacing locks, choose those that conform to British Standard 3621 or with a minimum of five levers – the better the lock the harder it will be for an intruder to make their way in.
• Consider fixing a chain or bar to your front and rear doors, if you don’t already have them.
• Solid timber doors are the safest, as oppose to weak hollow-core doors.
• It’s of utmost importance to lock all doors and windows when going out – even if just popping round to the corner shop – if there is no forced entry, your home insurer will be unlikely to pay out.
• You should also lock doors when you’re in the home, especially at night.
• Don’t leave keys in shelves or on tables near the door – burglars will often reach through the letterbox.
• Around a third of burglars get in through the windows; if you don’t already have window locks, think about fitting them – especially for windows that are easily accessible or close to ground level.
• Never leave a spare set of keys outside, burglars know all the hiding spots, instead, leave keys with a trusted friend.
• Lock your side gate to prevent easy access to the back of your house where burglars will be out of sight from the street.
• Make sure you have a lock on garden sheds, particularly if they contain garden tools as these could aid a burglars entry to the property.
• Outdoor lighting can give burglars less places to hide, the best to use is high-efficiency and low energy lighting.
• ‘Beware of the dog!’ The thought of a barking dog can be enough to put off burglars, even if you don’t own one, think about putting up a ‘Beware’ sign.
• Intruder alarms can be a good way of protecting your home, ensure that they are always activated when the home is unoccupied.
• Make sure your home contents insurance is up-to-date, and that you’re insured for the correct amount. Many insurers require a notification of high-value items in the home.

For further information on MORE TH>N Home Insurance, please phone 0800 300 660 or go to www.morethan.com/home

*The England and Wales British Crime Survey 2008/2009

Some editorial courtsey of More Than

Monitored Wireless CO Detector for the Wisdom Risco System

The Wireless CO Detector is a supervised and fully battery powered transmitter that is effective for detecting buildup carbon monoxide (CO).  Upon detecting the CO gas, the unit emits an alarm and notifies the control panel.

• Easy to install • Monitoring of carbon monoxide in a continuous manner • Loud alarm (85 dB) and signal to the panel when detecting a buildup of carbon • monoxide • Test button and continuous self-testing function. • Designed to meet the requirements of UL Standard 2034

On activation th CO detection will send a signal to G4S, who will contact you to make you aware, if unsuccesful they may than contact the Fire service on your behalf.

For the months of September and October we are reducing our cost of the CO detectors from £199 to £169 this includes VAT and installation.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal to protect your home before the cold winter months are here!