Police explain how Milton Keynes residents can protect against burglars over Christmas season

As nights draw in and Christmas gets closer, it is important for everyone to protect their house so they're not an attractive target for burglars.

Police said that the period following the clocks going back and in the run up to Christmas often sees the number of burglaries start to rise.

Because of this, officers said they will of course be out on patrol, targeting offenders and locations across the Thames Valley, only with Covid restrictions in place some of their traditional crime prevention outreach work has not been possible.

Police said burglary is significantly down on previous reported levels, but that it is not a time to be complacent. Officers said these figures will no doubt have been impacted by the stringent lockdown measures that have been in force earlier in the year and most recently through November.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) has outlined how members of the public can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary by taking a few simple steps.

A TVP spokesperson said: "If you’re getting items delivered please make sure you:

"Track your parcels and make sure items are delivered when you are at home to receive them, or, have them delivered to a trusted alternative address.

"Cut up packaging for any expensive items so that it will fit inside your refuse bin, never leave boxes next to the bin where they can be seen.

"Install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system.

"Install a security light.

"Use an off-site locker service for frequent deliveries, or for expensive items; these parcel boxes are more likely to be in busy, safer locations - such as supermarkets - rather than secluded areas which could be targeted by thieves.

"Remove any address labels as they can give away what you’ve had delivered as well as increase the chances of you becoming a victim of identity fraud."

Police also provided ways to protect against having Christmas presents stolen.

The spokesperson said: "Don’t leave presents on view under the Christmas tree.

"Cut up packaging for any expensive gifts so that it will fit inside your refuse bin, never leave boxes next to the bin where they can be seen.

"Refrain from posting photos of high value presents, such as jewellery or electronics, on social media.

"Remember to mark your new presents using a UV pen and register them on the national property register at immobilise.com."

Keyless car theft

TVP also said they are seeing that high value vehicles are being targeted.

Police said: "Villains are using technology to lock on to the frequency emitted by your car’s remote locking key fob and use that to ‘fool’ the car in to thinking that it is being unlocked legitimately.

"You can reduce the effectiveness of this tactic by ensuring that your keys are kept well away from doors or windows or by purchasing a ‘signal blocking’ pouch or box which will interrupt the capture of the frequency."