Crime Reduction Advice

New PCSOs currently in training are inviting you along to a special day being held

on Tuesday 15 April

Wyevale Garden Centre, Grundisburgh Road near Woodbridge

between 10am and 3pm

As part of their training, new Police Community Support Officers are asked to organise a community event giving you the opportunity to have a chat about the steps you can take to protect your home and property from criminals.

Eight of the new recruits and crime reduction staff will be on hand and they will be focusing on garage, shed and outbuilding security with a range of information available on the things you can do to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of this type of crime.

Leaflets and posters will feature the slogan ‘Giving it away?’ and will highlight that there were 48 burglaries of outbuildings in the Woodbridge area between April and September last year. 

The aim is to get all those with sheds, garages, summerhouses and similar buildings to think about security, to consider installing a relatively inexpensive shed alarm and to take extra measures to protect any items stored inside.

 Simple steps such as locking up and securing valuables doesn’t have to be expensive but can make all the difference.  A shed alarm, often available for under £10, can make it uncomfortable for any burglar who triggers it while trying to break in as well as it alerting you to the attempt, while good quality locks or padlocks can deter a burglar from even trying.

 The team will also be advising visitors how outbuilding burglaries can lead to, and are often linked with, home burglaries. For example, in some cases tools stolen from sheds have been used to break into homes while in others entry has been gained to a property via a linked insecure garage.

As part of the day the PCSOs are inviting you to bring items such as bike, phones and tools with you, if you wish, in order to get them security marked. Once coded it makes reuniting you and your property much easier if it is ever stolen and then recovered, as often police locate items but then have difficulty tracing the rightful owner.

There will also be a competition with the opportunity for you to win Wyevale gift vouchers.

All are welcome along and police would again like to thank Wyevale for supporting the initiative.