The clocks have gone forward and the evenings are becoming lighter and Police across South division, which covers Preston, Chorley South Ribble and West Lancashire, are warning people to make their home and belongings as hard a target as possible for thieves to hit.

With many people looking forward to the extra daylight time, the lighter evenings and warmer weather are often seen as perfect conditions for opportunistic thieves and burglars as people may let their guard down when it comes to securing their property.

Chief Inspector Chris Abbott said: “With the nights getting lighter, and as the weather warms up, people will be spending more time outdoors. Thieves will be looking to take advantage of the fact that some people may leave doors and windows open which does present an open invitation to those wanting to take what doesn’t belong to them.

“We are continuing to proactively deter and target thieves, but everybody has their part to play to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of burglary. By taking just a few minutes to make sure that your property is secure, it can save anger and frustration in the long run”

Things that you can do to help protect your home and property:

• Close and lock your doors and windows when you go out, even if you are just in the garden. Check doors and windows before going to bed.
• Always use good quality padlocks with covers on all outbuildings so they cannot be easily cut off.
• Make sure side gates / sheds / garages are locked and keep boundary fences, walls and gates in good repair.
• Install security lighting and / or CCTV cameras around your property where possible; they are a great deterrent.
• Don’t leave keys where they can be seen or reached through the letter box.
• Always lock your car and don’t leave things like shopping bags on display.

For more advice on how to keep your home and property safe and secure, visit: Lancashire Constabulary - Lancashire Police - Burglary

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