Newton Aycliffe householders are being urged to make this a bleak winter for burglars.
Rising energy prices and the cost of living crisis may make it tempting to save money by leaving your home in darkness.
But on average it costs less than 1p to leave one house light on for an hour – which means it costs pennies to help protect your home from burglary and save the cost of replacing your family’s possessions.
With the clocks going back this week and the dark nights drawing in, people across County Durham and Darlington are being urged to take steps to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of crime with a few simple steps to reduce the chances of becoming a target for burglars and opportunist thieves.
As part of Operation Trident, officers will focus not just on crime prevention, but catching those who try to use the cover of darkness to break the law.
Detective Superintendent Steve Thubron, of Durham Constabulary, said: “Dark evenings provide the perfect cover for criminals to spot an opportunity, whether it is to try an unlocked door handle or find an open window.
“I urge everyone to think about what they can do to improve their personal safety and crime prevention and look out for each other.
“We will be using all the powers at our disposal to pursue and catch opportunist thieves who think it is okay to target innocent people.”
Whether the change is making sure your home is lit, keeping valuables out of sight in your vehicles or wearing something bright on your way home – we are urging people to take time to think about what they need to do to help keep themselves safe.
To reduce the chance of your home and vehicle becoming a target for criminals:
• Lock all windows and doors – even when you’re at home.
• Ensure no items are on display and remove valuables from your vehicle each night.
• Keep an eye out for elderly neighbours.
• A well-lit home gives the impression someone is in.
• Leave a light on or use timer switches so lights come on when it gets dark.
• Don’t leave your house and vehicle keys in the lock or on a side table in view of a window, making it easy for a thief to fish them through your letterbox. If you drive a keyless car, keep the fob in a Faraday bag to block the signal and prevent copying.
• Don’t leave curtains closed during the day, only in the evening and overnight.
• If you have a house alarm, use it.
• In addition, secure any outbuildings and gates and consider installing a security light and/or CCTV.
• Report any unusual behaviour to us via 101 or 999 in an emergency.