Police remind people to lock up their shed and garages after spate of thefts

Over the past few weeks, police have received reports of thieves breaking in to sheds and garages and making off with bicycles and tools.

Officers from the Alfreton Rural Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team have been carrying out enquiries and advising residents about steps that they can take to better protect their property from being stolen.

PCSO Chris Bannister said: “Sheds and garages are great storage spaces, but the items in there can be costly to replace, in particular things like bicycles and power tools.

“Please check that your shed and its contents are as secure as they can be. Use good quality locks, install motion sensor alarms and security mark any valuable property. You should also consider registering valuables on the UK national property register, Immobilise.”

“I would encourage residents to check their outbuildings regularly and to contact the police as soon as possible if you find it has been broken into or if you notice any suspicious activity.”

Other crime prevention advice for boosting shed and garden security include ensure that valuables are kept out of view from passers-by and consider covering your windows from the inside to prevent thieves from taking a look, don’t leave items in your garden that could make the life of a thief any easier, for example, a ladder left out in your garden could be used to get into the upper floor of your home or onto the top of your shed.

Likewise, other tools and gardening equipment left outside could be used to break into your home. Just taking a few minutes to lock these items away will greatly increase your security, report any suspicious activity to police as it is happening to help stop a crime from taking place.

Further information on Immobilise, the world’s largest free register of possession ownership details, can be found at www.immobilise.com.

For more crime prevention advice, or to speak to your local Safer Neighbourhood team, call 101. You can also send them a message online by visiting the Contact Us section of www.derbyshire.police.uk.

The Alfreton Rural Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team can also be found on Twitter. To follow them, and keep up to date on their work, visit www.twitter.com and search @AlfretonRural.