In Focus: Burglary and Stolen Goods

Vigilance and a lack of complacency when it comes to home security are key to preventing burglaries, a leading police officer has said.

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Morgan was launching a week of focus on action against burglary and handling stolen goods, at a time when forces are increasing crime prevention activity in the run up to the festive period. Records show that November is often the peak month for burglaries taking place.

ACC Morgan also had a warning for those who handle stolen goods, saying that police will be on the lookout for buying and selling of stolen items and those committing an offence will face prosecution.

ACC Morgan said:

“At this time of year burglars may attempt to take advantage of the darker nights, hoping to steal the high value goods householders may buy in the run up to Christmas. I am asking people to take steps to ensure they have the right protection on doors and windows, invest in timer switches if they are going to be away and to ensure they have plans in place to stop mail visibly piling up or deliveries being left outside.

“These seemingly simple measures really do go a long way towards ensuring that your house is a hostile environment for burglars.”

Ten years ago, there were 437,583 reported domestic burglaries in England and Wales. Last year the figure was 227,280 - a significant reduction of 48 per cent. The current trend this year is for further reductions. But this should not distract householders from the need to keep their property secure, particularly in the run up to Christmas.

“We have made huge progress,” ACC Morgan said.

“I am delighted that up and down the country, police are working with the public and partners to drive home crime prevention messages. Burglary is a continual priority for police and we will take strong action to investigate and arrest criminals.

“Burglary exists as a crime because there is a market for the goods that are taken. Combating the handling of stolen goods goes hand-in-hand with preventing burglary. All retailers, particularly pawnbrokers and charity-shop managers, should be particularly vigilant when it comes to taking in items and should contact their local police force immediately they notice suspicious behaviour on the part of a client or suspect an item of being stolen.

“Similarly, people should be wary of anyone selling cut-price goods in pubs or on the streets. It may be tempting to snap up a quick bargain, but if that item is stolen, you are committing an offence and are liable for prosecution.”

Over the next few days as part of ACPO’s In Focus – Burglary and Handling Stolen Goods week, police forces will be highlighting burglary and the market in stolen goods for communities, businesses and police by targeting known offenders, aiming for more prosecutions, dispensing advice on home security (including doing so in partnership with DIY and hardware shops), alerting householders close to the site of a burglary that burglars have struck in their area and producing a variety of communications on security, stolen goods and alerts of arrests and case progression.

It will also be an opportunity to encourage the public to have a discussion with police about what they can do to help prevent burglaries and discourage the market in stolen goods in their area.

ACC Morgan will be conducting a Twitter Q&A on November 19 between 12 and 1pm to answer any questions the public may have about burglary, stolen goods and how they can play their part in keeping their home secure.

ENDS

In Focus – Burglary and handling stolen goods will take place between Monday, November 18 and Friday, November 22.

The campaign is the third In Focus initiative and follows the success of In Focus – Alcohol Harm which highlighted the strain on, and cost implications to, the police caused by student binge-drinkers who are detained because of their excessive alcohol consumption and In Focus – Anti-Social Behaviour which looked at how we define ASB and how forces are working to reduce it in communities.

The British Crime Survey, covering the period up to March 2013, stated that householders are around three times less likely to be victims of burglary now than they were in 1995, with a 63 per cent fall between then and now, but forces are urging vigilance and pointing out the need not to become complacent.

Please see some examples of some force activity, by force area, below:

Cambridgeshire Constabulary have a large, integrated campaign involving home security advice at garden centres and DIY stores, radio adverts, a campaign trailer and branded car for deployment in high-footfall areas, reassurance of elderly and vulnerable people and a social media drive.

Gloucestershire Constabulary have an ongoing operation – Op Spa – which involves officers being deployed to homes in the vicinity of a break-in to warn about the recent incident and offer a home security check.

Kent Police have launched Operation Castle – an anti-burglary initiative – and are distributing materials to drive home the message. Details at http://www.kent.police.uk/advice/seasonal_advice/autumn_burglary.html

Lancashire Constabulary have a three-strand operation to tackle burglary, using the headings ‘Pursue’ (targeting known offenders), ‘Prosecute’ (bringing burglars to justice) and ‘Prevent’ (a crime prevention drive through December)

In addition, Secured by Design, a company operating under the auspices of ACPO’s Crime Prevention Initiatives division, has established a partnership with B&Q to give advice on home security products in certain branches.

Also, thefts from museums, galleries, private collections and the historic built environment, many of which result in additions to the market in stolen high-end goods, will be highlighted at the launch of the national strategic assessment of heritage and cultural property crime on behalf of the ACPO-led National Heritage and Cultural Property Crime working group. The document will be launched by the national policing lead on the topic, Chief Constable Andy Bliss, at an event in the Tower of London at 10am on Monday, November 18.

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk