In view of an increased number of break-ins to steal cars in the west of Edinburgh Police Scotland has issued the following advice:
- Many opportunistic thieves do not have to break in to homes at all, as a door or window may have been left open or unlocked. Always ensure they are secure.
- Don’t leave keys on the inside of door locks, under mats or elsewhere that they can be easily found.
- Don’t put your name on keyrings because if lost or stolen, the opportunist will have all the information he needs to direct him to your home.
- Don’t keep house keys and car keys on the same key ring.
- Don’t leave valuables in sight of windows.
- If you have a wall calendar, avoid mounting it near a window from where appointments can potentially be seen – this could indicate when your house will be empty.
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Mark your possessions with a UV marker. You can use the marker to record your postcode and house number on items such as mobile phones, cameras, laptops and tablets. UV Kits are available on a number of well-known websites and can be purchased for under £10.00. If the unthinkable happens and you are the victim of this type of crime then your property may be easier to identify if it has been security marked.
Make your house look occupied at all times. - Make sure your motor car is secure, preferably garaged if possible and store the car keys out of sight.