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Burglary

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What is Burglary ?	A burglary occurs when an intruder has entered or attempted to enter a domestic, commercial or school premise and stolen or attempted to steal property. Aggravated burglary is when an intruder has,armed with a firearm, weapon or explosive, enters a dwelling as a trespasser to steal or commit grievous bodily harm.
Who is affected?	Any owner of a property is at potential risk of being burgled. However, the risk of being a victim of domestic burglary has halved since 1995. The Crime in England and Wales 2004/05 report found that 83% of the general public had window locks, only 36% of burglary victims did. This strongly indicates that the more secure your property, the less likely it is you will be burgled.
What does it cost?	Recent research has discovered that the average cost of a domestic burglary including damage amounts to £2,300.
What help is available?	The Government has introduced tougher sentencesfor people convicted of burglary on three separate occasions. Safety tips and concerns can be obtained agencies such as the Police, Community safety Partnerships, Age Concern and Help the Aged. The Home Office has published the following tips on their website: Staying safe tips LOCK: Make sure your door is locked when you’re at home and don’t unlock it until you’re sure who is on the other side. STOP: If someone appears at your door, and you’re not expecting any visitors, check that all the doors are locked. Look through the spy-hole or the window to see who it is. CHAIN: If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the bar or chain on while you are talking. (Normally, when the door is shut and locked, leave the bar or chain off, in case you need to get out in an emergency) CHECK: Ask for, and double check, their identity card. And if you’re still not sure, ask for a number you can ring to confirm their identity. If they can’t show you any identification, don’t let them in.
What is being done locally?	Police officers and crime reduction officers can offer assistance in guiding property owners on how to keep property safe and secure. Neighbourhood Watch schemes provide a holistic approach for communities to work together in tackling such issues. Concerns can be raised and tackled through local PACT meetings.
Further information?	Is available in documents downloadable from the Home Office website including “Guide to Home Security” and “How to beat the Bogus Caller”. http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/

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