SURREY Police has this week launched a month- long campaign across the county to crackdown on burglaries. Police are warning residents that as the weather improves so do the opportunities for burglars and homeowners are being reminded how they can work with police to protect themselves from thieves. Residents are being urged to take simple steps, including never leaving open windows and doors unattended, keeping valuable items out of sight and checking security before going on holiday. Surrey has one of the lowest burglary rates in the South East with the number of burglaries last year falling a further 2.2 per cent from 3,473 in 2005/ 06 to 3,397 in 2006/07. This is around nine burglaries a day in a county of more than one million people. But police are determined not to be complacent and are continuing to work with the public to drive the number of offences down even further. Superintendent Chris Moon, who is leading the campaign, said: "Burglary is, on the whole, an opportunist crime. "If thieves are scouting for potential targets and see an easy access point to your home they will take advantage of it. "Surrey Police has been working hard to tackle burglary and members of the public can help by staying alert to potential risks. "Thieves will always be drawn to quick and simple targets, our message is – don't make it easy for them." During the campaign Surrey Police will continue its work to target and arrest offenders and carry out high visibility patrols. Officers will be handing out advice on home and garden security and distributing thousands of property marking pens and stickers to deter thieves. Work will also be done to raise awareness among elderly and vulnerable residents of the risks from distraction burglary. Bogus callers often use the warmer summer months to pose as representatives from the water board and trick their way inside people's homes. Supt Moon added: "No-one asks or deserves to be burgled but by locking up properly, keeping an eye on windows and doors, and following advice on home security, you can make life a lot more difficult for opportunist thieves. "Burglary offences in Surrey continue to fall and we want to keep it that way." For crime prevention advice on burglary visit the Surrey Police website at http://www.surrey.police.uk/">www.surrey.police.uk/ property.asp and click on Your Home.
