The following can be attributed to Detective Sergeant Damon Wells, Canterbury Police.
Canterbury Police are concerned about the ongoing burglaries of new homes under construction.
Appliances and furnishing have been targeted in the burglaries as these items are readily traded, sold online or transferred in the criminal fraternity.
Police would like to remind members of the public that purchasing new items such as appliances and household fittings from social media sites at very cheap prices can often be too good to be true. These items may be stolen, otherwise they would be sold in a more traditional forum, and knowing something is stolen, or purchasing it may constitute an offence of receiving stolen property.
“We want to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to steal items in the first place, and secondly make it difficult to sell these items by marking them with the builder/building companies details,” said Detective Sergeant Damon Wells.
For those people who may be in the process of building a home Police recommend the following –
· Ensure that master locks and keys and codes for lock boxes are changed on a regular basis so that ex-contractors and ex-employees no longer have access to them.
· Ensure that waste bins and skips are situated in such a place that visibility is not obscured to the house under construction.
· Consider early placement of security lighting to deter offenders. Power is often on site early in the build process.
· Consider CCTV systems that can be installed and moved from house to house as the construction commences and completes.
· Ensure deliveries of items for the house are only made just prior to installation to ensure that valuable items are not sitting around. Do not organise deliveries for a Friday afternoon when they are likely to be sitting there in an empty house over the weekend.
· Ensure adequate security fencing.
· Consider permanently marking the rear of appliances and valuable items so they are more recognisable if stolen, noting the serial numbers and make of items (photograph will suffice).
Anyone who see suspicious activity at building sites in their community are asked to contact their local Police Station or information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre