Crime prevention advice

Property marking

Making sure your valuables are marked can deter criminals and help you to get your things back if they are stolen. Thieves find identifiable property difficult to sell on.

You can buy property marking kits from stationery or DIY shops. An ultra-violet (UV) pen can put an invisible mark on your property, which can only be seen under UV light. You can also tell people that you have done this by putting a sign or sticker near your front door.

Secure your home

Make sure you lock doors securely at night and leave the keys in a safe place that the whole family knows about should you need them in a hurry.

Dealing with bogus callers

• Keep front and back doors locked, even when you're home
• Think if you are expecting a caller before you open the door
• Look through the spy-hole or window to see who the caller is
• Keep your door chain on while you find out who it is and what they want
• Check the caller's identification
• Call the police if you aren't happy with their identification
• Never keep large sums of money in the house, and keep purses out of sight

Doorstep sellers

• Be wary of surprise salespeople
• Never sign anything before reading it first. If they refuse to give you more time, be wary!
• Don't agree to work being done on your home until you get a second opinion
• Even if you do sign a contract, you may have a seven-day right to cancel

For further information about bogus callers, doorstep sellers and distraction burglaries, visit the Hampshire Constabulary website.

Contacting the police

• Emergency number - call 999, when a crime is being committed or a life is in danger
• Non-emergency number - call 101, when a crime has been discovered, to leave a message for your local beat officer, or for general queries

You will also find useful local information on the Safer North Hampshire website.