Month: January 2019

Home Security Advice

A message from PCSO Lee O’Brien.

“Unfortunately, since the start of 2019 the Pinner area has suffered from a spate of burglaries. It is therefore important to be vigilant and assess your home’s security vulnerabilities.

Some of the main security measures we recommend are:

1. An intruder alarm system installed by an NSI or SSAIB affiliated company is an excellent deterrent. Most burglaries occur at the rear, so have an additional active alarm bell box fitted at the rear, as well as the front, to deter intruders approaching from neighbouring gardens or alleyways.

2. Most UPVC and aluminium doors have multi-locking handles. If you have one of these doors, it is vital that you lift the handle and lock it with a key. If you don’t have a multi-locking handle, surface mounted key operated locks can be fitted to the top and bottom. Wooden doors should have British Standard 5-lever mortice locks. A front door should also have an automatic deadlocking rim latch and a back door should have two mortice rack bolts, fitted to the top and bottom.

3. Side and rear boundaries should be a minimum of 1.8 metres in height. An additional diamond-style trellis topping is difficult to climb and provides a framework for spiky, defensive planting, such as climbing roses. Side gates should be level with the front building line, secure and the same height as the side and rear boundaries. 

4. Low front boundaries should not exceed 1 metre in height, to allow natural surveillance and increase the chances of a burglar being seen.

5. A safe, fixed to a solid floor and/or wall will prevent valuables and sentimental items being stolen. Property marking and photographing valuables assists police to return stolen property. Timers or smart technology linked to lights and a radio will give the impression that somebody is at home.

6. Burglars often knock or ring at the door to see if a property is unoccupied before gaining entry to it, so if you think you hear someone at your door, please respond to it.

7. Consider purchasing a smart audio and visual doorbell such as ring.com, which provides CCTV coverage of your driveway / street and allows you to answer your door remotely.”

Attempted Car Theft – Pinner Area

We have received an email from the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

“Over the weekend of the 19th / 20th January we received reports of two failed attempts to steal a Land Rover / Range Rover from driveways in the Pinner area.

These and other high-value vehicles are often targeted by organised criminals who ship the vehicles abroad, never to be seen again.

It is therefore of the utmost importance to take the below proactive security measures to prevent the theft of your vehicle.

  • Thieves are using sophisticated methods to steal vehicles with electronic keys – a scanner is used to locate the signal from the key. To prevent this, always keep the electronic key in a security pouch when not in use.
  • Keys and ignition fobs should kept safe and out of sight and reach – the most common ways to steal a car or van is to take the keys or ignition fob, either when left in the vehicle or from your home through burglary. Try not to keep your keys in an obvious place such as the hallway or kitchen.
  • Set the steering wheel lock if your vehicle is fitted with one. If not, use a bar type steering lock each time you leave your vehicle.
  • Also consider using a gear stick lock.

No matter how many wheels your mode of transport has, you can get further vehicle theft prevention advice via this link: https://www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/theft-of-a-vehicle/.”