Police Issue Warning About Open Doors and Windows During Heatwave
Residents Urged to Stay Safe and Secure
With temperatures soaring during the current heatwave, West Mercia Police is reminding residents to be cautious about leaving doors and windows open when they are not at home or in another part of the house.
While it’s tempting to let some fresh air in, doing so can make homes vulnerable to burglary and theft.
The police force is urging people to keep their front, patio, and back doors closed and locked when they are elsewhere in the house or garden. It’s also important to lock gates when away from the property and ensure that ground floor windows and external doors are locked at night.
Even a small window can provide an opportunity for burglars to reach through and open a larger window for access, so it’s crucial to keep all doors and windows locked when no one is home.
To deter opportunistic thieves, it’s recommended to shut downstairs windows when leaving a room.
In addition to these security measures, residents can also take advantage of property marking schemes like SmartWater. This makes stolen items harder for thieves to sell on.
Furthermore, West Mercia Police encourages residents to look out for their neighbors’ properties when they are away. Joining the local Neighbourhood Watch scheme can help in this regard.
Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators play a vital role in keeping the community informed about criminal activity, providing crime prevention advice, and resolving local issues.
Local members are encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity they observe.
For more information on Neighbourhood Watch, visit westmercia.police.uk/article/4529/Neighbourhood-Watch/.
To learn more about crime prevention advice, visit westmercia.police.uk/Home-security.
If you witness suspicious activity or need to report a crime, you can visit westmercia.police.uk/report or call 101.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.