'Burglars love Valentine night', warn police

Greater Manchester Police is warning residents to take extra care securing their homes from burglars on Valentine’s Night.

Burglars take advantage of people letting their guard down on this special day and victims can return home from a romantic night out to find their prized possessions gone.

Residents can decrease their chances of falling prey to burglars by following simple advice that can stop a break-in spoiling a perfect celebration.

Make sure you shut and lock all external doors and windows and activate your burglar alarm. Using lights, radios and timer switches to make your house look occupied will encourage burglars to give your home a wide berth and move on to easier takings.

If you are whisking your loved one away on a romantic break ask a trusted neighbour to open and draw curtains, park on your drive and keep an eye on your home.

Registering your valuables online through the national www.immobilise.com database is free and makes your possessions less attractive to thieves. The database is available to all UK police forces who use it to return lost and stolen possessions to their rightful owners.

Almost any item with a serial number recovered by police can be returned to the owner if registered on the database. Users can also add photographs and certificates of ownership to their Immobilise account. Once registered users can update their account with details of new possessions, and take off items they no longer own.

Superintendent Warren McGuire from GMP’s Operation Guardian, a six-month initiative targeting burglars and encouraging residents to secure their homes, said: “Burglars expect people to be more relaxed and less cautious on Valentines Day and take advantage of unoccupied homes as people take partners on special nights out.

“Residents can play their part by following the advice given to make sure they do not lose their loved valuables to callous criminals.”