GMP burglary warning

Greater Manchester Police is warning residents to take extra care in securing their homes to prevent them falling victim to opportunistic burglars who target empty properties on New Year’s Eve.

Burglars take advantage of people letting their guard down in the holiday season and victims can return home from partying in the small hours to find that they have been burgled.

Residents can decrease their chances of falling prey to burglars by following simple advice that saves them having a traumatic new year.

Make sure you shut and lock all external doors and windows and activate your burglar alarm. Use lights, radios and timer switches to make your house look occupied.

It is also important to keep valuables out of sight from prying eyes and dispose of boxes that contained valuables by taking them to the tip. Leaving them outside your home is an advert to thieves of what might be inside.

If you are going away over the holidays ask a trusted neighbour to open and draw curtains, park on your drive and keep an eye on your home.

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: “Through Operation Storm we have reduced burglaries by more than ten per cent since 1 April this year when compared to the same period last year. That means almost 1,700 fewer victims of this distressing crime. We will continue to target burglars and further increase reductions in the New Year.

“Burglars expect people to be more relaxed and less cautious during the holiday season and take advantage of homes being unoccupied as people see in the New Year with friends and family.

“We will be visiting prolific offenders to warn them that we will be keeping a close eye on them and increasing overt and covert patrols in hotspot areas.

“Residents can play their part by following the advice given to make sure they do not play host to any unwelcome visitors at this time of year.”