Making life hard for burglars

Rochdale Council and local police are on a mission to make as many houses as possible across the borough burglar proof.

Crime reduction officers from the council’s community safety team are offering households free home security assessments. As part of the assessment they offer residents free security upgrades such as new locks, alarms, light timers as well as crime prevention advice and literature.

As part of the police and council’s mission to make life hard for burglars in the borough almost 1500 properties have been offered a personal security assessment of their home as well as crime prevention literature. 26% of properties took up the offers but authorities are hoping to burglar proof even more houses over the forthcoming months.

Smartwater has also been provided in 146 households across Hollins, Kirkholt, Falinge, Oldham Rd, Cheapside and Spotland. Smartwater is an invisible liquid that glows florescent green under ultra-violent lights. It’s painted onto property containing a unique ID number that links the property to its owner if it’s ever stolen. It helps police catch criminals because the invisible residue lingers on the skin connecting them to the crime.

Dale Mulgrew, cabinet member responsible for community safety at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We shouldn’t make it easy for burglars. With the dark nights approaching it’s important that people protect their homes and properties by remembering alarm, locks and lights. And if you get offered a free home security assessment please, please take up the offer. You never know it might prevent you coming home to a nasty shock.”

The police and council use the most up-to-date crime statistics and latest intelligence to identify vulnerable areas and burglary hotspots. The burglary reduction team, consisting of community safety officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and crime reduction advisors flood these areas making sure that residents know how to protect their properties and who to contact for help.
Superintendent Martin Greenhalgh for Rochdale Division, said: "Burglary is a particularly distressing crime for residents and I want to assure everyone that patrols have been stepped up in key areas. Officers continue to target known offenders and we will revisit both victims’ homes and others near by to provide them with suitable crime prevention advice.

“It is important for people to switch a light on and turn a burglar off. Also remember to set your alarm if you have one, lock your doors and windows and leave a low energy light bulb on to deter potential burglars.”