Vehicle Crime
Car break-ins are probably the single most common crime in this area. Weston Road is a hot-spot, particularly overnight (the section by the park and golf course is not overlooked by houses). The Police recommend parking (if possible) where the car is not visible from the road. Owners should lock parked vehicles (setting the alarm if there is one) and not leave coins or other items inside; a car was recently broken into in order to steal some lollipops! Don't leave car keys on a hall table or where they would be visible to an intruder. Number plate theft occurs in our area; it can be prevented by using screws that only tighten up or a super-strong glue (but check that this won’t affect the vehicle's warranty). Theft of tools from vans is also on the increase.
Household security
Securing your home
On at least two occasions would-be burglars in our street have smashed glass in door panels, in doors which do not directly face the street; keep windows (including upstairs ones) and outside doors locked if you are not nearby. Remove the keys and place them out of sight.
Other tips:
- Use a key to lock all UPVC doors; merely lifting the handle will NOT fully lock the door, and makes it vulnerable to attack.
- Close internal doors at night to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
- Set the alarm (if you have one) overnight as well as when you go out.
- Hide keys, including car keys, and handbag or wallet safely out of sight.
- Never leave keys in the back of the door or window.
- Fit motion sensing security lights around your property.
- Fit a letterbox cage.
- Keep tools locked up in a secure shed or garage.
- Make sure garden furniture and bins can't be moved to give access to upstairs windows.
- Keep side gates locked unless you are in front of the house between them and the street.
Not advertising your absence
Don't advertise on Facebook or other social media that you'll be away, and don't display your address prominently on your luggage.
If you have a regular delivery (e.g. of milk or newspapers) and need to cancel it while you're away, do it by email or letter. One attempted burglary here happened after a careless assistant in a crowded shop loudly repeated an address and the dates when it would be unoccupied.
Put lights on timer switches when you go out, and tune a radio into a talk station to give the impression that someone is at home.
Protecting valuables
Criminals have recently been targeting gold jewellery in burglaries and the Police encourage people to keep photographic records and descriptions of items of sentimental or financial value and not to keep large amounts of cash and/or valuable jewellery in the home. High-value items can also be marked with colourless forensic security-marking solutions.
Valuable items can also be registered on Immobilise, the UK National Property Register. This service is free and makes it easier to return stolen property to its owner if it is recovered. Tracker software is available for laptops, phones and tablets.
Don't leave the boxes from new presents or recently purchased items where people can see them.
Rogue 'workmen' and salesmen and doorstep crime
Rogue 'workmen' and traders, sometimes accompanied by distraction burglars, are active in Bath. In our street they offer to do work on trees, claiming to have been doing work 'at that house over there'. Two quick ways of making them scarper are to say that you are going to contact the occupants of the house where they claim to have been working or to ask to see their public liability insurance certificate.
Unlicensed door-to-door salesmen claiming to be on a rehabilitation scheme for ex-offenders (so-called 'Nottingham Knockers') also call on this street from time to time, most recently in January 2017. They sell poor-quality household goods at excessive prices, target the elderly and vulnerable, and people who buy from them may later become targets for burglars. The Police should be notified of any such caller on 101.
There is now a Nominated Neighbour Scheme in our area. A vulnerable person chooses a trusted neighbour or friend as 'Nominated Neighbour'. Any unknown callers at the vulnerable person's door are sent to their 'Nominated Neighbour', who will check the caller's credentials. If the 'Nominated Neighbour' accepts them, they will go with the caller to their neighbour's house and stay until they leave.
The Police give the following advice about doorstep crime:
- if you're not sure, don't open the door
- if you do open the door, use a chain. Don't admit them to your home unless you are certain of their identity as they may 'case the joint' by noting the location of valuables.
- always ask for photo identification and if you have concerns, phone the company they claim to represent using a number you know to be correct - NOT one given by the caller
- if you are suspicious of a caller ring 999 straight away
- if you see someone calling door-to-door, but only on frail or elderly neighbours, call 999 straight away
- don't keep large sums in cash at home
- keep windows and doors secured if you're not in the room
- consider displaying a 'no cold calling' sticker by your door. We have a supply of these stickers.
Genuine callers from utility companies, the council, police or charities:
- will expect you to check their identification before opening the door
- would never try to rush you by claiming there's an emergency
- will happily make an appointment to come back when you can have a relative or friend with you