Your Home

​

• All external doors should be protected by a mortice lock.

• All windows (upstairs and downstairs, especially Victorian sash windows) should be fitted with at least one appropriate lock.

• Close and lock all windows and doors and especially when going out.

• Your house should look lived in, even when you’re out. Close the curtains and leave a light on.

• Please do not alert criminals by posting up on social media when you are away on holiday/away for a few days – it just advertises that your home is empty.

 

 

Your Garden

​

• Outbuildings (sheds, garages, etc.) should be secured with a weatherproof padlock.

• Lock them when not in use and don’t leave keys in shed or garage doors.

• Don’t leave possessions such as bicycles outside and unsecured in your garden. Either store them in a locked outbuilding or secure them to an immovable object a stout chainlock.

• Do not make it easy to get into your rear garden. If you have a side-gate, make sure it is locked. Make sure your rear garden fence is difficult to climb over.

 

 

Your Vehicle

​

• Close car windows and lock car doors when leaving your car

• Do not leave anything tempting on display in your car; even an empty shopping bag can tempt a thief to smash a window in case it contains something of value.

• Register your bike on this website https://www.bikeregister.com You can report a stolen bike here too.

• Secure mopeds/motorcycles/cycles to street furniture with decent locks.

 

 

Online/Phone Scams

​

Scams rely on people convincing you they are someone they are not. To minimise the risk of being caught out by a scam

​

• Be suspicious of anyone who calls up “out of the blue” (someone at the door, someone calling you up, an SMS message, an email, etc.)

• Be especially cautious if they try and get any personal information from you (including any financial details such as bank account, credit card details, etc.).

• Avoid anyone who asks you to do something quickly/without telling anyone else (e.g. move your cash to a different account because “it has been targeted by scammers”).

 

We’ve gathered a number of aids to help you spot a scam – some of the examples here are quite devious.

 

It might seem we are over-emphasizing scams, but they really are a most iniquitous type of crime. People feel secure in their own homes and scammers exploit that to take advantage of you.

​

1. The police have released a video on three new scams that criminals are trying out. We watched this ourselves and all the scams were new to us, and we could easily have fallen victim to them

2. Another video is from Richmond Council and shows examples of scams that involve bogus charities, pop up fake shopping sites, subscription traps, E-season greeting cards that contain viruses, loan scams, fraudulent ticket websites, and more. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Watch the video made by Richmond Council here.

3. This article warns you of an SMS scam that claims to relate to Royal Mail trying to deliver a parcel to you (which claims to be a “new iPhone 11 you have won” in a Currys-PC World prizegiving). Remember – if it’s too good to be true, then it IS too good to be true….

4. The attached article on telephone scams references the Christmas period, but its advice is still highly relevant. Please note the examples of scam calls and be very suspicious if someone calls you up and tries to

   • Get personal information from you (please tell me your PIN number for security reasons)

   • Tell you something needs to happen very quickly (your bank account has been hacked, we need to quickly move your money to another account) or

   • Congratulate you that you’ve had an unexpected stroke of good luck (you’ve won a lottery you didn’t remember entering).

5. This article from the Nationwide Building Society has a good list of safe account scams and how to spot them.

6. Finally see this website for government guidance on avoiding being scammed https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frauds-tricks-and-scams/fraud-tricks-and-scams

​

 

 

Out and About

​

• Do not use your mobile phone or any other gadgets in the street without being aware of your surroundings.

• Avoid displaying items of value when walking on the street (e.g. expensive watches).

• Make sure bags cannot be easily snatched (e.g. laptop bag worn with strap across the body rather than carried in one hand).

 

 

Workmen claiming work is needed

​

• Never accept a quote or offer to do work from someone knocking on your door who you have never met before.

• The more someone says you need to act now, the more suspicious you should be.

• If you are tempted, please take the time to phone the company to verify the people you are speaking to, check on Checkatrade and make an appointment for them to come back at a later date in order that you are not rushed into making a decision.