Burglary is one of the crimes that causes the greatest amount of anxiety to residents in Leeds. However, burglary rates in Leeds continue to fall.
Key activities
Some of the key activities in the bid to reduce burglary include:
Crime reduction in Leeds programme
This programme is reducing the risk of properties in Leeds being burgled by securing thousands of vulnerable properties.
This process is called 'target hardening' because it makes it more difficult for burglars to enter a property. The work is carried out by CASAC Partnership Limited, who fit new door hardware and window locks as well as other security equipment to homes across Leeds.
94.4 percent of all residents who received target hardening said that the service had reduced their fear of crime and 99.8 percent said they were satisfied with the standard of service.
Lock your door
One in four burglars in Leeds get in through an unlocked door.
Leeds Community Safety are urging all residents to remember to keep doors locked whether you are in or out. In co-operation with West Yorkshire Police's 'Target' initiative, we will be running adverts on buses throughout October, November and December to remind people to keep their homes secure.
What is distraction burglary?
The term distraction burglary is used to cover crimes where a burglar or conman (or woman) uses a variety of stories to gain access to someone’s home in order to steal. They may pretend to be someone from the local council, gas, water or electricity company or pretend to be workmen needing to do ’urgent’ repairs.
Distraction burglaries and bogus trader crimes are rare, but when they happen it can be deeply distressing. It is a crime that is targeted at the older population. The average age of victims is 81.
Don’t become a victim - follow the doorstep code:
- Think before you open the door - are you expecting anyone?
- Use your door viewer or look through a window to see who it is
- Put the chain on
- Ask the caller for identification -but keep the chain on while you check it
- Check the ID and phone their office if you are unsure
- If you have any suspicions - call the police - dial 999
Remember
No-one has the right to walk into your home and you have the right to refuse people from coming in. Genuine callers will make an appointment.