Police – Spring into security mode

Spring always makes me feel a bit happier. It could be the warmer, longer days. It could be the first leaves springing to life on the deciduous trees. It could just be the simple fact that other people seem more positive at this time of year, but whatever the reason, springtime makes me feel hopeful.

The gardeners out there will know that it’s also the time to get into the garden with the pruners, hedge-trimmer or loppers in hand. While you’re in the garden considering the aesthetics of it all, spare a thought for the effect that thoughtful landscape design can have on your homes security.

I’m talking about cutting back those hedges, trees and shrubs that provide the screen behind which a burglar can move. Remove the vegetation that has grown over the last year to obscure your CCTV cameras or your motion sensors. While you’re there, give the spiders who have moved onto your security light sensors over the winter their marching orders. Spiders were designed with marching in mind, eight legs and all that. Even something as simple as presenting a visibly well maintained, obviously ‘lived in’ home to the street can discourage the unwanted attention of an opportunist burglar. They will always choose an easier option.

While I’m talking about those simply awful people who think it’s okay to break into other folks home, I should point out that most house burglaries take place during the day. That’s why it’s particularly important that if you see someone that you don’t recognise cruising or walking your neighbourhood, please call the police and let us know. We would far rather check the bona fides of a person who has a legitimate reason to be in your street, confirming they are doing no harm, than attend a burglary where someone’s most valued possessions have been stolen.

One more thing to bear in mind is that sometimes these villains literally hide in plain sight. Fluorescent clothing is the new disguise of choice for the daylight burglar. It seems that we have become so desensitised to the sight of safety clothing that someone in fluoro walking behind the neighbour’s house is dismissed in our minds as a worker doing something legitimate. If your neighbour is away, they haven’t told you they’re having work done and someone’s on their property, give the police a call and we’ll check it out.

Ask us a question

Finally, and completely off this week’s subject, for the last few months I’ve been writing about the things that I want to say to our community. For my next column, I’d like to try something a bit different. If anyone has a question that they’d like to ask their local police, send it to: Mark.Stallworthy@police.govt.nz and I’ll give you an honest, local, ‘grassroots’ level answer. Give it a go. Stay safe