Don't forget to batten down the hatches before heading out on vacation this summer.
That's advice from the Surrey Police Service as it aims to remind residents to secure their homes to prevent break-ins.
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says that between June and September, over the last three years, Surrey has had 599 residential break-ins with 248 in 2022, 173 in 2023 and 178 in 2024, 173 in 2023 and 248 in 2022.
"Of these," he notes, 31 per cent involved "insecure properties" and 24 per cent, garages.
"With hot daytime weather and warm nights, it is tempting to leave windows open and let the breeze keep your residence cool," Houghton notes. "Property criminals often look for insecure homes and will use ladders left outside the house to gain access to upper storeys. Another common way criminals break into homes is by gaining access to a garage that has either been left open or the garage door opener stolen from inside a vehicle and then used to open the garage."
And so, police are reminding Surrey residents to close their garage doors, not to leave their garage door opener in their vehicle, lock their windows and not leave ladders visible and accessible.
"If you’re going on holidays, arrange to have your mail stopped and packages picked up," Houghton adds. Also, keep your yard well maintained, and maybe install security cameras and motion sensor lights.
Check into Block Watch, which has operated in Surrey since 1986 and is designed to help reduce residential break-ins and theft from vehicles.
