A

ALMOST one in four summer burglaries involve entry through an unsecured door of window, so Killarney Gardaí are urging homeowners to make sure their properties are secured.

Gardaí have unveiled details of the National Crime Prevention Campaign of 2017 entitled ‘Summertime Home Security’. This initiative will coincide with the June Bank Holiday weekend and promotional events will run from June 1-8. Most summer residential burglaries occur late at night between midnight and 4am and in the afternoon between noon and 3pm.

Jewellery and cash are the objects stolen which amount to the highest value. Smaller, less expensive tools such as con-saws and chainsaws are more likely to be stolen in the summer months. There are more burglaries where bicycles are stolen in the summer than in the winter.
Gardaí advise whether at home or going out, turn on some lights, use timer switches.

Lock all doors and windows, use your house alarm and store keys safely, away from windows and letterboxes. Record details of valuables and don’t keep large cash amounts at home. If your home is going to be vacant during the summer period, ask a trusted neighbour or family member to conduct frequent checks of the property. Ensure the house alarm is set.

Check all doors and windows are secure. Install timers on internal lights and motion detectors on external lights to make the house appear occupied.
Ensure that the building doesn't look neglected. Ask a neighbour to collect post or if you are going to be away for longer periods arrange a “mail minder” service with An Post to retain post for collection and place a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign on letter-box.

Inform the local Garda station about the premises being vacant to afford passing attention on patrols. If you are going on holiday and your home is going to be vacant, be mindful of what you post on social media.

A barrier of prickly hedge along your boundary or underneath a window will help deter thieves. Hedges and shrubs in the front garden should be kept to a height of no more than three feet in order to avoid giving a burglar a screen behind which he can conceal himself.