Cllr Geoff Starns

A holiday checklist has been drawn up by Havering Police and Council to stop residents falling victim to the rising number of burglaries in the borough whilst abroad.

As well as ensuring all doors and windows are locked before heading off, there is lots more that can be done.

Top tips:

- Make your house look like someone is at home – you could ask a trusted friend or family member to house-sit while you’re away

- Don’t close your curtains – in daytime this is a clear sign that your house is empty

- Get timer switches for use on lights and radios, set them to come on at a certain time and to outsiders it will look like someone is home

- Cancel any milk, newspaper or other deliveries

- Ask a friend or neighbour to ensure all your mail is pushed right through your letterbox

- Avoid discussing your holiday plans in public

- Mow the lawn before you go

- Leave important documents and valuables in a secure place, a safe or bank

- Ask a neighbour to occasionally park their car on your drive

- Don’t put your home address on your luggage tag

- If you have a burglar alarm, make sure you set it.

Cllr Geoff Starns, cabinet member for community safety, said: “Going on holiday is meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable time. I’m sure our residents would enjoy themselves even more if they knew they had taken all possible steps to secure their home before their getaway.

“Simple tips like checking doors and windows are locked, using timer switches and ensuring your home looks occupied can all reduce the risk of having your home burgled. We’ve had a great summer of events with the Olympics just coming to a close and the Paralympics still to look forward to, so let’s not allow opportunist thieves get one over on us and ruin it.”