Author: Tim Elliott
Date: 11/10/2008
Don't get taken to discount cleaners
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| Author: Jodie Thomson Date: 06/01/2008 |
In the mad rush to get away on holidays, too often we're out the door without having stopped to think about the house, garden and possibly pets we're leaving behind. No surprise then that crime statistics spike sharply during this time of year, when households take off for weeks on end. It's also often a tough time for gardens left to deal with the searing summer heat.
Taking a few simple precautions before you go should avoid an unhappy homecoming.
Crime-proof your home
Before you go on holidays, it's essential you do all you can to deter thieves by making it look like you're still home, and by making it extremely difficult for thieves to get in or out.
First, don't give thieves a reason to be interested in your house. If you've been shopping up a storm in the sales, for example, don't leave the packaging lying around, advises NRMA Insurance home portfolio manager Michael Rabbitt.
"Don't put the packaging in the driveway for the garbo advertising you've got a new plasma TV," he says.
Another area people get complacent about is outdoors.
"Garden sheds are full of things like edge trimmers, mowers, POWER TOOLS, bikes; items that are easily disposed of and quite attractive to thieves," Rabbitt says. "Put a padlock on the shed and think about what gear you're going to leave around."
There are some simple things to do to make sure your house looks lived in.
"Put timer switches on lights; they're not expensive," Rabbitt says. "Get your mail diverted or get someone to collect it. Junk mail is a real giveaway you're not home, so get a neighbour to help you out."
Also, don't be tempted to change your phone's answering machine message to announce to callers you're away. "Leave it as normal, or get your phone diverted to your mobile," Rabbitt says.
Now's the time to consider whether your home's security is appropriate for the area you live in, and the type of belongings you have at home.
"In most areas, we're comfortable with normal locks on doors and windows, but in certain areas where burglary rates are higher we would recommend key-operated window locks and double-key deadlocks," Rabbitt says. "Even if they get in, it's then hard for them to get out with all the gear."
And make sure you don't leave house keys inside, or even car keys if your car is parked outside.
"Don't give them an easy getaway."
In high-risk burglary areas, or if your home contains particular valuables, an alarm or security system of some sort might be wise.
"One thing we know is that alarms are effective," Rabbitt says.
Keep it safe and sound
Along with the burglars, there are other things that can go wrong when your house is left empty.
For example, electrical faults or devices left on could trigger a fire that could destroy some or all of the house. To avoid the risk of fire, the NSW Fire Brigades recommends switching off and disconnecting non-essential electrical appliances and IT equipment while away.
For electrical items that are left on, such as lights on timer switches, carefully check they're in good working order. It's also wise to close all internal doors before you leave, which will help reduce the spread of fire if there is one in the house.
THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Whenever you head off on holidays, check you've done these essentials to keep your home safe:
? Lock all doors and windows, and don't forget to lock your shed and garage.
? Don't leave a key hidden around the house. Leave a spare key with a neighbour or friend.
? Cancel your newspapers and arrange for someone to collect your mail regularly. For longer trips, arrange for Australia Post to hold your mail.
? Tell neighbours you're going away and leave a contact phone number.
? Make your home look lived in while you're away. Use timer switches on lights and open a few blinds.
? Engrave your driver's licence number and state you live in on the back of all electronic valuables.
? Don't forget your outdoor stuff: make sure valuables like lawnmowers, sports gear, power tools and good garden equipment are locked away.
Manly Daily
Edition 1 -WED 17 MAR 2004, Page 003
Thieves target tools in cars
TRADESMEN are being urged to engrave their tools following a spate of robberies in the Wheeler Heights area at the weekend.
Seven cars, mainly utes and vans parked in Ettalong and Rose Sts, Wheeler Heights, and Truman and Grover Aves, Cromer, were broken into on Friday night.
Six more break-ins occurred on Sunday night in Ennerdale Cres, James Wheeler Pl and Derwent St in Wheeler Heights, and Landy Pl and Ryan Pl in Beacon Hill.
Detective-Sergeant John Pentergast said cash, wallets and phones were stolen but much of the property was tools. He urged people not to leave valuables in cars.
Manly Daily
Edition 1 -WED 24 MAR 2004, Page 007
Lock tools and engrave them,
tradesmen told
AN electrician who has been robbed three times in the past 18 months is urging other tradesmen to learn from his experience and stop leaving tools out overnight.
There has been a spate of robberies from trade vehicles in the Wheeler Heights area during the past week, with thefts from more than a dozen cars.
One of the victims was Edward Ingram, of Wabash St, Cromer. He lost $2000 in drills from his car, which was parked in the driveway next to the house.
The tools were owned by Mr Ingram's boss, Nick Ryan, who has his own electrical business. He was robbed twice last year and is now fanatical about taking his equipment in at night.
``Ed always takes all his stuff in at night and the one time he didn't he was unlucky,'' Mr Ryan said.
``From my experience I always take everything in because I don't have a lock-up garage and it's the only thing I can do.''
Mr Ryan has also experienced the benefit of using tools which are engraved with serial numbers. Once when he was robbed, police recovered the goods at two separate pawn shops in Blacktown.
``The guy has hit a few vans on the northern beaches and then sold them,'' Mr Ryan said. ``The brand we used kept all its serial numbers on a database so they were able to track them that way.''
Unfortunately at the time the law stated that the goods had to be bought back. One pawn dealer gave Mr Ryan his tools but he had to pay for the others.
He could have pursued it through the courts but was not interested. He now engraves all tools with his driver's licence number.
Under the new Restoration Act, pawn dealers have to hand back stolen items if ownership can be verified.
Northern Beaches and Manly police both have engravers available for public use.
The police encourage people to engrave their driver's licence on goods so if they are recovered they can be tracked immediately.
Manly Daily
Edition 1 -SAT 23 APR 2005, Page 010
Battler's work gear taken
A NARRAWEENA family's livelihood has been thrown into chaos following the theft of carpet-cleaning equipment from a van on Wednesday evening.
Two youths drove into a driveway near the corner of Alfred St and Warringah Rd at 6pm, smashed the window of a white Mitsubishi van, removed a $10,000 carpet cleaner and loaded it on to the back of a red utility.
The owner of the van, Nick Smit, was only 30m away in his house but heard nothing, although a neighbour heard the sound of glass being smashed and went to investigate.
``She said it happened so quickly she couldn't do anything to stop it,'' Mr Smit said. ``They already had the machine in their ute and took off.
``I was shocked when I realised what had happened,'' he said.
``They knew what they wanted and ignored other valuable stuff.
``They've taken my livelihood . . . I've got a mortgage and two kids and I just can't afford another loan at the moment to buy a new machine.
``I'm now looking for a job to tide me over.''
Mr Smit said the thieves were young, perhaps only 18 or 19 years old.
He said it was possible other people might have seen in the red ute in the area and could help the police with their inquiries.
Call Dee Why police station on 9971 3369.
Hills Shire Times
Edition 1 -TUE 13 DEC 2005, Page 010
Robbers target tools of trade
TRADESMEN are being urged to have their property engraved and the serial numbers recorded after several thefts from vehicles parked at Bunnings stores at Norwest and North Parramatta.
One man lost more than $5000 of tools and equipment when his van was broken into while it was parked at the North Parramatta store.
Among the items stolen were electrical tools, an air compressor gun, drills and saws.
Castle Hill police say there have been four thefts over a couple of weeks from tradesmen's vehicles in Bunnings car parks.
On Saturday a man spotted a 20-year-old man breaking into his vehicle at the North Parramatta store between 6pm and 6.30pm.
The man escaped but was described as late to mid 20s, thin build with olive complexion.
At the time he was wearing blue denim shorts, a cream or white cap and a beaded necklace.
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 Theft victim gets power tools back | |||||
| WOMBARRA man Gary Curci had reason to smile yesterday after the return of thousands of dollars of power tools stolen from his garage in December. The home handyman was relieved when NSW Police recovered and handed back 19 items - including an air compressor, jackhammer and chainsaw - that were taken from his property in the region's biggest break-and-enter racket. But Mr Curci was more impressed that police managed to nail the thieves. ``The real victory for me is that the culprits have been caught and arrested," he said. ``The fact that I also got my tools back is a bonus." Thieves broke into Mr Curci's garage on December 8 and stole a set of power tools. In addition to the big-ticket items, some of the other stolen goods included a nail gun, Whipper Snipper, four drills, a dropsaw, water-pressure cleaner and a small welder. Mr Curci is one of a handful of people who have had stolen goods returned to them this week through Operation Casimiroa. Under the operation, police recovered more than $200,000 worth of stolen goods that had been sold to a Port Kembla pawnshop. The Wentworth St shop was set up by undercover police last September as part of an elaborate sting to track stolen goods. The operation netted 3000 items stolen from retail stores, businesses and homes across the region. Police have arrested 32 people and 365 charges have been laid. Mr Curci yesterday praised the police operation for the relief it would bring to many Illawarra robbery victims and its impact on reducing future crime. ``You feel violated when someone comes into your property and takes what is yours," Mr Curci said. Wollongong police Chief Inspector Michael Robinson said the organised crime ring targetted residents, retailers and businesses from Helensburgh, to Berry and the Southern Highlands. Police have set up a hotline to help people recover stolen goods. Chief Insp Robinson said people who may have been robbed should cast their minds back to September - even if they had insurance paid out. They should contact police on 4225 1084. The line is open Monday to Friday during business hours. ``We have identified the majority of electrical and home entertainment goods and we would now like to focus our inquiries on jewellery, power tools, push bikes and gardening equipment," he said. | |||||
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