Tuesday, December 01, 2009

12 Safety tips for Christmas


Havering Council will be handing out free security devices to protect resident’s homes and personal property in the run-up to Christmas. Council officers will hand out the devices as part of its 12 Safer Days of Christmas campaign to make residents safer while shopping, out at night, and their homes more secure over the festive season.

Around 6,000 property marking kits, 6,000 purse chains and 3,000 timer switches bought by the Council will be given out at events across the borough in the 12 days between Monday 7 and Saturday 19 December.

There are 12 key messages that the Council and police want to get out at this time of year. These include ensuring that PVC doors are locked properly, setting timer switches so that lamps come on in living rooms before it gets dark when you are out, protecting yourself against pickpockets, and making sure you do not become a victim of crime after a night of revelry.

Other messages include not leaving presents on view, disposing packaging of expensive goods carefully, not loading your car with presents and then leaving it to continue shopping. Police officers from the Mawneys & Havering Park Wards, local Safer Neighbourhoods teams will also be on hand at each location.

Wednesday 16th December - Clockhouse School Christmas Fete – 3 – 5pm

Saturday 19th December - Collier Row Library – 11 – 2pm

Cllr Mann said "Having been a victim of crime myself recently, it can be very upsetting at any time but it can be particularly distressing at Christmas. That’s why the Council and the police will again be handing out thousands of free security devices over 12 Safer Days of Christmas”.

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