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Top tips on burglary for a crime-free Christmas Criminals watch out for houses they think are empty and unprotected. Make their lives harder by doing the following:- Property mark presents and valuables with your postcode, house number or name, then register on www.immobilise.com Make a note of all model numbers and serial numbers of all electrical items.Invest in a timer to open and close your curtains or turn on your lights, or better yet, ask a family member or neighbour to pop in and do it at random times of the day so a potential thief does not see an exact pattern. Dispose of boxes and rubbish discreetly. Leaving boxes outside will give away the fact that you have new and valuable items in the house. If you can, fit burglar alarms with flashing lights and sounders at the front & back of your property.Install CCTV cameras or Ring Doorbells to give you peace of mind.Switch lights or a radio on when you go out. You can buy timer devices to do this automatically.Even if you’re only going out for a few minutes, check that all doors and windows are properly closed and locked.Make sure side and back gates are secure.Don’t leave garden tools outside, keep ladders out of sight - and ensure sheds, garages and outbuildings are locked.Fit tamper-proof automatic outside security lights / sensors.Even when you’re at home, try not to leave accessible windows open at night.If you’re going away on holiday, ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your home, take in any milk and newspaper deliveries, and maybe park on your drive. Be cautious when using social media such as Facebook – do you really want to advertise that your home is empty by showing you are somewhere else or having a countdown to your holiday? Christmas is a key time for burglaries, with many houses full of new and valuable presents. Don’t alert burglars by leaving present packaging outside – put it all in your recycling bin, out of sight.Don’t let yourself become a victim of a Distraction Burglary, where more than one person calls at your door, trying to dupe you into letting one caller in to burgle you whilst you are distracted by another one.Call 999 in emergency situations like these: there is an immediate danger to life someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent a road traffic collision where life is at risk, or the road is blocked a crime is happening right now, like a house burglary or a theft If you accidentally dial 999, please stay on the line and tell the operator you’re safe and that no crime has occurred. If you see or hear anything suspicious or something you think we should know about, please report it either on the 101 number or if it's not an emergency, the easiest way to contact Thames Valley Police is online. Your report will be sent direct to our control room where it will be reviewed by the same team who answer our calls. You can report it online via the following links Contact us | Thames Valley Police or Tell us about | Thames Valley Police. You can also contact Crimestoppers to anonymously report a crime or suspicious behaviour either online Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers or by phone 0800 555 111 | 
