According to police statistics, thefts most often occur during holidays, festive periods and extended weekends. Thieves have a very good sense of when no one is home. They then get to work. It happens that they steal the owners’ entire life savings, leaving empty walls behind.
To prevent such a situation, we should follow a few basic rules:
the safest place to keep money, valuable jewellery, shares and bonds is a bank. Let us not hide valuables or cash in accessible places: linen cupboards, under the carpet, in the cooker, behind pictures, etc.
it is worth installing good, certified door locks, and bars or shutters on the windows. However, let us remember to ensure that the bars do not make it easier to enter our neighbour’s flat
it is advisable to install an intercom or a lighting or electronic system. If we own a detached house, it is worth having a fence and lighting on the property. An individual alarm system can also be installed
it is worth getting to know our neighbours better. They are usually the first to notice that something is wrong, as they know our habits. Let us also pay attention to their flat. We should take an interest in people standing by the doors, pay attention to noises and unusual sounds coming from the stairwell, and to strangers carrying out furniture or household appliances without any familiar neighbour accompanying them. Let us remember not to let people who claim to be postmen, meter readers, etc. into the stairwell.
when leaving the flat, let us not leave signs of our absence. It is worth asking friends or neighbours to look after our home: water the flowers, open the windows briefly, empty the mailbox, turn on the kitchen light or the light in one of the rooms for a while in the evening, and remove leaflets from outside the door.
What should we do, if despite our caution a theft occurs?
In the event of such an incident, the police must be notified immediately; they will inspect the scene and properly secure the evidence. Once the police have completed their work, we should list the items that were stolen, describing their distinguishing features, serial numbers and estimated value.
Since anyone can become a victim of theft, let us set aside one day to mark and record our belongings. Let us organise the warranty cards and purchase receipts for electronic and household appliances in a place accessible to us. It is worth writing down the brands and types of devices we own for which we no longer have warranty cards, their distinguishing features and serial numbers (radio, television, camera, computer, mobile phone, bicycle, etc.). Items without numbers, or those whose numbers could be permanently removed by a thief or a fence, should be marked with our initials, telephone number or date of birth; we can make a discreet scratch or another mark in an inconspicuous place.
If we have unique and valuable items, it is worth photographing or filming them. It is important that the date or our home be visible in the photos or video. In the event of theft or loss, it will be easier to identify them and prove that they belong to us. It is worth keeping all our documentation outside the home so that it is not also stolen during a break-in.
Let us insure our home. In the event of a break-in and theft, we will minimise our losses by obtaining compensation.
Remember!
If you notice anything suspicious near your or your neighbour’s home, act and notify the police!
KMP Jelenia Góra/ii