The current weather encourages people to spend their free time on allotments and in gardens. Unfortunately, criminals also take advantage of this fact, ruthlessly stealing valuable property left there.
Officers appeal to people to secure their property against theft and remain vigilant as neighbours:
Sometimes a brief moment of inattention is enough for a thief to take advantage of it. If we notice people behaving suspiciously and loitering around allotment gardens, let us not pass them by indifferently. Let us take an interest in what they are doing, as they may be checking out the area and planning a theft.
What should you remember?
- never leave valuable items unattended in your garden shed
- do not take large sums of money, payment cards, jewellery or valuable electronic devices to your allotment
- keep your money, documents and mobile phone with you
- if this is not possible, keep valuable items in a locked garden shed
- do not tell strangers what equipment you keep on your allotment
- when leaving, even for a moment, always lock the garden shed
- pay attention to people wandering around allotment gardens without purpose; sometimes asking “Who are you looking for?” can effectively scare off a thief
- notify the police about people behaving suspiciously and try to remember what they look like
- write down the serial or factory numbers of valuable items in a place known only to you—you will help the police identify them in the event of theft
- if you park your car at the allotment gardens, never leave valuable items inside it
- install sturdy locks in your garden shed
- consider installing good, secure doors
- after the season, when you no longer use your allotment or summer house, secure all items and gardening tools so that they do not become a thief’s loot
- if you suspect that a crime has occurred or may occur, call the free emergency number 112.