Homewatch Tips

Audlem's local homewatch team has contacted us with the following useful tips for helping to prevent crime at Christmas.

Christmas time can be busy and stressful so please remember:

• When shopping keep bags zipped up and ensure that purses and wallets aren't visible or easily accessible.

• Don't leave items on display in your car or boot.

• If you do have a credit card receipt in your bag, ensure that you remove the receipt before disposing of the carrier bag. After you have finished with a receipt ensure it is destroyed by shredding it or cutting it up.

• Consider investing in a timer switch from a DIY store so that some lights will come on automatically if you are back after dark. If you are regularly out at a club at the same time each week, vary the times that your timer switch clicks on and off occasionally so there is not an obvious pattern.

• Make an effort to record any serial numbers and identification codes from new gifts and also record make, model, a brief description of the item and approximate value if known. This list is useful to put together for insurance purposes for future reference.

• If you are given a new mobile phone ensure that you record the phone's IMEI number. This is a number that is unique to your mobile. If your phone is lost or stolen you can contact your service provider and give them your IMEI number so they can lock your phone to ensure no one else can use it. You can access the IMEI number on your phone by typing *#06# into your keypad.

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