Dorset Police: Protect Yourself This Christmas

Dorset Police has launched its ‘12 Days of Christmas’ crime prevention campaign.

The campaign aims to provide the public with a different aspect of Christmas-related crime prevention advice each working day from Thursday the 8th of December until Friday 23 December 2011.
 
On each day of the campaign Dorset Police will tweet crime prevention advice and material, as well as featuring this information on the front page of the Force website www.dorset.police.uk.
 
You can follow Dorset Police on Twitter @dorsetpolice and this campaign will use the hashtag #DP12Days.
 
Assistant Chief Constable, Mike Glanville, said:

 “The 12 Days of Christmas campaign aims to remind our communities of simple measures that they can take to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime over thefestive period.
 
“I would encourage members of the public to follow uson Twitter and regularly visit our website to see the latest crime prevention advice and material that we are promoting.”
 
The first two days of this Christmas campaign focus onburglary and theft prevention. 
 
Last year, dwelling burglary offences rose from 141 offencesin November to 199 offences in December – an increase of 41%.
 
Assistant Chief Constable Glanville continued:

 “I am encouraging members of the public to be on their guard against burglary andtheft offences over the festive period. 
 
“Don’t let thieves spoil your Christmas –just take some simple steps to help prevent these types of offences.
 
“If you are going away during the festive season,please do not leave valuables on display in your home. 
 
“This has been a particular issue in the past with students leaving their accommodation unoccupied when they return home for Christmas. 
 
“If you are leaving your home vacant over the festiveseason, take valuables like laptops, PCs, games consoles and jewellery with you.
 
“Don’t leave presents, wrapped or unwrapped, on display when you go out and always make sure that your windows and doors aresecurely locked.”
 
It is also important that members of the public follow simple crime prevention measures when they are out during the festive period tomake sure they don’t become easy targets for thieves.
 
“Don’t leave presents on display in your car when you do your Christmas shopping and keep valuables like purses, wallets and mobile phones out of the reach of thieves.
 
“Also, when out shopping, try to avoid carrying largeamounts of cash on you,” said Assistant Chief Constable Glanville.