Home Burgulary Security

The following advice from the Metropolitan Police Neighbourhood Link service was sent out to those on the Ringmaster mailing list. More details on registering for Neighbourhood Link are here.

Help us to help you prevent burglary

The Met is cracking down on burglary. We understand that it can be financially costly and emotionally devastating for victims and their families.
However, by taking just a few simple measures you can dramatically reduce the chances of it happening to you.
Most burglaries tend to be opportunistic rather than planned. So if your home does not look secure, seems unlived in, or provides unobserved access, it could be at risk. Understanding what burglars look for when choosing their target will help you identify weak spots in your home's security.

Our 10 Top Tips:

1. Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your house name.
2. Register items with a serial number at: www.immobilise.com
3. Do not leave your car keys or ID documents near doors, letterbox or windows.
4. Always check who’s at the door and don’t open it if you feel anxious.
5. Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you are only going out for a few minutes.
6. Keep your valuables out of sight.
7. Leave some lights on if it will be dark before you get home.
8. Install a visible burglar alarm.
9. Always keep sheds and outbuildings locked.

Cancel milk or other deliveries if you will be away for days or weeks at a time.

How does a burglar's mind work?

Burglary, on the whole, is an opportunist crime. A burglar will select his target because it offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his way. A building that presents itself as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured:

• Side gates open
• Accessible windows open
• Ladders left out, allowing access to otherwise inaccessible windows
• Garden tools available to force entry
• Untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance

Each of these makes access to the building far simpler and is an indication to the prospective burglar that it's worth a second look.

Residents of multi occupancy dwellings or flats should be mindful not to grant entry to people via an entry phone system, if they do not know them, and to be cautious of people seeking to 'tailgate' them into buildings.

The question is, are the occupants in?

• Milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep
• Newspapers and mail in the letter box
• Unlit houses after dark
• All windows shut in very hot weather

These are signs telling the burglar that he is unlikely to be disturbed in the course of his work. Naturally, circumstances may arise when such situations may be unavoidable. If we can take measures that tell the burglar that this building is too difficult or too risky a target, he will hopefully move on.

TO STOP A BURGLAR - YOU NEED TO THINK LIKE ONE

To a burglar, a stuffed letter box is a dead giveaway when you’re not at home. Ask a neighbour to remove your post while you are away.

Are you leaving a thief the key to your house?

• Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door - burglars know all the hiding places
• Prevent letterbox burglaries by storing keys away from the front door
• Do not label your house keys in case you lose them and they fall into the wrong hands.

Remove temptation

• Where possible, try to keep valuables out of sight from windows.
• Make it look as though your house is occupied
• Install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically.
• Have a neighbour or friend pop round to clear your letter box or doorstep.
• Encourage a neighbour to park on your drive.
• If going out after dark, draw the curtains, leave some lights on and a radio playing.

To a burglar, a dark doorway is an opportunity to hide. Fit a security light over your front door to deter burglars.

If you are away for extended periods

• Cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers
• Disconnect the telephone answering machine, or re-word your greeting message to give the impression that you are only temporarily unable to answer.
• Enlist the help of a neighbour, friend or relative to keep a regular eye on your property and keep the front door clear of deliveries.
• If you are prepared to leave a key with a willing neighbour/relative, ask for curtains to be drawn and lights to be put on at night. If snow is on the ground a few footprints will make the house appear inhabited.
• Check your insurance policy. Some insurance policies for contents don't cover you if you are away for more than 30 days.
• Set your burglar alarm.
• If you do not have an alarm, consider investing a few pounds in a dummy alarm box. It may well deter the opportunist thief.

Remember: Remove the Opportunity - Prevent the Burglary
TO STOP A BURGLAR - YOU NEED TO THINK LIKE ONE

To a burglar, a dark house is an empty house. Attaching a timer to a lamp will make your home appear occupied even when it isn’t.

Parking Changes Update #3

The Chiswick Area Committee meeting on Tuesday 27th September 2011 finally addressed parking changes in the East Chiswick (EC) CPZ. The decision was that there will be no change.

The full text taken from the Hounslow web site is:-

1.1 That Members considered the consultation and agreed that:

(a) No changes are made to the operational times and boundaries of the Bedford Park, East Chiswick/1, Central Chiswick, Chiswick Mall, West Chiswick, Stile Hall and Gunnersbury Estate CPZs;

(b) Subject to the approval of the Chiswick Area Committee, Officers introduce additional parking spaces in the above zones where feasible and subject to the availability of funding, officers carry out the formal (statutory) consultation and (subject to there being no unresolved objections) implementation described at para 4.10 for the additional parking spaces;

1.2 That Members considered the outcome of the separate Zone EC timings consultation and agreed that:

(c) Zone EC remains unchanged.

(e) Residents and Businesses in the current Zone EC be informed of the Committee’s decision.

Also see the September 2011 Committee Meeting minutes.

Committee Meeting 28th September 2011

Present
Carol Stone (Host, Minutes)
Jackie Aust-Lean
Richard Palmer

Apologies
Marise Lee
Graham Tigg

Matters arising from the Minutes of the 22 February 2011 Meeting

Members noted that biodegradable food waste bags were not readily available in Chiswick. The problem of food waste in the road following recycling collections might be obviated if the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) were to make bags available for purchase in the public library in the same way as garden compost bags used to be.
Carol to email the Council.

Parking and Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs)

The recent meeting of the LBH’s Chiswick Area Committee reviewed the Chiswick area CPZs and the operational times of the East Chiswick CPZ (Zone EC). One proposal, supported by the Thornton & Mayfield Residents’ Association, was to have an additional separate CPZ established including Thornton and Mayfield Avenues and Upham Park Road.
The meeting was chaired by Peter Thompson, former leader of the Council, sitting with five councillors. A number of local residents attended and addressed the Committee, including Anna Jackson, Chairman of the Thornton & Mayfield Residents’ Association; Pauline Mullin from British Grove, who presented a petition signed by 491 local residents; and Richard Palmer on behalf of the UPRRA Committee.
Members of the Committee questioned Council Officers about the merits of the various proposals in the report and, following further discussion, voted by 5 votes to 1 (Councillor Thompson) that Zone EC should remain unchanged, both in area and in operating times.

Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team

The Committee noted that a recent Newsletter from the Chiswick Homefields Team which had been circulated to residents seemed to indicate that the team had now been reduced to three police officers. The Newsletter outlined action which had been taken in relation to anti-social behaviour, residential burglary, theft of pedal cycles, and theft from motor vehicles.
The Committee also noted that the Metropolitan Police had introduced a new telephone number (101) for reporting crimes, seeking advice, or raising local policing issues. 999 should, however, continue to be used for emergencies.

Dates of next meeting and AGM

It was agreed that a meeting, to be arranged by email, should be held in late November to discuss arrangements for the AGM.

LMC Building Works

Residents should have received a letter (plain white envelope) from the developer of the LMC site Barry O'Shea of C.J.O'Shea & Co Ltd. It states that demolition of the LMC site will commence at the end of August 2011 and will go on until January 2012. Given that a basement car park will be created a great deal of earth will be removed. More information from O'Shea will follow later.

The planning applications relating to the site can be found at planning.hounslow.gov.uk/planning_search.aspx. A search will need to be made. Use post code "W4 1PU" and then look for all the entries referring to 104, or 104-108, Chiswick High Road.

Note that the tree to the right of the garage entrance is going to be felled, the reason stated being that "The Arboricultural Officer has inspected this tree and advised [LBH] that the tree to the right of the entrance to the garage is riddled with Ustulina deusta, which is a serious basal decay fungi and has rendered this particular tree liable to fail, therefore it should be felled". The tree has nesting birds so will be felled later, perhaps September. In the mean time the trunks have been pruned to enable access to the site.

Parking changes update #2

The Chiswick Area Committee meeting that was to address parking changes in the East Chiswick (EC) CPZ took place on 28th June as reported on this blog here. The item has been postponed until the next meeting on Tuesday 27th September 2011, the reason cited being that further consultation was needed.

As detailed in the documentation submitted (see Hounslow site) another option has emerged that involves extending the 3 street Thornton and Mayfield Avenues plus Upham Park Road zone retaining the current restricted parking hours of 9-19h. This extension could include neighbouring Ennismore Av, Merton Av and Homefield Road. The attraction of this is that a 6 street zone would be less restrictive on parking options.

Also buried in the detail is that splitting the EC CPZ requires £5,000 to £10,000 to be found and a loss in revenue of £60,000 from visitor permits. This money would need to be saved elsewhere by the council and must make the no change option very likely, at least for now.

Updates will be posted when we have them.

Parking changes update #1

The Council's timetable for a decision on East Chiswick Controlled Parking Zone (EC CPZ) has slipped from May and the target is now the June 28th meeting of the Area Committee  at 7:30 pm Chiswick Town Hall. There is little new information other than neighbouring Thornton and Mayfield Avenues have the Council's analysis of parked vehicle survey data confirming that a significant number of vehicles from elsewhere in the EC CPZ park on their streets. This is the main reason why they understandably pressing for a smaller zone.

The Council have not shared proposed solutions and this may not happen before the Area Committee meeting. Feedback from residents has been limited, but mainly supports the status quo. The Council have their 2008/9 review survey data where the majority of UPR residents favoured retention of the current restricted hours of 9-19h - see here on this site for more background.

The outcome at the Area Committee meeting could be: -

1. A 3 street zone on current restricted parking hours 9-19h (i.e. Thornton and Mayfield Avenues plus Upham Park Road)
2. Shorter restricted hours (perhaps 10-12h and 14-16h) with the EC CPZ loosing Thornton/Mayfield
3. EC CPZ loosing Thornton/Mayfield but otherwise no change for Upham Park Road
4. No change - perhaps unlikely given that this has been a Thornton/Mayfield concern for years.

Richard Palmer has the June 28th meeting in his diary. When we hear more we will pass it on.

If residents have any further views on this then they can be recorded as a comment to this entry.

Email on Parking and Links

The following was sent by Graham Tigg to residents on the committee's email list 3-March-2011.

Back in 2008/9 there was a review of the East Chiswick Controlled Parking Zone (EC CPZ) that included a survey/questionnaire of all residents in the zone. Hounslow Council identified that the majority of the streets (those away from stations and the High Road shops) were in favour of shorter hours than the current 9am to 7pm. Exceptions to this on our patch were UPR along with Thornton plus Mayfield Avenues. At the time, the Thornton/Mayfield Residents’ Association also requested a standalone zone for their roads.

More information on the 2008/9 review can be found here

We know from the Council that that a proposal/recommendation will be taken to Chiswick Area Committee meeting in May 2011 (at the earliest). This is tied in with a similar review of the Mid-Chiswick CPZ as some zone re-alignment may be possible.

From the Upham Park Road perspective concerns around this include: -

• No information on the likely impact of any zone changes on UPR parking pressure
• A three street zone (Thornton/Mayfield plus UPR) seems too restrictive at busy parking periods. Currently we can find spaces in our zone, even if it’s a bit of a walk.
• A Thornton/Mayfield two street zone may displace permit holders into UPR – this is because they suspect vehicles from elsewhere in the zone park there during the day
• Staying in the current EC zone may mean shorter hours and/or just a Monday to Friday scheme.
• Your UPRRA Committee have been in contact with Councillors, the Council and the Thorton/Mayfield Association. The next step is to feed back our views to the Council by the end of March.

I have been surveying parking on UPR and will pass on my analysis as without more information it will be difficult to support any change. The Committee is also planning to write to everyone in the road – basically this email plus my survey findings.

For now, I would appreciate any comments you have, including how easy you find it to park in the street. One resident has told me they perceive Sunday’s to have been busier since Westfield opened. Sunday night is usually tough for some reason.