Please keep your property safe (From Harrow Times)

Please keep your property safe

8:00am Monday 21st May 2012 in Blogs By Dal Babu

This week I said goodbye to Sergeant Nick Foster who has retired after completing 30 years in front line policing. Sergeant Foster has made it his business to focus on serving the people in Harrow and in particular the Kenton and West Harrow areas, in his capacity as a Safer Neighbourhoods Sergeant. Nick has worked very effectively with the Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panels, who set local policing priorities.

I attended the Metropolitan Police Master Class on burglary along with Harrow Detective Inspectors, James McEvoy and Nigel Burnell. The master class was attended by all of London's 32 Borough Commanders.

There was a very strong message on the Met's determination to reduce burglary in London. This year burglaries have reduced in Harrow but we need to make sure we are not complacent. Please keep your property safe by following these 10 top tips: Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your house name.

Register items with a serial number at: www.immobilise.com Do not leave your car keys or ID documents near doors, letterbox or windows.

Always check who’s at the door and don’t open it if you feel anxious.

Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you are only going out for a few minutes.

Keep your valuables out of sight.

Leave some lights on if it will be dark before you get home.

Install a visible burglar alarm.

Always keep sheds and outbuildings locked.

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

Detailed crime prevention advice can be found on the Met Police website at http://www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/burglary.htm I was pleased to see several officers from Harrow receive Commissioner's commendations at a ceremony held at The Peel Centre, Hendon on Tuesday 15 May. The Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, commended over eighty officers, staff and Special Constables from across the Met for their bravery and tenacity throughout the disorder last August.

Commissioner Hogan-Howe said: "Today's ceremony is an opportunity to recognise just some of the many outstanding acts of heroism last summer from across the Metropolitan Police Service. It gives me great pleasure to honour the bravery of these officers who with great courage and without hesitation put themselves in danger to protect Londoners during the disorder."

I stopped a group of youths this week who were throwing stones at a car. Wealdstone SNT officers assisted me and they spoke to the parents of these young people. One of the young person's mothers was horrified to find out about this behaviour. As we approach study leave period and the summer holidays, I am appealing to parents and carers to ensure that they know what their children are doing.

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