In 2013 Police Scotland launched Operation RAC, a new policy to tackle the rising number of housebreakers. Here, Alan Malcolm, Sales Director at Falkirk-based Sealco Scotland talks about what the policy has achieved six months into the year and how local residents can continue to protect their homes.

 

Sealco helps keeps burglars at bay A CRACKDOWN will result in ­housebreakers who target properties over Christmas facing five years in prison – five times the current maximum sentence.

Early reports in 2014 show positive signs that the crackdown on break-ins in Falkirk is working. The Falkirk Herald reported that more than 100 people had been charged by Forth Valley cops for nearly 300 crimes and approximately £40,000 worth of property has been recovered since the crackdown on housebreaking was launched.

 

However, despite the promising statistics, homeowners in Falkirk are encouraged to stay vigilant. Just last week, another story appeared about cunning thieves using fishing rods to hook the keys from the owners’ homes and steal prestigious cars worth tens of thousands of pounds.

 

I’m certain the purpose of Operation RAC isn’t to alarm local residents, but it is sensible to take some of the risks it highlights onboard and take some precautions. There are plenty of practical steps people can take to protect their homes.

 

It sounds simple but remembering to lock windows and doors is the first thing to do to deter opportunist thieves. Hide all keys, including car keys away from the letterbox and out of sight and invest in an anti-key fishing letter plate shroud if possible.

 

Up to half of burglariesoccur through a door according to police reports. The majority of residential doors are secured using a cylinder lock which are prone to attack from burglars who ’snap’ or break the lock. Once the cylinder lock is broken any other locking points on the door are compromised and vulnerable. The issue is easily solved by fitting an ‘anti snap’ cylinder lock which stays secure even when force is applied to either end.