Isolated properties, stables, farm buildings, machinery, trailers and livestock are all vulnerable to criminals if reasonable steps are not taken to keep them safe and secure.

Leicestershire Constabulary’s crime reduction officers encourage everyone who lives and works in our rural communities to be vigilant, reporting any suspicious activity to the police and reviewing security arrangements currently in place.

People should ask themselves how easy would it be to gain access to your premises, outbuilding, sheds, tack rooms, farmhouses etc? Are your locks adequate – could they be forced? Can horseboxes, trailers or vehicles be removed without you hearing? Could you describe or identify stolen property if it were recovered?

The following advice suggests some ways in which those in rural communities can protect themselves and their property from crime.

Farm buildings

Farm buildings are used to store valuable equipment, tools and farm supplies and, when left insecure, are inviting to thieves.

Ensure that valuable equipment is stored in a secure building behind a strong locked door, or use a metal cage and keep it locked when unattended.

Use locks that comply with the British Standards, good quality locking bars and high security padlocks.

Windows can be an open invitation to thieves – protect them with metal bars or grilles.

Keep doors to farm buildings locked at all times when not in use – even if you are only away for a short while.

Farmhouses

Farmhouses are often in isolated locations and can be vulnerable to if not properly secured. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

Ensure that doors and windows are well maintained and in a good state of repair.

Fit mortice deadlocks that comply with the British Standards to all external doors and reinforce with locking bolts. Make sure that doors are kept locked – even when you’re on the premises.

Fit locks to all ground floor windows.

Invest in timers that turn lights on and off inside the house if you go out at night and consider installing security lighting outside.

Perimeter

A secure perimeter to your farm should help keep livestock in and criminals out; there are a number of points to remember when looking at perimeter security.

Spend time checking fences and hedges bordering rural properties to identity weak-spots that could provide access to criminals or vehicles and secure where necessary.

Install a barrier or gate to drives or entrances to restrict access from unwelcome vehicles and lock using good quality chains and padlocks. Make sure that they can’t be lifted off the hinges.

Install security lighting around yards, outbuildings and isolated locations and consider building and perimeter alarms where practical.

Tack rooms

Tack rooms are occasional targets by criminals in rural communities and saddles, bridles and other equipment are attractive to thieves and can be expensive to replace if stolen.

The construction of tack rooms is an important aspect in keeping the contents secure – brick or concrete block is ideal and wood can be reinforced internally with steel plate or mesh.

Wooden doors should be reinforced with steel where appropriate and door frames strong and secured to the fabric of the building. Use good quality mortice locks to doors where possible, or alternatively use heavy-duty close shackle padlocks and heavy duty pad bars.

Windows, no matter how small, can provide entry for would-be thieves and should be fitted with grilles, bars or removed completely.

Saddles and bridles should be secured to their racks when not in use and wheelbarrows, trolleys and other moveable items should be kept separate to tack or secured as they could be used to make removal of property easier.

Security-marking property can be a deterrent to thieves and makes stolen items easier to return to their rightful owners if they are recovered.

Tack, rugs, saddles and other equipment should be marked with the owners’ postcode. It may also be helpful to keep a list of all your equipment noting down any identifiable marks or serial numbers; this form will help.

Trailers and horseboxes

Vehicles, trailers and horseboxes are all potential targets for criminals, especially if they are left unsecured or in isolated locations. If possible park them as close to your premises as possible, preferably out of sight from nearby roads.

Wheelclamps are available to fit all sizes of wheel and should be used to help prevent trailers, horseboxes other vehicles from being taken away. Locking posts can also be installed to provide further security for trailers.

Marking your trailers so they are easily identifiable can deter thieves and help police return them to their rightful owners if they are stolen. There are several trailer-marking schemes, which use either your postcode or a unique number that is entered onto a database. This information can be die-stamped or engraved.

Consider installing an alarm to trailers and horseboxes that is activated when they are moved.

Machinery and tools

Just like a good worker never blames their tools, a good worker always takes adequate security precautions to help prevent becoming a victim of tool-theft.

Secure or immobilise vehicles and equipment when not in use and remove keys from cars, tractors and other vehicles are unattended.

Try to avoid leaving machinery in isolated locations or fields – particularly near roads – where they can be removed without attracting attention.

Mark your machinery and tools visibly with a postcode and house/farm name – this not only acts as deterrent to thieves, but also helps reunite stolen property with the rightful owners if it is recovered. Consider making a list of tools, together with serial numbers and any identifying marks.

Keep tools locked away when not in use as well as being taken away, they could be used to gain access to secured premises.

Livestock

Grazing animals can also be a target for criminals and should be treated like any other valuables, employing crime prevention measures where necessary.

Check the security of perimeter fencing/hedging and make regular checks of fields where animals are kept to ensure perimeter fences are not breached.

Use eartags, horn brands and freeze/hot brand marking or tattooing to make animals more easily accessible.

Take photographs of animals, particularly ones that are valuable or could be attractive to criminals.

Securing your shed or garage might not be the first thing to cross your mind when you think of crime prevention. However, with the array of lawnmowers, power tools, garden equipment, bicycles and sports equipment kept in them, security measures should certainly be put into place.

The value of property inside sheds and garages is often much higher than you first imagine. The expensive items in can be attractive to thieves and an intruder can even use your tools and ladders to break into your home. For this reason it is worth checking to make sure your household contents insurance also covers your outbuildings.

Often garages and sheds are left unlocked or without any appropriate security, such as padlocks, chains or lighting. By installing these simple items you can give better protection to your property.

Gates and fences at the back of the house can be a deterrent to burglars and if the front of your house is kept visible to passers by, it will prevent them from being able to work unseen.

Plant protection is another way of guarding your property. A selection of thorny bushes and prickly plants planted near to potential access routes, such as fences and walls, are not only a visual deterrent but also a physical barrier to intruders. While these methods are ideal for making forced entry difficult through natural means, they should not replace traditional security measures such as padlocks, bolts and chains.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is home to a large student population at universities and colleges across the county.

Mannix Security is urging students, many who will be away from home for the first time, to ‘think crime prevention’.

Figures from the Home Office show that 1 in 3 students become the victim of a crime each year at university, but in the majority of cases, these crimes can be avoided by taking some simple steps to protect yourself and your property.

Out and about

When you’re out and about, particularly at night, be aware of your surroundings and take notice of those around you. Walk with confidence and in small groups where possible. If walking home alone is unavoidable, consider getting hold of a personal attack alarm – they are widely available and inexpensive.

Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets so try and make it as difficult for them as possible. Keep bags closed and wallets, money and valuables out of sight. Laptops are particularly tempting for thieves – carry them in an anonymous bag, rather than a laptop bag, and try not to take them out in public.

Mobile ‘phones are great for staying in touch with friends and family and can be used to report crimes or alert the police to incidents, however, they are also attractive items to potential thieves. Avoid making or taking calls in public, especially when walking and remember that it’s often difficult to stay alert to what’s going on around you when using a mobile ‘phone making you vulnerable to thieves.

Your property

Students coming to university or college often bring with them many items that are appealing to thieves. It costs students, on average, £900 to replace stolen items and repair the damage after a burglary. Televisions, stereos, computers, games consoles, DVDs, CDs, bikes and mobile ‘phones are all potential targets if the right steps aren’t taken to secure them.

Ensure that valuable items cannot be seen through windows from outside and when going out make sure doors are locked and windows are shut – even if you’re only gone for a short time. In many cases it takes a burglar just minutes to break in, steal property and leave.

If your laptop was stolen, how many weeks worth of work would be lost? Keep laptops out of sight and ensure that you back up work regularly and store the disks separately.

If you have a burglar alarm, use it – this is often enough to deter thieves and consider investing in timer switches for lights giving the impression that someone’s in when you’re out. If you live in halls, lock your door even if you’re popping down the corridor and make sure nobody follows you in when you walk through main entrances.

Consider taking out contents insurance to cover your valuables – policies are very cheap in comparison with the cost to replace expensive items. Make a list of all your valuable items – this form will help – and mark your valuables with your university or college name and your student ID number using an ultraviolet pen. If you become the victim of a burglary, stolen property that is marked can be returned to the rightful owner if it is recovered by police.

Bikes can be great to get around on and can help keep you fit but you’ll have to resort to walking and join a gym if you don’t take steps to secure your bike when leaving it unattended. Invest in a good bike lock, they are relatively inexpensive – D locks or combination locks are best – look for ‘Sold Secure Ltd’ approved models or ask at a bicycle shop for a recommendation.

When leaving your bike unattended, make sure you lock it to something secure and immovable and take removable parts (saddle, quick-release wheels, lights etc.) with you or lock them to the bike.

Mobile ‘phones

Reduce the risk of becoming a victim of mobile ‘phone theft by avoiding making or taking calls in busy areas and keep it hidden when out and about. Register your phone with your service provider. If you report your phone as stolen, the SIM card can then be barred.

Make a note of the 15-digit serial / IMEI number. You can get this by dialling *#06# from your mobile phone or may be found behind the battery on some phones. This number will help identity your phone and trace ownership quickly. If your phone is stolen, call your network (or 08701 123 123) immediately.

When withdrawing money from cashpoints stay alert to your surrounding, when entering your PIN, make sure there is nobody standing nearby who could see what you’re typing and never keep your card and PIN together. Report any suspicious activity near cash machines to the bank or the police.

If you have elderly relatives or neighbours you can help them to make their homes safer and reduce the risk of them becoming a victim.

Just by giving a little of your time you can reassure them, especially if they live alone. You could visit them regularly and even offer to fit additional locks to windows and doors, door viewers and chains for extra security.

If you are elderly yourself, you need to be aware of your personal safety and take precautions to avoid danger at home and while you are out.

Protect your possessions by securing your home and letting thieves know your property is marked.

Keep an eye out for the welfare of your neighbours. If you spend a lot of time at home your watchfulness can be invaluable to your community. You might consider joining your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Make sure to report any suspicious behaviour to the police at once.

Be wary of unexpected visitors who, for example, arrive at your door offering to make repairs on something they have noticed needs fixing. Before having any work done on your home seek the advice of someone you trust and get two or three quotes from other firms first.

In some areas older people can get help to pay for locks and chains on their windows and doors. To find out if there is a scheme where you live, ask either your local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, the council’s Housing Department or the Crime Prevention Officer at your local policing unit.

Remember that even the best security equipment is useless unless it is used. Be sure to always lock up properly, even if you are just popping out for a few minutes.

Looking after your valuables

Keep your money safe in a bank, building society or post office and avoid keeping large sums of cash in the house. Don’t keep your cheque book and cheque card together and don’t keep your PIN number with your credit or debit card.

Checking credentials

There are some people who specialise in preying on older people so you should be extra wary of any unexpected callers, whether it’s a man or a woman. Remember to always ask for their identity card confirming where they are from and, if you are still unsure, tell them to make an appointment and return later.

A genuine caller won’t mind you checking their identity with the organisation they claim to work for. When checking with organisations, always get the telephone number from the phone book, don’t rely on a number provided by the caller.

Involving the local police

If you belong to a pensioner’s lunch or social club, ask the organisations to invite the police or other speakers along to give advice on how to secure your home and protect your community.

Young people can find themselves at risk, whether working at a part time job or out in the evening. To help keep you and your property safe and secure, try to follow these basic guidelines

Be sure your parents always know where you are and how to contact you.

If possible, go out accompanied by friends and return home with them.

If you do go out alone, arrange transport to and from where you are going – with a relative, friends or cab – and confirm arrangements for your return journey before you set off.

If your arranged transport from a concert or other event fails to arrive and you can see that you will be left on your own, speak to the organisers and ask to use their telephone to make other arrangements. Ask to stay until transport arrives.

Don’t accept a lift from someone you’ve only just met.

Try to find casual jobs, such as babysitting, through family or friends, and be careful about answering advertisements. Try to go with a parent or friend on the first day.

When babysitting, always make sure you have a contact number for the child’s parents so you can reach them if you need to. If anyone comes to the house don’t let them in. Ask telephone callers to ring back – don’t tell them you are alone. It helps to keep a list of emergency numbers in case of problems.

When working a paper round, if strangers invite you into their homes or offer you a lift, politely refuse and move on quickly.

Wherever you are, be aware of how to make an emergency telephone call and the quickest way out.

By now most of us are in a habit of making sure windows and doors are closed and locked on our vehicles and houses when we leave them, but in the excitement of going away, we can sometimes forget. If you have locks on your windows and a burglar alarm installed to your property it is important you use them.

It is advised you always try to make your home appear occupied. Here are some steps you can take to ensure this:

Get a friend, neighbour or relative to keep an eye on your house or flat. Even the smallest of jobs such as collecting post from the letterbox, sweeping up leaves, putting dustbins out and even mowing your lawn, can make it seem as though someone is home.

Cancel deliveries of milk and newspapers while you are away, as a clutter of these around your front door, becomes a clear sign that nobody is home.

Invest in some automatic time switches, which switch lights and radios on and off at set times.

Never leave blinds or curtains closed as this makes it obvious the property is empty during the day.

On your holiday

Tourists are sometimes targeted by thieves, so while you are away you still need to be cautious and take simple precautions, just as you would do at home:

Store passports and travel documents in a safe, which are installed in most hotels and villas.

Lock your bags and suitcases each time you leave your hotel room or villa.

Do not put your name and address on bag or suitcase tags, but put this information somewhere inside.

Keep a tight hold of your handbags, wallets and cameras while you are out and about sightseeing.

Do not leave your property unattended or on display when you are going for a swim on the poolside or at the beach.

Theft, vandalism and fraud are some of the things that businesses and retail outlets need to be guarded against. A few simple security measures can be effective in reducing crime.

Carrying out regular risk assessments of your buildings and property helps to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime. These assessments will also aid in monitoring the business environment, which, if kept well maintained, adds a feeling of safety and security to your premises, your staff and visitors.

To reduce crime against your business and deter criminals consider the following:

Installing an intruder alarm

Having a CCTV system fitted

Installing security lighting

Improving signage

Ensuring openings such as windows and doors are secure with good quality locks and bolts.

Protecting information. Ensure that a firewall or an anti-virus system is installed on all computers and shred confidential papers.

Changing passwords on computers and alarm systems regularly.

Note the make, model and serial number of assets such as computers, mobile phones, printers and personal organisers. This makes it easier for police to trace the items if stolen and harder for criminals to sell on.

If you are a large company provide staff with a photo/ID badge and ‘sign in’ any visitors or people making deliveries. It is also good practice to challenge anyone not wearing a badge.

The recent introduction of the chip and pin system has reduced cases of credit card fraud in retail outlets throughout the UK, but by taking a few simple measures business and retail crime can be reduced further:

Be wary of people acting out of the ordinary. Look out for those who might hurry a transaction, choose purchases quickly or split purchases between different cards.

Keep records of stock and make regular stock checks.

Ensure staff are trained to use the tills, alarms and computers. Provide them with security and safety training, which is especially important at busy times of the year.

Keep personal property out of sight. Provide staff with lockers.

If you are a busy store remove cash from the tills regularly throughout the day and ensure all cash and cheques are removed from tills every night. It is advised you use a professional cash in transit company.

Leave the drawers of the tills open at the end of the day to show they are empty.

Install a safe to keep money and other expensive goods in and ensure your insurance company approves it.

Provide staff with a personal alarm or panic button.

Ensure your staff follow your company and bank policy when accepting cheques and credit cards.

2,000 companies specialise in the design, manufacture and supply of security equipment in the UK.

The UK security guarding sector is made up of 2,500 companies, employing between them over 125,000 security officers. The security guarding sector makes up over a third of the entire security market.

£1.2bn worth of property is stolen every year in the UK.

Total cost of crime in the UK 2005: £2.1bn. Total cost of crime since 2000: £13.39bn

Total losses from shoplifting in the UK in 2005: £767m. Average cost per shoplifting incident: £149

More than 100,000 people are affected by identity theft in the UK each year. Identity theft typically takes victims 14 months to clear their name and costs the economy over £1.3bn annually.

Burglary accounts for 14% of recorded crime.

37% of victims are unsure how they had become victims of credit card fraud and a further 19% attributed credit card account breaches to retailers, government agencies or third parties

There are an estimated 4.25 million CCTV cameras installed in the UK.

In the UK, retail crime costs on average £2.24bn every year: £1.52bn in losses and £0.72bn in prevention. Losses breakdown:

- external theft: £930m

- internal theft: £786m

- violence: £263m

- fraud: £107m

- burglary: £88m

- damage: £36m

- till snatch: £18m

- forecourt crime: £7m

We hope you will find this data interesting. It also shows how imperative it is to think about your own security needs before it is too late.

They were escorted back down the hill and to police who were waiting after receiving calls from both the handler and the control room staff. The two were identified and are now awaiting the outcome of a police investigation.

This project is quiet for 99% of the time but has the potential of becoming volatile quite quickly. The handlers have all received abuse and one one occasion physical assault but have continued to thwart determined thieves. Due to the size of the site anyone hiring security services would need two static guards but by using one dog handler money has been saved and the site is more secure.

We are very proud of this team and they will be rewarded financially for their efforts.

The technique, which uses an empty property in crime hotspots, has already been credited with a significant fall in housebreakings in the areas where it is being used.

The traps are part of a Home Office-funded programme to encourage the police to adopt more innovative ways of cracking down on burglary.

The target houses are fitted with hidden cameras and are left insecure with valuables inside. In some cases, the valuables are remotely tagged or marked with ultraviolet inks, allowing police to quickly track them down and make arrests.

Thames Valley Police has recorded a 15% drop in domestic burglaries since adopting house traps and other similar anti-burglary initiatives in recent months.

Prolific burglar Jason Medlicott, 35 was caught by a House Trap as he broke into a university dormitory in Oxford.

The campus had suffered more than 15 break-ins and police decided to install hidden cameras in an empty dorm. It was left insecure and had valuable property placed inside.

Just 10 days after the trap was laid, Jason Medlicott took the bait, pushing open a window and stealing a laptop. He was later jailed for almost three years. Another 40 burglaries were taken into consideration.

The Thames Valley initiative has been funded by the Government’s Securing Homes programme, where £2m has been allocated to 16 forces across the country to buy technology to improve burglary detection.

Some of the items bought include automatic number plate recognition systems, tracking equipment, forensic scanners, intruder alarms, CCTV and property marking kits.

But it is the house traps which are creating the most buzz.

A number of forces are already operating such systems, and some forces have extended the traps to include vehicles.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: “This new equipment will not only help police catch the criminals who harm communities, it will help prevent crime as well.”

According to the British Crime Survey, there were almost 750,000 burglaries in 2008/2009. Although the Government says burglary has fallen by 54 per cent since 1997, it continues to actively encourage more innovative ways of catching the thieves.

Here at Mannix Security we already have the technology to protect empty houses, houses under renovation. By using strategic partners we can secure electronically property and receive notification if security has been breached. These devices can also work on building and construction sites very effectively.

Again Mannix Security are proving to be one step ahead of its competitors.