SAFER Ryedale has launched its annual crime prevention menus giving advice about how to keep your home safe over Christmas.

The initiative comes at a time of year when people have valuable Christmas gifts in their homes and the temptation for burglars increases.

Simple measures people can take to help prevent crimes and also to identify their property when it is recovered are featured in the menus, and include:

• Always secure and lock your doors and windows, even if you are just popping out or when you are in the back garden;

• Close all curtains when its dark;

• Make sure your security lights are working and put internal lamps on timer switches to come on if you are away;

•Always use your burglar alarm – if you do not have an alarm, buy one; l Do not leave your keys in the door at any time;

•Secure garages and sheds – they are often full of expensive tools that are ideal to use for breaking into the rest of the house;

•Do not leave Christmas presents under the tree in full view of burglars who may be peering through windows – keep them in a secure place until the big day;

• Do not put your empty boxes from Christmas presents (or any new purchases) out until your recycling collection day and make sure you break up the boxes and secure them together – the boxes and wrappings provide burglars with information about new gifts;

• Postcode your belongings with a permanent marker or ultra-violet marker pen. This will make it harder for a thief to sell the items and easier for the police to find the true owner if they are recovered.

Inspector Andy Everitt, from Malton police, said: “It is so important that we make life as hard as possible for thieves who may be seeking to commit acquisitive crime, be it planned or opportunistic.

“These simple measures really do work and require just a little extra consideration on the part of homeowners to follow this commonsense advice. Ryedale is one of the safest places to live in England and we have a combined responsibility to keep it that way.”

The leaflets will be distributed to as many outlets as possible, including Ryedale District Council offices, libraries, doctors surgeries, the CAB, children’s centres, Ryedale Voluntary Action, tourist information centres and the police station.

The information is available at www.ryesafe.org.uk

For further information, phone Gail Cook on 01653 600666, extension 314 or email gail.cook@ryedale.gov.uk