Crime prevention

We work closely with the police and local authorities to help protect our communities.

Here is some advice on how to reduce or prevent crime at your home.

Prevent burglary:

  • Lock your doors and windows when you go out, even if you are just in the garden
  • Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through the letterbox)
  • Fit an intruder alarm in a visible place and test it frequently
  • Install CCTV. You can also register with NICE2SHARE, which is Lancashire Constabulary’s Community Portal. This will help deter and solve crimes more quickly. Find out more here: CCTV in your home | Progress Housing Group
  • Install security lights
  • Leave a light on a timer setting and draw the curtains when you go out at night or are on holiday to make your property look occupied
  • Cancel deliveries before you go on holiday
  • Keep an eye on your neighbour’s property and encourage them to do the same for you. Report anything suspicious
  • Don’t leave tools and ladders outside where they could be used to break into your home
  • Mark your property with your postcode and house number and register your property for free, online with Immobilise
  • Store any high-value items (eg jewellery, passports) in a secure place or safe
  • Buy home insurance. It’s cheaper than paying out to replace any stolen possessions. Remember if you don’t lock your house, your insurance may not cover you. You can find out more about contents insurance here: Insuring your belongings | Progress Housing Group
  • Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and sign up to your local police forces messaging scheme In the Know (Lancashire).

 

Preventing parcel theft from your doorstep:

  • Track your parcel to make sure you or someone else is at home for the delivery
  • Install a video doorbell which can be connected to your mobile phone, so that you are notified immediately of any delivery
  • Consider installing a security light
  • If you are not going to be in, arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home
  • Use an off-site locker service for frequent deliveries, or for expensive items. These are more likely to be in busy, safer locations, such as supermarkets, rather than secluded areas which could be targeted by thieves

 

Prevent distraction burglary

Distraction burglars or rogue traders pretend to be someone they are not to gain entry to your home to steal from you. They may also trick you into handing over money for a product or service you do not need or at an inflated price. Older adults in particular are at risk.

Common methods used by distraction burglars:

  • Pretending to be from a care agency, the council or a utility company investigating a gas or water leak
  • Seeking help to leave a note for a neighbour or even asking for a drink of water if they claim to be thirsty or unwell
  • Working in teams, with one person distracting you while the other searches your home

How to prevent it:

  •  Always ask questions about who is at the door
  • Use your door viewer to see who is there
  • Always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody into your home
  • Use the phone number advertised in the phone book or online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. Close the door while you do this
  • For pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up
  • Call the police if you feel threatened

Remember – our Progress Housing Group operatives would never turn up unannounced. We always make an appointment with you first and our operatives carry ID.

If you are unsure whether a person saying they are from Progress Housing Group is who they say they are, call us on 0333 320 4555.

 

Preventing bike thefts:

  • Using two good-quality locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target
  • Lock the frame and both wheels to a secure cycle stand
  • Take parts that are easy to remove with you, such as wheels, lights, baskets or the saddle. Or use locking skewers or nuts which secure the bike's components to the frame permanently
  • Get your bike security marked, which is a visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the real owner can be traced and they will be arrested
  • Check if there are any security marking events near you via Find a marking event | BikeRegister
  • Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street. Avoid advertising that you have a bike at home, for example, by removing car roof racks, and creating ‘privacy zones’ on apps like Strava to avoid disclosing your location

 

Sources: Lancashire Police and www.police.uk

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Progress Housing Group