Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards and Inspector Ian Rouse from the Local Policing Support Team promote the Lighten Up campaignOfficers from West Mercia Police are giving out timer switches in a bid to reduce the number of burglaries over the autumn months.
With the clocks going back, the early onset of night gives thieves the opportunity to target unlit houses which appear to be empty.
Local Policing Teams across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire have been given 2,000 timer switches to hand out to people who are most at risk of being burgled.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards said: “Using burglary figures from the past few years, we have been able to identify the most vulnerable communities within the area we police.
“These figures identify particular neighbourhoods which have previously been targeted by burglars at this time of year and are 2.5 times more likely to be burgled than the average household in the West Mercia force area.
“We are giving out timer switches to people living in these neighbourhoods so they can deter burglars by lighting up their house when they are out and making it look like someone is at home.
“I would like to stress that less than one per cent of homes in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire are burgled every year, but taking simple steps such as using a timer switch can significantly lower your chances of being a victim of crime.”
Local Policing Teams will be handing out the switches over the next few weeks as part of West Mercia Police’s annual Lighten Up campaign.
For those who would like a timer switch but do not receive one, they can be bought from most DIY stores for about £5.
Further home security advice is available on the force website www.westmercia.police.uk