SECUREIT, is a leading provider of fire prevention and security solutions, is sending out a timely reminder of the risk of distraction thefts as the evenings start to draw out.

With lighter nights, you naturally see more people out and about, and until much later in the evening. Unfortunately, these longer days also provide more opportunities for criminals targeting domestic properties. In the spring, reports can increase of people being targeted by thieves who distract them and then steal from them.

Often victims are elderly, and SECUREIT are urging people to make their family, friends and neighbours aware of this type of distraction theft. A common theme amongst this type of incident is fraudsters pretending to collect money for charity, and finding ways to get physically close to the victims to either steal a watch, jewellery or cash from their purse or bag.

Distraction burglars usually pretend to be someone they are not in order to gain entry to your home. 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
Claiming to be in a hurry or emergency and needing to get into your home quickly
Working in teams, with one person distracting you while the other searches your home

There are a number of things you can do to prevent distraction burglary. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anyone at your door – genuine callers won’t mind. Always remember, ‘if in doubt, keep them out’:

Use your door viewer to see who’s there
If you open the door put the chain on first
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. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this
If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there
For pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up
If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the caller, call 999.

All of these things are great advice. However, the visible presence of a home CCTV security system can act as a very visible deterrent to keep would-be criminals away from your front door. They will certainly not want to take the risk of having their image captured, recorded and potentially handed over to the police.

SECUREIT offers a wide range of home CCTV security solutions from single camera systems to multi-camera solutions incorporating AI image recognition and 24/7 manned monitoring.

Why not contact SECUREIT today for a confidential and informal conversation if you have any concerns about your current level of domestic house security.

Don’t just protect it – SECUREIT.