Wycombe police give advice to protect belongings including gold and jewellery

Residents are being advised to take simple steps to protect their belongings, including gold and jewellery from burglars as the longer, darker nights can mean more opportunities for burglars, say Wycombe police.

PC Dale Lister, of Local CID based at Wycombe police station, said: ‘Please remain vigilant when securing your property, ensuing all windows and doors are locked, alarms set and timer switchers utilised.

It is advised that valuable jewellery or large sums of money are stored securely.

Police are continuing to patrol our communities and investigate burglaries when they occur.

If you have any information about a burglary in your area or concerns about suspicious activity, please call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.‘

Here are a few things you can do to keep your property safe:

• When you’re out use a timer switch with a lamp, radio or TV to give the impression that someone’s home.
• Lock doors and windows. If you have a UPVC door make sure you have double-locked it.
• Ensure valuables, including jewellery, are not left out on display.
• Consider storing valuable jewellery in an approved British Standard safe. Check with your insurance company before purchasing a safe to ensure it meets their criteria. For further information on security tested safes, visit www.securedbydesign.com.
• Alternatively, consider using a bank safety deposit box to store gold or high value jewellery.
• Ensure all your jewellery is adequately covered by insurance.
• Photograph each piece of valuable gold or jewellery with a written description – this will help in appealing for information and returning it to you if it is stolen. Ensure you also have an agreed valuation from your insurance company.
• Use forensic marking to identify your jewellery. Further information can be found at www.securedbydesign.com.
• When wearing jewellery in public, be cautious and discreet to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
• Register your valuables on the Immobilise website . It’s free and takes just a few minutes and, if your valuables are stolen, it will allow you to tell the police, your insurer, and the second-hand trade to assist in recovering your property and catch the thief.
• Ensure all your jewellery is adequately covered by insurance.

The advise comes following 13 burglaries in the past two weeks in the Booker, Micklefield, Loudwater and Totteridge of Wycombe as well as Marlow.

Anyone with information on the burglaries is being asked to contact PC Dale Lester via the 24 hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.