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Crime prevention

Although it is the job of the police to investigate crimes and bring criminals to justice, we can all help to bring crime down.

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Most crime is against property, not people, and not many crimes are carefully planned. Most crimes are committed on the spur of the moment - possessions left in a car, a door or window to a house left open - opportunities for a criminal. But you can reduce the risk by securing your home and car. This will also help the police, by giving them more time to tackle serious crime. That's good for you and your family - because it makes your neighbourhood a safer place to live in.

Challenging the fear of crime

The chances that you, or a member of your family will be a victim of crime are low and in Coventry crime rates have been falling consistently for several years. Crimes and especially violent crimes are still comparatively rare. Nevertheless, many people are frightened that they, or someone close to them, will be the victim of crime.

The best way to minimise the risks of crime are by taking sensible precautions. Most people already do this as part of their everyday lives, often without realising it. Sensible precautions limit risk and reduce crime. This guide is aimed informing people of some of the very straightforward ways in which they can reduce crime for themselves and their community.

Tips on staying safe

A few simple precautions can significantly reduce tour chance of becoming a victim of crime.

Around the house:

• Always lock your doors and shut your windows. Make sure ground floor windows are locked at night, even in hot weather.
• If you see signs of a break-in at your home, like a smashed window or open door, don't go in. Go to a neighbour and call the police.
• A high wall or fence at the back of a house can put off a burglar. Check for weak spots where a thief could get in. A thorny hedge along a boundary an also be a useful deterrent. Make sure the front of the house is still visible to passers by, so that a burglar can't work unseen.
• Never leave a spare key in a hiding place like under a doormat, in a flowerpot or inside a letterbox - a thief will look there first.
• Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house. Lock tools and ladders away so that a thief cannot use them to break in.
• Make sure your house or flat is secure. Always secure outside doors. Fit barrel locks top and bottom. If you have to use a key, keep it nearby - you may need to get out quickly in the event of fire.
• If other people (such as previous tenants) could still have keys that fit, change the locks. Don't give keys to workmen or tradesmen, as they can easily make copies.

Out in your car:

• When parking in a public car park - look for one that is well supervised, with restricted entry and exit points, good lighting and security cameras. In multi-storey car parks, choose a widely visible bay.
• Car parks can be a target for thieves and a source of fear for many people. A police scheme - 'Secured Car Parks' - aims to make car parks safer, more attractive places - by setting high crime prevention standards of internal design and layout. Those measuring up are entitled to display the official gold or silver 'Secured Car Parks' emblem. To find out about 'Secured Car Parks' in your area, contact the crime prevention officer at your local police station.

On the telephone:

• Use only your surname and initials in the telephone directory and on the doorplate. That way a stranger won't know if a man or a woman lives there.
• When you answer the phone, simply say 'hello'; don't give your number. If the caller claims to have a wrong number, ask him or her to repeat the number required. Never reveal any information about yourself to a stranger, and never say you are alone in the house.
• Every mobile phone has a unique IMEI number - Dial*#06# to get yours and make a note of it so that if it is stolen, you can give it to the police to help recover, or to your service provider to stop the phone being used by anyone else.