POLICE

IT'S interesting to bear in mind that a lot of people I've spoken to regarding house break-ins, believed (or just naturally assumed) that most occur during the night time - picturing the image of a man in dark clothing, carrying a swag bag! Well, from a burglar point of view, it makes better sense to carry out the crime during the working day, when most people are at work and the house empty.

What can we do about it? Ultimately, as far as the security of your home goes, it comes down to YOU and what you're prepared to do to make your home as secure as possible, without turning it into a prison.

Take a look around your property, including your gardens and its boundary. If you've got large bushes/ hedging/trees, which are in effect covering up vulnerable 'points of entry', consider removing them or even just trimming them down. This would open up the vulnerable area and lessens the cover afforded to the burglar and increases the chances of him being seen by a neighbour or passerby. If the bushes are the thorny or prickly type, ideal! Leave them there because would you fancy clambering over them? Neither would a burglar.

As for your house itself, if it's daytime then yes, it's more difficult to put in place visual deterrents, such as leaving lights on during darkness. So you have to check on the strength of your doors, windows and their locks. If you think you could give your door a good kick and it would open, then it needs to be made more secure i.e. two locks instead of one (mortise and latch). The same goes for windows.

Finally on home security, alarm systems. Probably these are the best deterrent of a!l and they needn't cost the earth. If you're like me and every penny counts, I got hold of a recommended friend of a friendly electrician, who wired me up with a standard alarm, which cost no more than £250. 1 emphasise the word 'recommended'.

In an effort to get some feedback on what the youths of the area would like to have in Culter, I have arranged a meeting specifically between them and me. This will be a very informal discussion, speaking about the problems associated with them gathering. Bearing in mind that the majority of these youths are generally good kids, but unfortunately in such groups, we end up with one or two who Spoil it for the rest and others in the community, by misbehaving, vandalising something or whatever. I've arranged the meeting for 7.30prn on Monday 29th April at the Pop Inn. Hopefully I wasn't sitting there alone!! (update in next Courier)

Parking issues. When we issue rickets for illegal or dangerous parking, whether outside the shops or the school, the person getting the ticket has a goat us for not having something more important to do. Unless you're able to come up with the greatest excuse in the universe, I'm not interested. Bear in mind as well that members of the community highlighted these issues as a community objective at the last annual Seminar.

Most, if not all, Community Beat Officers in the Queen Street Command Area are being trained to use speed guns. This is to allow us to tackle or help out with speeding problems identified to us in our own areas. Also, from time to time we'll be assisting our Traffic Police colleagues.

I have recently been hearing comments from some in the community, about the fact they haven't seen me out and about on my bike for a some time but I'll be out and about on my bike as soon as I can find the time and opportunity.

If anyone would like to discuss a problem in the area that they think we should be aware of or even just to bring it to our attention, feel free to contact either Kevin or me.

Graeme Stewart and Kevin McKenzte

Community Beat Officers (Culter)

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