IT was great to see so many local residents, despite the cold, at the personal security event in the Swan Centre, Kidderminster, on December 7.

The Community Safety Team gave out free purse bells (to deter purse dippers), purse cables, vehicle crime prevention packs and property marking packs. Christmas may have come and gone, but we are still in the festive season and it seems like a good opportunity to remind people about the sort of things that they can do to help avoid becoming a victim of crime.

The Christmas holidays should be a happy time for all of us, but while most people will be looking to relax and enjoy themselves, criminals will still be out and about looking for vulnerable homes and vehicles to target.

The festive season can provide thieves with an ideal opportunity to steal gifts of small electronics, computers, jewellery and easily sold valuables. If you are going out in the evening, remember to close the curtains and leave a light on, or use low energy dusk-to-dawn sensor lamps to make it appear someone is at home.

If you are going away, consider investing in timer switches to turn on radios and lamps and if you have an alarm fitted, make sure it works.

We would urge you to ask neighbours to keep an eye on your house and be prepared to return the favour!

After Christmas, don’t put your empty present boxes outside until your recycling collection day. The boxes and wrappings provide burglars with just the information they are looking for – what new gadgets and items await them inside your home.

Property mark all new electrical gifts and other valuables, such as mobile phones, MP3 players, bicycles, cameras and laptops and register them for free on the Immobilise website at www.immobilise.com/

Before you head out to the January sales (If you still have the energy!) please don’t leave the car unattended while you defrost it, with the keys left in the ignition. It only takes a moment to lose one of your most expensive possessions and it’s just not worth the risk.

Shoppers are being urged to stay vigilant, keep handbags securely fastened and have wallets, purses and other valuables out of sight -– in pockets if possible -– and not to keep PIN numbers with bank cards.

It is also important never to leave purses or bags unattended on a trolley, pushchair or wheelchair, even for a few seconds.

Wyre Forest is a low crime area and we hope these tips will help everyone have a wonderful and safe festive season.

HELEN DYKE Chairman, Wyre Forest Safety Partnership