IN December’s column, I talked about the sort of things that local people can do to help keep property safe and secure, in particular the new gadgets and valuables received as Christmas gifts.

As we have seen in previous Januaries there is usually a slight increase in burglaries with opportunist thieves aware of the rich pickings to be had post-Christmas and targeting the unwary.

Once again I would urge you to get valuables property marked and registered for free on Immobilise, the national property register. http://www.immobilise.com/. Property marking is a great way to help protect your valuables and make them traceable.

This makes it more difficult for thieves to sell them on and assists the police in returning your valuables to you, if they are recovered.

Please mark your items in an inconspicuous place with your postcode and house number using an ultra-violet (UV) pen which is visible under UV light. If you would like a free pack, which also includes a security sticker for display on a door or window to act as a deterrent to thieves, please e-mail saferwyreforest@wyreforestdc.gov.uk or telephone 01562 732903 and leave your name and address.

l At this time of the year, many children and young people will have received presents that allow online access, such as mobile phones, games consoles etc. The Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Board leaflet ‘Do you know who is talking to your child?’ is designed to encourage parents and carers to understand some of the issues with online access and help them access available resources. Please go to the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children website: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/safeguarding-children.aspx and click on the Information for Parents section.

l Another campaign that may be of interest is Safer Internet Day 2014, which will be celebrated on February 11 and the strap-line for the campaign is ‘Let’s create a better internet together’.

This campaign is organised by Insafe each year to promote safe and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world. For more information, please visit www.saferinternetday.org l Finally, the winners of the Safer Wyre Forest Crime Free at Christmas Hamper were Mr and Mrs Turvey from Kidderminster.

For more information about North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, visit www.nwcsp.org email. Follow us on Twitter! @saferwyreforest

SUE HANLEY Chairman, North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership