WELCOME back to Safe and Sound, the Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership’s column for December.

It was great to see so many local residents at the purse security event on November 27.

We gave out a total of 140 purse alarms, 50 purse bells, 30 security advice packs and spoke to around 100 people.

As usual, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a few timely security reminders from the Community Safety Partnership!

We hope that you’ve spotted the Advan around the area, urging everyone to keep houses, vehicles and possessions safe over the Christmas period.

The Christmas holidays should be a happy time for all of us, but criminals view the holiday season differently.

The festive season can provide thieves with an ideal opportunity to steal gifts of small electronics, computers, jewellery and easily sold valuables. Remember when you go out not to leave the Christmas tree lights on with the curtains ‘half drawn’ and presents on display. It looks pretty, but it is a signal to a potential burglar that the house is unoccupied and worth breaking into.

Make sure that presents are kept out of sight – the loft is a good place, as it is unlikely that burglars (or excited children!) would be bothered to look up there.

If you are away for the festive season, invest in switches to turn on lamps and radios to make it appear someone is at home. When Christmas shopping, if you can avoid it, don’t leave presents in your car while you continue shopping. If you have to, make sure they are out of sight and your vehicle is locked and alarmed.

When you defrost the car on icy mornings, never leave your keys in the ignition and the car unattended, even for a short time.

After Christmas, don’t put your empty boxes from presents out until your recycling collection day. The boxes and wrappings provide burglars with just the information they are looking for, to see what new gadgets and items await them inside.

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 of Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership