Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership

On a much more serious note, I expect you will have seen the recent story in the news where a woman tragically died after she was hit by her own car as it was being stolen from outside her home.

Unfortunately, the woman left the car engine running while she went back into the house. With the recent icy weather and forecasts advising us that it’s not over yet, we would urge Wyre Forest residents not to be tempted to leave cars unattended with engines running as they de-ice their vehicles on cold mornings. Have you seen the latest Home Office anti-theft adverts on the television?

Over the next eight weeks an advertising campaign will run on television, the radio, in the press, on poster sites and the internet featuring simple crime prevention messages for tackling burglary, robbery, theft from vehicles as well as identity fraud.

The adverts, which use the strap line ‘Don’t advertise your stuff to thieves’ are the first new commercials to be developed for the campaign since 2004. The campaign includes crime prevention tips reminding people to lock doors and windows and not to leave things like car keys, bank statements and laptops on show, which might prompt a break in.

A common mistake people make is to leave their car keys by the front door and the door unlocked. Don’t forget to take the key out of the back door after locking it, especially if you have a cat flap fitted.

Motorists will be warned about the need to lock their cars and keep valuables out of sight via adverts at service stations, petrol pumps and on car park barriers.

Don’t forget that burglars are opportunists and just by doing simple things like locking your doors and windows and not leaving your car keys, bank statements or valuables on display, you can easily protect your home and yourself from them.

We all know that Wyre Forest is a low crime area, but we would advise residents that it is better not to take risks and stay safe.

HELEN DYKE Chairman