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As a fellow resident of Edinburgh, I remain convinced that it is a safe city to live, work and visit, regardless of the time of year.
However, as the Detective Superintendent for crime within the Capital, I am well aware that there are many members of our community who experience having their houses or business premises broken into, or their cars or motorcycles stolen.
While Edinburgh Division continues to deploy significant dedicated resource to tackling housebreaking and associated criminality, prevention remains better than cure.
As we move into the summer months, I want to take this opportunity to remind you about the importance of home and vehicle security. There are many effective safety measures you can take to protect your property.
Ensure your door locks are tested to British Standards and meet the needs of your insurance company. Keep doors and windows locked and remove keys from the locks afterwards. Close blinds and curtains at night, or when homes are not occupied so opportunistic criminals are not able to look directly into your home and get a glimpse of your valuables.
Where possible, consider installing an intruder alarm system, which can be supplemented with CCTV and /or video doorbell.
More information can be found on alarm systems and monitoring at www.nsi.org.uk or www.ssaib.org.
Simple modifications such as fitting and using outside security lights, either motion senor or dusk to dawn, and keeping hedges and trees trimmed so as not to provide cover for thieves have a deterrent effect.
Despite it being holiday season, do not post on social media that you are going on holiday and keep your holiday photos and updates for when you return home.
Similarly, a few easy steps can go a long way in protecting your car too.
If you have a garage, secure the vehicle inside and lock the garage. Consider extending any house alarm to cover your garage.
Another crime trend we want to warn the public over is relay theft. Criminals can clone the signal from keyless entry fobs which emit a traceable signal. Use a Faraday pouch to prevent this. If using an app to lock your vehicle, always remove the vehicle keys and do not leave them inside the car. Key programming is used to assign a new key to vehicles – so consider having an OBD lock guard professionally fitted to your vehicle or using a ghost immobiliser, so your car only starts when you enter a PIN.
Like in your home, items of value left in public view will be taken as an invitation by criminals. Mobile phones, electronic equipment, coins, sunglasses, tools and bags should be removed when the vehicle is left unattended. You can also use a steering wheel lock and/ or a lock that fits over the gear lever/clutch pedal and to prevent theft.
Consider fitting a tracker to your vehicle, as these devices can alert you when your car is active and if it’s travelling in a new area.
If you are considering purchasing any security products, Police Scotland would recommend that they are certified by www.securedbydesign.com or www.soldsecure.com.
For further advice about security, please visit our website: Advice - Police Scotland.
I hope that you have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger