A BURGLARY prevention awareness campaign has been launched in Henley.

It aims to inform residents about the sort of homes targeted by burglars and to offer householders advice on how to make their properties more secure.

Councillor Bill Service, portfolio holder for the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership, said: “Arriving home to discover you’ve been burgled can be a traumatic and worrying experience yet there are many things people can do to ensure that their house isn’t targeted.

“By taking some very simple and inexpensive precautions we can all drastically reduce the chances of our homes being broken into.” The campaign idea came from the Henley neighbourhood and community action group, where residents raise issues and discuss solutions.

Insp Mark Harling, head of Henley police and neighbourhood inspector for South Oxfordshire, was at the town hall to launch the campaign.

He said: “Thames Valley Police have had some good results over the past year with regard to preventing and solving burglaries. However, recently we have had a slight increase in offences and we are keen to remind people to take extra care of their possessions and make sure their homes and property are secure. We are also sending a message to burglars that the police, in conjunction with our statutory partners and Neighbourhood Watch schemes, are working hard to prevent offences taking place.”

Julia Hughes, projects co-ordinator for Thames Valley Crimestoppers, said: “Being burgled can rob you of peace of mind as well as possessions. We don’t want people to feel scared. This campaign aims to empower people to take precautions and be vigilant.”

As part of the campaign, the partnership is running a competition offering South Oxfordshire residents the opportunity to win one of 20 Smartwater kits.

Smartwater is a colourless liquid with its own unique code that can only be detected using an ultra-violet light when it is applied to valuables. If recovered, the police can return a stolen item that has been marked.

Anyone with information about a burglary can call the police on the non-emergency number of 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 .

Published 01/12/12