Crime Reduction
Distraction burglaries
Distraction burglars use tactics such as claiming to be from the council, the police, a utility company or a health organisation. They may ask for a drink of water, to wash their hands or to use the telephone in an emergency. They may also claim to have lost a pet or a ball in the back garden. They may work with an accomplice who might steals from the property whilst you are engaged in conversation.
The following advice is recommended to guard against distraction burglaries:
LOCK - Keep your front and back doors locked, even when at home
STOP - Before you answer the door, stop and think if you are expecting anyone. Look through the spy-hole or the window to see who it is
CHAIN - If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the chain or bar on while you are talking to the person on the doorstep
CHECK - Check their details and identification before you let them into your home. If it is someone claiming to be an official, ask for and carefully check their identity card
Anyone with information relating to distraction burglaries is asked to contact Bury police on 01284 774100.
Keeping your oil safe
Theft of heating and diesel oil has been a problem for many years and the police have always noticed an increase in this type of crime whenever the price of crude oil rises. A rise in the price of fuel at the petrol pump inevitably leads to a rise in the cost of heating oil.
This makes oil a more attractive proposition for thieves who are now actively targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots and domestic properties. The thief may be using the oil for their own central heating or selling it on. Oil tanks can contain many thousands of pounds worth of oil and it therefore makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect them: 
• Screen your tank with fencing or hedges
• Close and secure any perimeter gating
• Conceal/cover any external oil pipe work/fuel lines
• Install dusk to dawn security lighting
• Install lockable caps supported by closed shackle padlocks (you may need
to consult your tank supplier)
• Regularly check your fuel levels
• Consider installing a sensor that is monitored from inside the home
• Consider installing a tank alarm/security device (you may need to consult your tank supplier)
• Join a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and keep an eye out. Telephone 999 immediately if you see anything suspicious. Note vehicle number plates and descriptions of suspicious persons
Please note, because some storage containers are metal and some are plastic, any security measures that directly affect the tank or pipe work should be done in consultation with your heating oil tank supplier.
For more advice, ring Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 and ask for the Crime Reduction Officer for your area. Further help on crime reduction can also be found by logging on to the Suffolk Police website and also the Home Office crime reduction website.
