Thieves don’t take holidays during the festive period

Operation Never Again, a partnership between Orange City Council and the police, is ramping up during the festive period.

Operation Never Again is a crime-prevention initiative and one aspect of the program focuses on residential break and enters.

Crime Prevention Committee Chair Cr Jason Hamling said unfortunately the festive period was an opportune time for thieves because people tended to be a little more relaxed about home security.

“Research shows break and enters occur regularly when people are at home,” Cr Hamling said.

“People are entertaining guests more often during the festive season and commonly they’re out the back having a barbecue and they leave the front door unlocked.

“That’s an opportune time for a thief to duck in the front door, grab wallets, car keys, jewellery and then duck out again and it can be hours before anyone notices.”

Canobolas Local Area Command Acting Crime Manager Inspector Yonneka Hill said most break and enters occur during the day and thieves gain access through unlocked windows and doors.

“Also make sure that any tools are put away as thieves can use these to assist them with getting into your house,” she said.

She said often people overlook their garages and forget to lock them, or forget to lock the internal door.

“Don't be fooled by thinking your car is secure once it is in the garage,” Inspector Hill said.

“Ensure your car is locked at night and there are no valuables left inside it even if it is in the garage.

“Opportunistic thieves will rummage through your car looking for anything that might be of value if you leave it unlocked and worse still, they might take the car."

Inspector Hill encouraged residents to be mindful of where they put their wallets and handbags when they come home.

“The items that are most often stolen are the items that are the most valuable, easiest to carry and easiest to trade for cash,” she said.

“These items are more often than not cash, laptops, tablet computers, jewellery, cameras, mobile phones and wallets, handbags or purses.

“Ensure you keep these items in a safe place when they are not in use. Often these items are left on a kitchen bench or in a lounge room and this is the first place thieves are likely to look”

Cr Hamling said Orange City Council and Canobolas Local Area Command partnered to produce television advertisements, with funding from Clubs NSW, to target Orange households in the lead-up to Christmas and the New Year.

“Make sure, if you’re going to go away for the holidays, have someone checking your mail and someone watering your plants,” Cr Hamling said.

“Those kinds of simple precautions make your home a less attractive target for thieves.”

OPERATION NEVER AGAIN: Acting Inspector Yonneka Hill is urging residents to check locks on windows and dorrs before leaving the home this holiday season.