Home burglaries up in Mandurah

BOTH police and insurance companies are reporting an unseasonal increase in home burglaries in Mandurah.

Mandurah officer in charge Glen Willers said police had responded to this increase.

Some suburbs are being targeted by thieves more than others, Senior Sergeant Willers said.

Holiday homes in Halls Head are easy pickings for thieves.

Lakelands is vulnerable due to the amount of new homes in the area.

“We have been working with neighbourhood watch in Lakelands,” Sen Sgt Willers said.

But almost all suburbs in Mandurah had seen an increase in offences.

In response to this, WA Police and Mandurah Police implemented Operation Sweep.

As a result, Sen Sgt Willers said they had already seen a 20 per cent decrease in burglaries in the last fortnight.

“The reduction is bringing the rate down to normal levels,” he said.

Sen Sgt Willers said officers from out of town were flooding Mandurah.

In Mandurah alone, Operation Sweep was responsible for 34 people being arrested, 46 people summonsed to court and 29 vehicle stops.

RAC Insurance Home Claims manager Glen Walker, said there had been a 25 per cent increase in the number of home burglaries in WA for the July and August period this year, compared to the same two-month period in 2014.

In 2014, they received 385 home contents theft claims compared to 480 this year.

“That’s approximately a 25 per cent increase compared to the same time last year,” Mr Walker said.

Claims have also increased by $400 on average.

Crime Prevention Unit Sergeant Paul Trimble said he had seen a spike in cars thefts.

Sgt Trimble said the incentive was on homeowners to secure their car keys at home.

“The majority of burglaries being committed at night are through unlocked doors and windows,” he said.

Sgt Trimble urged people to make sure their garage door was down before they went to sleep.

“If you park your vehicle outside your home overnight ensure the area is covered by a sensor light that will activate when anyone approaches your vehicle,” he said.

“Thieves like to work under the cover of darkness.”

Thwarting thieves:

–       Lock doors and windows, even when you’re home.

–       Install quality deadlocks and security screens.

–       Opportunistic thieves want easy targets and entering through unlocked doors, taking portable items in seconds.

–       Keep garden sheds and workshops locked as power tools are at a high risk of being stolen.

–       Tradesmen should secure tools that are carried in motor vehicles.

–       Don’t leave spare keys in obvious places like under doormats or in flowerpots.

–       Instead, leave spare keys with a trusted neighbour, friend or family member.

–       Install a home security system or CCTV.