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Some County Durham homes are to be given fake TVs in a bid to crack down on incidents of festive theft.
As part of a Durham Constabulary Winter Nights 2024 operation hundreds of householders will be given free crime prevention equipment and security devices, including fake TVs, UV pens, light timers, window alarms, and door chimes to prevent burglary and car crime over the winter months.
Durham Constabulary’s initiative has been boosted after the announcement of an investment of £18,000 from Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.
Commissioner Allen said: “Any type of crime impacting the home or our personal property is a violation.
“It may take several years to recover from such an experience, and at the very least, increases fear.
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“These simple devices can make a difference, and spare people the trauma and inconvenience of being a victim.
“For this reason alone, it is money well spent.”
The aim is to reduce the risk of these households becoming victims of crime.
It will run alongside a major campaign to raise awareness of the risks of theft and provide crime prevention advice to help residents better protect their property.
This will include leaflet drops in hotspot crime areas.
The force will also engage in other proactive work, with volunteer police cadets and existing operations, including Operation Hawkeye, aimed at defeating opportunistic thieves.
Statistics show that residential burglaries and car crimes typically peak during the winter months, and recent figures indicate that these crimes are already on the rise.
Officers are adopting a problem-solving approach to these issues, working with partners to reduce opportunities for criminals and roll out crime prevention initiatives.
A similar Winter Nights initiative was held between December 2023 and March 2024.
During this period, properties in hotspot areas received advice leaflets, and the most vulnerable properties were provided with crime prevention equipment.
The campaign was a resounding success and helped to increase reassurance among residents and confidence in the work of the police to tackle these crimes.
The crime prevention devices, which also include padlocks and signal defender bags, will be distributed by neighbourhood policing teams across the force area and members of the Roads Policing Unit.
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