Students are "easy targets" says convicted burglar

A convicted burglar has spoken out to warn students returning from the Christmas break to protect their new gadgets. Although this is from West Yorkshire, it applies to all Manchester and Stockport students.

According to 33-year-old Peter Findlay who has served 4 years in prison for burglary, students are a 'ridiculously easy' target, particularly in January when student accommodation is filled with new laptops, iPods and other expensive equipment. 

Peter is now working with West Yorkshire Probation and West Yorkshire Police to turn his life around and has agreed to take part in a short video advising the public of the simple measures they can take to protect their belongings and avoid becoming victims of burglary.

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In the video, Peter explains how student homes in particular can be easy to break into thanks to unlocked or poorly maintained doors and windows and expensive equipment being left on display.

West Yorkshire Police is seeing a reduction in burglaries with 485 fewer burglaries in November 2011 compared to the same month in the previous year. However, January traditionally sees a rise in the number of reports.

The Force is keen for people to take note of these simple crime prevention tips;

• Lock all of your doors and windows even when you’re in.
• Remove keys from all locks.
• Property-mark all of your expensive items using a UV pen.
• Keep your belongings hidden in a safe and secure place. Do not leave them on show!

Chief Superintendent Simon Willsher, head of the Force’s Local Policing Support Department, said: “Every year people’s homes are targeted by burglars who are on the lookout for Christmas gifts and sale bargains.

“Some simple steps to keep expensive items out of sight and prevent easy access to your home will deter criminals. We also encourage neighbours to look out for and repeat suspicious activity.

“This latest video provides a first hand account of what burglars look for and why students in particular are so susceptible to becoming a burglary victim. It is important to listen to and take note of what Peter is saying. He knows as well as anyone about what a burglar looks for.

“I encourage everyone to watch this brief video and not let a burglar ruin your new year.”

Thief's 'apology' to his victim - or not!!

By Chris Brooke, dailymail

It was supposed to be an exercise in remorse and rehabilitation.

However, the 16-year-old burglar used the opportunity of writing a letter to his victims to rub salt into their wounds.

Instead of apologising for stealing valuables from a family home, he told the owners that ‘to be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house’.

Sorry sight: A teenage burglar penned this illiterate and unpleasant letter to the Leeds family he robbed

The teenager arrogantly said the raid was their own fault and told them off for their ‘dumb mistakes’ in making their property a target for thieves such as him.

The habitual offender, who has not been identified, was put on an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme as punishment for his latest crime.

Described as the ‘most rigorous’ form of non-custodial sentence available for young offenders, writing letters to victims is part of the programme meant to make them change their ways. In the case of this teenager, it clearly didn’t work.

Chief Inspector Melanie Jones said the contents of the letter were 'disgusting' but could prove useful as a warning to householders

His letter was stopped by the authorities before it reached the victims and has now been released as part of an anti-burglary campaign. Written in a scrawl and littered with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, the letter is addressed: ‘Dear Victim.’
He wrote: ‘I don’t no why I am writing a letter to you! I have been forced to write this letter by ISSP.
‘To be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house. Basicly it was your own fault anyways. I’m going to run you through the dumb mistakes you made. Firstly you didn’t draw your curtains which most people now to do before they go to sleep.
‘Secondly your dumb you live in Stainburns a high risk burglary area and your thick enough to leave your downstairs kitchen window open. I wouldnt do that in a million years.
‘But anyways I don’t feel sorry for you and Im not going to show any sympath or remores.’
The burglar stole a computer games console, camera, camcorder, two TVs and two speakers in the raid in Moortown, Leeds.

Most of the items were recovered and the teenager was arrested. West Yorkshire Police said he had previous convictions for similar offences.  In court he was given a 12-month ISSP order, designed to control the behaviour of young offenders through ‘community-based surveillance’.

Chief Inspector Melanie Jones said: ‘The contents of the letter are disgusting but it highlights the cold and dispassionate way burglars select a property to target.’

Local councillor Sharon Hamilton said: ‘How dare he? It’s not for him to be telling people how to look after their homes. He has no right to be breaking into their homes.’

A spokesman for the UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust said the letter was ‘appalling’, but added: ‘Christmas is coming and people like to leave their curtains open so people can see their lights and their tree, but they need to realise the criminal is looking at their TV, radio, computer and the presents under the tree.’

To make sure that you do not fall victim of burglary,ask for a free security survey

sales@thealarmingman.co.uk

Smash & Grab Robbers at 2 stores foiled with Bandit Fog

Jeweller 1. Video stills show how fog foiled the robbers. (scoll down to see them all)

Sant Jewellers and Sons in Southampton were targeted by two raiders in early August 2011, who smashed through the front entrance door and targeted the jewellery cabinets. The shop was installed with a Fog Bandit to protect the staff and the stock. Almost immediately, the vigilant staff initiated the high speed security Fog Bandit which in just two seconds projected a 6 metre blanket of visually impenetrable yet harmless fog across the shop, screening the targeted display cabinets and forcing the raiders to turn and flee the shop, minimising the stock loss, shop damage and trauma to staff. 

Vinnie Kumar, Owner of Sant Jewellers, added;

“We have installed Fog Bandit within all four of our families Jewellery shops and I would recommend that all Jewellers have a Fog Bandit system installed. Fog Bandit is clearly the best security fogging system and helped protect our staff and our business”

Jeweller 2. Fog foiled the robbers.

Ram Parkash Sunderdass and Sons Jewellers on The Broadway were also targeted by raiders on Sunday 4^th September 2011. Again the raiders smashed their way into the shop and targeted the jewellery cabinets. The staff initiated the high speed Fog Bandit and within seconds the raiders were forced to run out of the shop, fractionalising stock loss and minimising this frightening experience for the staff.

The Owner of Ram Parkash Sunderdass and Sons Jewellers in Southall explained;

“The Fog Bandit and its voice warning announcer did a great job in quickly driving the raiders out of the shop, restricting the time and opportunity to target the jewellery and limiting our staff exposure to this frightening experience”.

Neil Chrismas, Sales Director for Bandit UK added:

“The Bandit UK Team applaud the staff during both of these incidents for acting promptly in initiating the Fog Bandit and forcing the raiders to leave their shops. These are further examples of the clear deterrent message to the criminal fraternity that targeting Jewellers with a Fog Bandit system installed is a fruitless exercise and heightens the likelihood of being caught. We have now installed 12 shops with Fog Bandit along The Broadway in Southall, West London, in what is a very friendly and tight Jewellery community where security is taken seriously and this type of crime is not tolerated”.  

About Fog Bandit:

‘What can’t be seen, can’t be stolen’

The state-of-the-art BANDIT is the fastest security fogging system of its kind in the world. When sensors detect an intruder (overnight protection) or a personal alarm is raised (daytime protection) the BANDIT’s patented high-pressure system instantly delivers a dense, visually impenetrable fog at the incredible rate of 28 cubic metres per second, projecting it 6 metres in the first 2 seconds alone. An average sized shop, office or showroom of 140 cubic metres takes just 5 seconds to fill.

The same BANDIT unit can be used for 24/7 risk applications. Daytime robbery deterrent is achieved by deploying a short controlled activation to create a fog curtain between the raider and the staff and/or goods. Overnight protection is achieved via a longer activation filling the entire area with impenetrable fog where valuable stock, equipment and other contents can be obscured from sight, protecting them from the possibility of theft or damage, until the authorities arrive.

The benefits of installing a Bandit……

• The FASTEST way to help protect your assets from theft

• Dual function 24/7 protection from the same unit

• Protects against the possibility of internal damage to property

• Helps keep insurance loss claims to a minimum

• Deters intruders from further attempts

• Fog is harmless, leaves no residue, so is safe to use in any environment

The result……

• Considerable cost, time and effort can be saved, disruption to business is reduced to a minimum and normal trading can be quickly resumed

The Alarming Man is an approved installer and local distributor in the North West of the acclaimed Bandit Security Fog Generator.

Bandit UK Ltd are the distributor for the UK and Ireland for the security Fog Bandit, for more information see www.bandituk.co.uk

The security test

Do your clients a favour. As the next most unexpected thing likely to happen to their business is to be burglared, play this game at your next meeting. (It's the sort of thing that should be done alongside the fire alarm checks)
Move the cars from outside the building if you can, switch all the lights off and set off the alarm.

Spend the next 3 minutes working out what would be the most likely things a thief would take. If no-one has arrived to see what's going on after 5 mins, your client may have a problem and be vulnerable to both theft and mindless damage.

Having proved how ineffective their system is, call me to discuss how we can help stop theft and damage occurring - which may put your best client out of business!! What would be the impact to your sales?

Oh and by the way, you can play this game at your own office as well at home.

Protect High Value Assets

Let’s say your home or business alarm went off, what happens next? The siren makes a noise, the thief damages property and steals whatever and the cavalry arrive some time later. Oh, and the CCTV recorded the unidentifiable burglar for posterity. However, if the area was filled with dense fog in seconds would the outcome be different? If you have concerns and are serious about protecting that server room or the Aston parked in the garage, watch this video and ask for a free demonstration – you will be amazed at the level of protection at affordable prices.