Crime prevention advice following lawn mower thefts- South Norfolk

Following a number of lawnmower thefts across south Norfolk in recent months, officers are urging you to be vigilant with crime prevention for your outbuilding and sheds.

The buildings targeted consist mainly of commercial and public properties, with both traditional and ride-on lawnmowers being stolen from within.

Below are some steps you can take to help prevent this from occurring:

1. Lock it
   The first step of preventing theft is to invest in a high quality lock, without exposed screws, that would be more challenging to forcibly remove.
   
   
2. Alarm it
   Consider a battery-operated alarm to attach to the outside of your building. They look low-key but they respond to movement or door contact with an extremely loud siren.
   
   
3. Light it up
   Using motion or dusk-to-dawn sensor lights can help to deter thieves who work during darkness.
   
   
4. Mark it
   Property mark your items and take photographs of them. Some tools can be painted with your name or postcode, and forensic marking is also an option. You can also register any item that has a serial number with Immobilise.
   
   
5. Record it
   Installing home CCTV cameras can further help to deter thieves or make it easier to recover your items if they are stolen.

If you do find yourself the victim of theft then we urge you to let us know as soon as possible, via reporting on 101, on our website or on 999 for a crime in progress.