Darfi eld P oli ce R eport

Time To Take Your Home /

Farm Security Seriously And

Implement Security Measures In recent months motorbikes, trailers, chai nsaws, building site materials and fuel have been stolen from rural properties in our district. In the majority of cases, the property owners had little or no home and farm security measures in place. The price of fuel (petrol and diesel) is inc reas ing r apidly and is becoming a target for rural thieves and burglars. Below is some crime prevention advice for farmers to seriously consider and implement:

1. Invert the top hinge (so it is downward facing) of all roadside boundary gates, so that they cannot be lifted off the strainer posts and hinge bolt. 2. Weld over the base of the hinge, hinge bolt and nut. 3. Weld your farm name on the top frame of the gate in an obvious place. 4. Underneath and at the bottom hinge end of the steel framed gate, weld in your driver’ s licence number into the frame, which will aid in the identification of your gate if it is stolen. 5. Chain and padlock your roadside boundary gates. Please, all fa rmers and sm all landholders, take this advice on board now and act on it. The common theme Police rece ive from our community, farme rs, landholders and house occupiers about their personal and home security is, “We h ave been thinking about it”. How about instead of thinking about it, putting some security measures in plac e to help safeguard your home, property and personal possessions to reduce the c hance of you and your family becoming a victim of crime. Suggested home security advice: 1. Always leave your house locked when absent from your address. 2. Spare key for the house, hidden in a well secure and non-obvious place (definitely not under the door plant pot, floor mat or gumboot). 3. When away from your address and at night time, have your front section gate shut and locked securely. 4. Vehicles should be locked and secured in a garage overnight on your property. 5. Remove all valuables (laptops, cameras, chainsaws, tools etc) from your vehicles when left overnight or unattended. 6. If a lockable garage is not available, the vehicle should be locked, the ignition key removed and secured up your driveway with the section gate locked. 7. Consider fitting an alarm system to your vehicle and especially with four wheel drives, a GSP tracking device. 8. Where possible do not leave your vehicle parked on the street side overnight. 9. Have an alarm home security system and CCTV security cameras fitted to your home and farm buildings. 10. If away from your address for a period of time, consider having a reliable and known person to act as a house sitter or have a neighbour check your property in your absence. 11. Fit sensor-activated spotlights on your house and outbuildings. 12. Farmers, have your farm fuel tanks in a secure, locked and alarmed shed. 13. Farmers consider installing trail cameras on your property, driveway and around your farmhouses and outbuildings. 14. Consider engraving your tools and valuable possessions with your driver’s licence number for identification purposes, should they be stolen. The Malvern Community Patrol have engravers that can be borrowed from them for a gold coin donation to the Malvern Community Patrol. 15. The Malvern Community Patrol can also fit and install secure screws to your vehicle number plates so that the number plate cannot be removed. They can do this for a cost of $5 per vehicle. Again, make contact with a member of the Malvern Community Patrol about this. 16. Keep a computer photo and serial number inventory of all tools, computers, cameras and valuables which have engraved or attached serial numbers for identification purposes should they be stolen. 17. Engage in a reputable security company to give you advice and quotes for the installation of home security alarm and CCTV camera systems. If you observe a suspicious vehicle driving about our district which appears to be casi ng out properties, please r ecord the vehicle number plate and report it at the time to Police. Please take this advice seriously and implement some measures to improve your home, vehicle and farm security which will hugely decrease the risk of becoming a Victim of Crime. Darfield Police Team, Andy, Hamish and Blair.