13
Mar
2014
By Calvin at 13:53 GMT, 12 years ago
It was interesting to find this on-line news video concerning a spate of ‘door-knocking’ burglaries in Houston, not just because the M.O.s in Houston, Texas are the same as used in Teddington, but because the video introduces the viewer to the police Crime Prevention Officer (or ‘specialist’ as they call them in Houston)
Budget cut-backs in the UK have reduced the number of crime prevention officers employed by the police service and the task of advising victims of burglary has increasingly fallen to the Neighbourhood Policing Unit staff who I’m sure are doing their level best. It’s also noticeable that to make up for the loss of physical security expertise, which the CPOs would have had in spades, many police services are advising the public to get their help and advice from organisations like the Master Locksmiths Association (with whom TCPW is affiliated) and websites like this one - The Crime Prevention Website.com
Other organisations can also help you with your security needs, including alarm companies like our new Directory member Bradling Security who offer a free home security survey when assessing your home for an alarm, which are often conducted by a retired police Crime Prevention Officer. For some of you living in large properties, perhaps with a great deal to lose if you experienced a burglary, you can purchase the services of an independent security consultant who is preferably a member of the Association of Security Consultants or our Directory In addition, some local authorities operate subsidised handyman services for the elderly and vulnerable as do some older person’s charities.
So, in spite of the cut-backs, there are still lots of places you can get help and advice and if you’re lucky your local police will still employ a CPO (or Crime Reduction Officer)
If you have any stories about how you got your advice please let us know using Contact
Video Source Click 2 Houston.com: http://www.click2houston.com/news/door-knock-burglaries-on-the-rise-in-houston-area/-/1735978/24949410/-/2navc9z/-/index.html
