Village Voice Oct / Nov 2017 Issue 182

on that door. Posters can be downloaded at:
www.chiltern.gov.uk/halloween or www.
southbucks.gov.uk/halloween. or picked up free
of charge at Chiltern District Council Offices,
King George V Road in Amersham, HP6 5AW
or South Bucks District Council Offices,
Capswood, Oxford Road. Denham, UB9 4LH,
Residents without access to a printer can request
posters by calling 01494 586535.
People planning to go trick or treating are
asked to look out for the posters and be
considerate of others. Tricks like throwing eggs,
graffiti, or other vandalism will be treated as
criminal damage and the police will prosecute
anyone found breaking the law.
Trick or treating has become a tradition which
many householders are only too happy to be
part of. For some, however, it can be a truly
upsetting and very frightening time. These
simple posters give a clear message as to
whether the resident is prepared to join in the
Halloween fun or not.
Extra police will be on duty during the
Halloween period to ensure that inappropriate
behaviour is challenged and resolved. Antisocial
behaviour will not be tolerated at any
time of year. Anyone affected by the few
individuals who use trick or treating as an
excuse to commit antisocial behaviour can
report it to Thames Valley Police on 101.In an
emergency, or if a crime is in progress, call 999.
If you are concerned about Halloween, the
advice is:
Don’t open your door if unsure who is there.
Use your spy-hole or look out of a window, and
use your door chain if you do decide to open
your door.
Have a contact number of a close relative or
good neighbour to hand by your telephone in
case you need to phone them.
If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch
scheme, let your coordinator know you will be
on your own at Halloween. If you are a
coordinator, please identity people in your
scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them
reassurance.
www.pennandtylersgreen.org.uk
Village Voice October/November 2017
Bright Ideas to Keep Your
Home Safe on Dark Evenings
This time of the year when the clocks have gone
back means homes are in darkness early in the
afternoon – a gift for opportunist burglars.
To avoid becoming a victim of burglary, Chiltern
District Council and South Bucks District
Council’s Joint Community Safety team is
encouraging householders to take some simple
steps to protect their home:
• Use a timer switch to turn on lights and a radio
to give the impression someone is home
• Keep valuables, and other electronic
equipment such as iPads out of sight
• Security mark valuables with a UV pen and
register them with www.immobilise.com
• Double lock UPVC doors or use dead locks on
solid doors. Keep all spare keys, including car
keys, away from the front door out of sight to
avoid them being ‘fished’ through the letter
box
• Keep windows locked with the key and keep it
out of sight
• Don’t leave packaging of expensive items
purchased on view as an advertisement to
thieves
• If you intend to go away over the holiday
period, ask a neighbour to park on your drive to
make your home look occupied and do the
same for others.
Neighbourhood Police Officers will be
patrolling in residential areas and, if they
believe a property is at risk of being burgled,
they will pop a ‘Here’s a bright idea’ card
through the door along with contact details for
further crime prevention advice.
Residents can follow their local police and pick
up security advice from Twitter at: @TVP_
ChiltSBucks . For regular updates on crime and
disorder in your area you can sign up to Thames
Valley Alert .
You can also contact Chiltern District Council
and South Bucks District Council’s Joint
Community Safety team on 01494 586535 and
for further crime reduction advice you can visit:
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/
www.chiltern.gov.uk/crimereduction or www.
southbucks.gov.uk/crimereduction or follow us
on Twitter @csafetycdcsbdc
9