OPINION: 'Ensure you take steps to prevent acquisitive crime'

FOR this week’s column, we are going to look at acquisitive crime, the impact it can have on our communities and how our communities can safeguard themselves, their homes, and businesses from those intent on taking what is not theirs to take.

Acquisitive crime ranges from housebreaking and theft, to shoplifting and even fraud and for many parts of the Lothians and Scottish Borders, these offences are on the rise at present.

If we start with housebreaking, the public can take a number of simple, yet effective steps to make their home less attractive to criminals and thus protect their contents and belongings.

For instance, when you go to bed, or leave your property empty, remember to close, and lock all windows and doors and draw curtains or blinds so your valuables are not on display for others to see.

We’d highly recommend that high-value sums of cash, precious metals or stones are kept within a locked safe that only you have the combination for or stored within a bank for safe keeping.

Your home is much less likely to be targeted if you have enhanced security measures in place and so you should consider robust locks for your doors and windows, motion-activated lighting and even CCTV or doorbell cameras if at all feasible.

Please also remember that your sheds, garages, and other outbuildings on your properties are extensions of your home and should also be secured appropriately, particularly if you are storing valuable items such as cars, bikes, tools, or agricultural equipment within.

For rural properties please also be aware that fuel is an attractive commodity for criminals and if you have fuel storage on-site then try and keep this away from areas where criminals would-be-thieves can easily access, such as at the boundary edges, which are close to public roads.

If you’re eager to get more advice about preventing housebreaking or vehicle theft, then please visit our website at www.scotland.police.uk.

Through continued engagement with members of the retail sector, we know that shoplifting continues to be an area of concern, particularly the impact it has on staff if there is an element of violence or intimidation associated with shoplifting.

Where we identify businesses that are being targeted by shoplifters, we have trained officers who can attend and carry out security surveys and offer advice around prevention.

We would encourage those employed within the retail sector to come forward and report any criminal activity directed towards them.

We will investigate all reported crimes, with every case fully assessed and given a proportionate response based on threat, harm, and risk.

However, we also know that retail companies have a vital role to play in protecting not only their inventory, but those who work for them by ensuring they have adequate security in place throughout their store, as well as always having appropriate numbers of staff on shift.

Officers from Police Scotland’s Rural and Acquisitive Crime Team are happy to visit premises and discuss all matters of security and safety with personnel and you can request a visit by contacting us on 101.

When it comes to fraud, we are seeing lots more sophistication in how scammers attempt to extort money from the public and its important our communities remain vigilant for the range of fraudulent schemes out there.

The most common remain banking scams, where criminals contact victims claiming to be from their bank and advise them that suspicious activity has occurred on their account.

The scammers then request money be sent to a separate account for ‘holding’.

Other similar scams involve people being told they owe money to HMRC or similar organisations and are asked to make payment by way of cash or gift card.

While many of these calls or emails may look convincing, the public should be advised that neither police, nor banks will ever request that you move money out of your account.

Similarly, no reputable company asks for payment by way of purchasing gift cards.

If you receive calls such as this, do not comply.

Terminate the call and contact police.

We know that fraudsters tend to target elderly and vulnerable members of our communities so please have conversations with those in your family, friendship group, or neighbourhood and encourage them to be alert and vigilant to any approaches of this nature they receive.

Once again, advice on staying safe from scammers can be found on our website.