Police remind homeowners to wrap their rubbish to prevent burglary

WRAP your rubbish! – that’s the plea from police to householders in Wolverhampton who are throwing out cardboard boxes before and after Christmas.

Many households across the region may be getting high value electrical goods like DVD players, games machines, mp3 players and widescreen TV sets.

Over Christmas many people will be throwing the packaging from these items out with their rubbish.

West Midlands Police are appealing to householders to break down and wrap up or recycle their cardboard boxes rather than leave them in plain view outside their houses where potential burglars can see what goods they have bought.

Other advice from police is to:

– Mark all new property with a UV marker making it easier for lost and stolen property to be returned should the worst happen. It is also a good idea to keep a record of where you marked the property and note down the serial number.

– Record all your new property on the national database, www.immobilise.com

Chief Inspector Jo Chilton said: “After Christmas you can often tell what your neighbours have received by looking at their rubbish, which means it is easy for a potential burglar to do the same.

“We are looking out for people acting suspiciously around homes but the public can help themselves by breaking down their boxes and wrapping them up in plastic bags or by taking them direct to a recycling centre.

“A burglar can take all of your enjoyment of Christmas away if you let them. Please don’t make it easy for them.”