Home Security Winners

Home Security Winners
Two Derby households have won a package of home security measures after entering a competition designed to raise public awareness about crime prevention.

Retired shopkeepers Ron and Cynthia McGahey from Spondon and Liz Edmonds from Mickleover were chosen at random from the hundreds of entries in a crime prevention competition included in a newsletter delivered door to door by Derby Community Safety Partnership as part of the Government’s new Vigilance programme.

Mr and Mrs McGahey now have window and door locks and alert alarms throughout their bungalow as well as padlocks to their side gate and garden shed.

Mrs McGahey said: “I enter all sorts of competitions and this one caught my eye because home security can be so expensive.

“I was delighted when we had heard we had won.  Although we feel very safe here, you can never take anything for granted and we are very careful about home security.  This is additional peace of mind and we are delighted with the results.”

Mrs Edmonds has had a new burglar alarm fitted to her home.  She said: “It is very timely as my old alarm had started to go on the blink before Christmas so I am grateful that this has now been sorted.  We all look out for each other here and have an active Neighbourhood Watch but I feel a lot safer with having the alarm in place.”

The CSP has been awarded funding  to develop successful schemes aimed at tackling robbery and burglary in the city and reducing the impact of such crime on local communities.

Part of the work is increasing public awareness about crime prevention and the newsletter highlights a wide range of issues including avoiding the ‘too good to be true’ bargain which is likely to have been stolen, encouraging people to stay safe when out and about in the city centre by drinking responsibly and using designated Taxi Marshall points, and the extra importance of home security at this time of year.

Derby Community Safety Partnership’s Head of Crime Reduction Nick Daines explained: “An important part of the Vigilence programme is to encourage local residents to play their part in crime reduction – by being aware of their own personal safety, securing their homes properly and supporting us in our efforts to tackle the stolen goods market by not buying ‘bent gear’.

“The crime prevention aids that have been fitted as part of this competition are simple ways to deter would-be burglars and street robbers.”

For more information on crime prevention support available through the Vigilance programme to support people living in the city, who have been burgled or are most at risk of crime, please contact: Sarah Newton, Crime Prevention Officer on 01332 222077

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