Burglaries rise in Bromley as police numbers drop (From News Shopper)

Burglaries rise in Bromley as police numbers drop

3:22pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Bromley By Heloise Wood

Burglaries rise in Bromley as police numbers drop

BURGLARIES in Bromley have risen by almost a fifth over the past year while the number of police officers patrolling the borough’s streets has reduced.

New Met figures reveal non-residential break-ins in Bromley have risen by almost a third from 1,053 incidents in 2010/11 to 1,357 in 2011/12.

The same crime has reduced in London overall by one per cent.

Residential break-ins in the borough have also bucked the capital-wide trend with a jump of 12 per cent from 1,961 incidents in 2010/11 to 2,193 in the past year.

This compares with a London-wide increase of one per cent.

Research from the Mayor of London’s office released in June revealed a drop of 26 police officers in the borough over the past year.

The number of Police Community Support Officers in the borough decreased by more than a third, from 147 to 93.

When Bromley borough commander Detective Chief Superintendent Steph Roberts took over in January this year, her first appeal was for people to “remain vigilant” and to always lock doors and windows.

A Bromley police spokesman said: “As with many outer London boroughs, Bromley has shown an increase in burglary over the past year.

“Burglary remains an issue of concern for us.”

According to police, 36 per cent of burglaries result from insecure properties.

Recommended steps to prevent burglaries include using timers to turn lights and radios on, fitting alarms and keeping valuables and presents out of view.

Other tips include marking your property with your postcode and registering items with a serial number online at immobilise.com