POLICE have issued a double warning to residents this week following a spate of burglaries and conmen callers.

Detective Sergeant Tommy Wright warned members of the public to beware of bogus callers to their homes and stressed that callers should always be asked for identity cards. Anyone who is unsure about a caller at their address should not let him/her in without calling the agency which they claim to be from, and if still in doubt contact the police.

DS Wright's warning is followed by advice from Crime Prevention Officer Alison Armitt, who is based at St Helens police station. She has issued the following pointers for residents following a spate of burglaries in St Helens and Newton:

Fit key-operated window locks to all downstairs windows, and to those windows that can be easily reached by way of a drainpipe of flat roof and cannot be seen from the street.

Remove keys from locked windows and keep them handy, but out of sight.

Glue slats in louvre windows with an epoxy resin and fit a special louvre lock. Better still replace the glass with fixed glass if possible.

Fit security lights and ensure they're placed out of reach so they can't be tampered with.

Fit back and front doors with a five-lever mortice deadlock, along with bolts top and bottom. Michelle also points out that every year police recover thousands of items of stolen property, but are unable to return them to their rightful owners as they have not been marked. She advises members of the public to mark their property with their post code - using an ultra-violet pen, or a permanent etching tool. It's also a good idea to take photographs of any valuable items and to make a note of the serial numbers of electrical equipment.

For further advice contact a local Home Watch Leader or the Crime Prevention Department at St Helens on 0151 777 6058.

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