Archived press release

Date Published: 11/12/07

Residents who become victims of domestic burglary in Aylesbury Vale can now take advantage of a wide range of home security measures. Aylesbury Vale District Council has teamed up with the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership to offer free...

Residents who become victims of domestic burglary in Aylesbury Vale can now take advantage of a wide range of home security measures.

Aylesbury Vale District Council has teamed up with the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership to offer free security equipment and advice to help people feel safe and secure in their own homes.

The aim of the ‘Hard Target’ scheme is to reduce both the number of repeat burglaries or attempted burglaries in homes, and the fear of crime in the community, particularly among the elderly.

Thames Valley Police will refer homes that have been victims of burglary to the scheme. Residents will then be offered advice on home security and, where possible, free door and window locks, a smoke alarm and a solar security light.

The aim is to offer this help as quickly as possible after the crime has been reported to the police so that residents can be sure their home is secure and the chances of them becoming a victim of crime again are far less.

The Hard Target project has been piloted in nearly 100 homes across the district over the past year. None of these properties have fallen victim to a break-in again and residents feel safer as a result of the work being done.

AVDC has also installed solar powered security lights outside homes at Birch Court in Southcourt, Aylesbury, to try to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, especially burglary. The lights store energy from the sun throughout the day and automatically turn on for a short period of time when someone approaches within a fixed distance.

Following the success of the trial, a solar security light will be included in the basic package offered to people whose homes have been burgled.

AVDC also carries out free home security checks for the over-60s and disabled people as part of its Home Service scheme. The initiative has proved a huge success since its launch nearly 10 years ago and hundreds of pensioners and people with disabilities have already benefited from the service.

Councillor Pam Pearce, Cabinet Member for Community Matters at AVDC, said: “This scheme will help put the minds of our most vulnerable residents at rest. It’s another piece in the jigsaw of reducing crime, particularly burglary, which is a crime that can have a devastating effect on any family.” 

Nigel Brooke, Chairman of the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership, said: “I would urge people to use this service if they have been victims of domestic burglary. This scheme is just one of the ways we are working with our partners to make people feel safer in the district.”

For more information about the Hard Target project, please call the council’s community safety team on 01296 585061.