Police cadets in Stroud and Dursley to advise supermarket shoppers about burglary prevention over winter

Police inspector for the Stroud and Dursley areas Brian Clifford launched the new tactic on Friday, as part of Operation Switch to help people protect their homes from burglars.

Volunteer police cadets based at Stroud Police Station spent the morning at Waitrose on London Road in Stroud and chatted with shoppers, ahead of the clocks going back.

Above - Police cadets with PCSO Gary Lynch at Friday's launch outside Waitrose in Stroud

Information from the past five years reveals that in the winter months residential burglaries increase by almost a third (32 per cent) in the county compared to the summer time.

Quick and simple actions such as using timer switches with lights, locking doors and windows and avoiding posting to social media when you're not home, particularly when eating out or on holiday, could prevent your home from being burgled.

Inspector Clifford says that advice from the cadets could save people from the misery of preventable thefts.

"When the clocks go back an hour it provides the ideal cover for burglars who will strike at any home that appears vacant,” he said.

"Late afternoon to early evening during the week while residents are typically returning home from work is a popular time for burglars to be out and about.

"Our police cadets are trained, equipped and keen to share with shoppers a simple checklist of inexpensive household measures that could save them from the misery of this kind of crime."

Teams of supervised police cadets armed with the constabulary's latest burglary prevention leaflets (as seen below) will be touring Stroud and Dursley's supermarkets this winter, spreading the word on how best to protect your home.

You can learn how to protect your home and download the checklist by visiting www.bit.ly/winterhomecheck