Residents in Nelson are being offered cut-price property marking kits which help trace items if they are stolen.
Ystrad Mynach police officers have teamed up with Nelson Neighbourhood Watch to promote crime prevention advice and encourage people to security mark their garden furniture and tools.
Nelson Neighbourhood Watch has received funding of £100 from the local community council and added £90 of its own funding to purchase ten forensic marking kits for residents to buy at £10 each.
Residents can mark their property with a solution that is invisible under normal light but shows up under UV light.
If your items marked are stolen and turn up, it can easily be traced back and the offender can be forensically linked with the crime scene.
Nelson PCSO Matthew Jones said: “We tend to see a rise in shed burglaries during the summer. We often find that people spend a great deal of money on expensive garden furniture, tools and sports equipment, and then store it in their shed with only a cheap padlock for security.
“These items are far too valuable for residents to be complacent about the security of their shed. It’s these simple crime prevention tips that limit the opportunities for residents to become a victim of crime.”
David Spacey, secretary of Nelson Neighbourhood Watch, said: “The forensic marking technology kits are an excellent and cheap way to help reduce crime in the area. The kits will also act as a deterrent – as residents can put up a sticker found in their pack in their windows, warning the thief that their property is marked.”
Nelson Neighbourhood Watch are also recruiting members to OWL, which stands for the Online Watch Link.
OWL is a modern day Neighbourhood Watch scheme which enables police officers, residents and coordinators to communicate better using the internet.
If you are interested in purchasing a forensic marking kit for £10, contact PCSO Matthew Jones on 01443 865 595 or email ystradmynach@gwent.pnn.police.uk
For more information about OWL, visit www.owl.co.uk