ALLOTMENT holders have been presented with free alarms for plot sheds in a bid to tackle burglaries at premises.

The move comes as part of St Helens Council's crime prevention campaign (#StopCrime), led by the its Safer Communities team which provides residents with simple tips to prevent crime, with a focus on stopping break-ins.

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St Helens Federation of Allotment Holders, a community alliance of green-fingered residents across the borough’s 17 allotments, is supporting the campaign.

And the group was provided with 200 magnetic contact alarms during National Allotment Week 2019 (August 12 to 18) to help protect their plot sheds from crime, while wider messages about shed security for residents are being shared under the hashtag #GetSheducated.

The alarms were funded by St Helens Council and issued at an event at Cabbage Hall Allotments in Windle attended by representatives from several of the town’s allotment sites, and from police and the local authority.

Paul Cooper, secretary of the St Helens Federation of Allotment Holders, said: “Due to the locality where a number of allotments are situated, they can be vulnerable targets for shed burglaries.

We welcome and fully support St Helens Council’s Safer Communities #GetSheducated campaign.

“We’re hoping that plot holders will heed the advice given and the alarms will help interrupt any crime, alerting local residents and hopefully they will report incidents to the police. With allotments being isolated places, plot holders rely and are grateful for the vigilance of the neighbouring residents.”

Cllr Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for community safety, added: “Our community allotments are fantastic resources that mean so much to those that carefully tend them. Hopefully these alarms will go a long way to deterring criminals from them.

“But it’s not just allotments that can be targeted. All residents should be aware that their own garden sheds could become targets for break-ins, and there’s some simple ways of reducing this chance that everyone should know.”

St Helens Star:

Cllr Jeanie Bell

Top crime prevention tips for shed owners:

• Cover any shed windows to prevent burglars from seeing any valuables inside.

• Consider painting your house number and postcode on larger items, such as lawnmowers, making them more easily identifiable.

• Smear glue on the heads of screws, or use anti-tamper screws, to prevent quiet entry to your shed.

• Never underestimate the importance of a good quality padlock, hasp and staple for your shed or garage.

• Don’t leave tools lying around in your garden, as they could be stolen, or worse, used to break into your shed or house.

Safer Communities have also provided the council's MOT service with air fresheners containing anti-vehicle theft tips, to be given out to everyone who gets MOT.

For more crime prevention tips visit safersthelens.org.uk/stopcrime, or follow the Safer St Helens Facebook page.

People can submit their thoughts on local crime and antisocial behaviour issues via smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HU55X/