The Government has unveiled its latest weapon against the widely-predicted credit crunch crimewave - a 15% DIY discount voucher. Don't leave your home security to chance - we show you how to beat the burglars and secure your property for less
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith squared up to the country’s burglars yesterday when she pulled her
latest weapon against crime out of the bag - a 15% discount voucher for B&Q.
Under the surprising new Government initiative, householders across the UK will be able to
call a hotline and ask for a coupon entitling them to 15% off all security products at any branch
of the DIY chain.
Callers will also be sent a pack containing top tips on how to shut out burglars, including
closing all doors and windows as the weather gets warmer – and leaving on a light if going out for
the evening.
The move by Ms Smith - that has been slammed by the opposition as a ‘gimmick’ - comes after
some worrying Home Office crime statistics, published in January. They revealed a 4% rise in
domestic burglary, a 16% increase in fraud and forgery, and an 18% rise in street robberies
committed at knifepoint.
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Credit crunch crimewave
Crime experts and most politicians were anticipating a rise in this type of crime as an
inevitable consequence of financially tougher times. The last sustained rise in the burglary rate
for example, was seen in the mid-1990s after the 1991/1992 recession.
But whether you will opt for the government’s voucher or not, why not use the Easter Bank
Holiday to step up your home’s security? First off, think of yourself as a burglar and carry out an
assessment of your own home. If you can get in with a bit of effort, a burglar will with none.
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