With Christmas fast approaching, here are some top tips to beat the festive burglar.

Christmas is a time of giving, but it can also be a time of taking where burglars are concerned. And it won’t just be retailers working long hours over the build up to the festivities, as the felons will also be working overtime. Domestic burglaries traditionally go up during the winter months with the darker nights and people filling their homes with costly gifts including jewellery and electrical items ahead of the festive season. In the Sutton Coldfield area already this winter West Midlands Police have warned of 12 house burglaries or attempted burglaries in as many days last month and ten so-called car key burglaries in five days during early December. So how can homeowners take precautions to protect their homes and their loved ones at this time of year? Sutton Coldfield based leading security company Protect and Serve has these top tips…. Please read our tips to ensure your home is secure over Christmas and the New Year period.

1. Deterring would-be criminals is one of the most effective forms of crime prevention. Invest in a motion sensor flood-light or even some outdoor Christmas lights to highlight your home’s exterior. A well-lit home will make any intruder more conscious and therefore deter a burglar.
2. Highlighting the fact your possessions are security marked through window stickers helps warn would-be thieves that your goods are marked, traceable and therefore not worth the risk of stealing.
3. Festive lighting should be properly installed. If you do install outdoor festive lighting don’t feed cables through partially open windows as you are also leaving yourself open to intrusion.
4. Dispose of gift packaging carefully.Refuse collections over the Christmas/New Year period are normally at different times. If you can’t take packaging to a recycling point, make sure you only put your rubbish out just before the collection and do your best to fold boxes so that they do not advertise the new contents of your home to thieves!
5. Dispose of receipts and personal paperwork by first shredding it. Christmas is a time when this is especially important as people hold on to receipts and bank statements which could expose them to fraud. Be careful not to shred any important warranty details and store documents you need somewhere secure.
6. Check doors and windows for weak spots. Government statistics show that 30% of burglaries happen through windows. Installing a few dead-bolts and new window hinges could increase the security of your home
7. Keep your curtains, drapes and window blinds closed at night, making sure valuable items are out of sight. When going out for the evening make use of inexpensive timers to give the illusion that you are home.
8. If you are away over Christmas, plan ahead. Cancel any newspaper or milk subscriptions and arrange for a neighbour to park on the driveway to help create the impression someone is home. Set up light timers.
9. Secure garages and sheds and make sure ladders or tools that could be used to secure entry are locked away.
10. Install a Protect and Serve fully monitored alarm system. Contact 0333 666 21 21 for further details and a free quote.

In exciting news, Protect & Serve has been shortlisted for the Chamber of Commerce Sutton Coldfield Small Business of the Year 2019 Award. Out of hundreds of applications, we are proud to announce that we have been selected as one of five companies in the running to scoop this prestigious award. Our application was approved by the panel of Chamber judges, as we successfully displayed how our business has grown over the past three years and how we have positively contributed to the local community and workforce, plus what our vision is for the business, alongside our main objectives for the following three years. We feel extremely honoured to be selected as a finalist for the Chamber of Commerce Sutton Coldfield Small Business of the Year 2019 Award, and we look forward to finding out if we have won at the Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth Chambers of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards on Friday 24th January 2020. To find out who else has been shortlisted, click here.

A fully-integrated alarm system has saved a pair of the world’s most priceless Rembrandt paintings after it alerted security to a burglary at a London art gallery.

The alarm was triggered as an unknown thief forced entry to Dulwich Picture Gallery in South London and attempted to make off with two valuable canvases which were part of an exhibition. It immediately alerted security to the audacious heist, also triggering a police response. Although the thief was able to escape, after spraying an officer in the face with an unknown substance, the two priceless paintings were recovered dumped in a bush in the gallery grounds. A spokesman for Scotland Yard said thankfully the officer did not suffer a serious injury and the hunt for the thief is underway. A Gallery spokesman said: “The intruder was detected by the gallery’s robust security systems and thanks to the immediate intervention of security staff and the response of Metropolitan Police the paintings were secured at the scene.” It is not yet known if the paintings included the famous Dutch master’s portrait of Jacob de Gheyn III which is claimed to be the most stolen artwork in the world having been taken and recovered four times!” You might not have a Rembrandt, a De Vinci or a Van Gogh but at Protect and Serve we can promise a monitored alarm system to protect your home, your family and your treasured possessions. Contact 0333 666 2121 to get a free quote today. Click here to read the original news article.

West Midlands Police have warned of a spike in burglaries in Sutton Coldfield, with 12 homes targeted in as many days.

In all, eight homes on estates across the borough were burgled and four others suffered attempted break-ins during a 12-day spree this month. Police are now urging residents to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour as well as taking any necessary steps to protect their homes, such as fitting additional security measures. Since the start of November there have been burglaries in Churchill Road, Falcon Lodge, Roylesden Crescent, New Oscott and Yeomans Way and Wheatmore Way, Wheatcroft Close, Roughley, Garnett Drive, Whitehouse Common, Banners Gate Road, Vesey and Silver Birch Coppice, Four Oaks. There were attempted break-ins at four other homes in Walmley and Four Oaks. West Midlands Police Special Constable Rachel French said: “We have recently seen a rise in burglaries in Sutton Coldfield both during the day and at night." “We had some great intelligence recently from a vigilant member of the public which resulted in two prolific offenders being stopped and arrested.” Residents were warned to ensure ladders were stored away or secured with a bicycle lock after they were used in a number of the offences. Rob Allsopp, Director of Sutton Coldfield based security provider Protect and Serve said: “We are at the forefront of the safety industry offering a wide range of protection, detection and monitored alarm systems." “We ensure that we also have the resources in place to provide an emergency response, making sure our customers are protected and can feel safe and never alone.” Click here to read the article source.

We are pleased to announce we have moved premises. As of 1st November 2019, Protect & Serve has moved its Head Office to: The Moat House 24 Lichfield Road Sutton Coldfield B74 2NJ Whilst our new offices are beautiful, please note, all numbers and e-mails remain the same, as does our exceptional service. Thank you.

We are proud to announce our Blog page for Protect & Serve is now live, as part of our commitment to you, our existing and potential customers.

We are dedicated to helping you and your family feel safe in your home at all times. As well as our complete monitored security and safety system to provide you and your loved ones with the highest level of protection whether you are at home or not, this Blog page will complement our services to offer safety advice direct to you.

As an innovative company with many years' experience in the security sector, we are at the forefront of the safety industry, and we will be posting invaluable safety insights and hints and tips to ensure you are well equipped and well informed to deter criminals.

If you are serious about protecting you, your family, your property and your possessions, Protect & Serve's Blog is for you, so keep an eye out for our updates.