Home security: Bright ideas to keep your home safe in the dark evenings

~ BAACA

This time of year when the clocks have gone back homes are in darkness early in the afternoon – a gift for opportunist burglars.

Protect your home against opportunist burglars by remembering to protect your home when the clocks go back and the nights draw in.

Unfortunately burglars see the longer winter nights as an opportunity to increase their criminal activities, so to avoid becoming a victim of burglary; Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Councils Joint Community Safety team is encouraging homeowners to take some simple steps to help protect their home:

  • Use a timer switch to turn on lights and a radio to give the impression someone is home
  • Keep valuables and other electronic equipment such as laptops out of sight
  • Security mark valuables with a UV pen and register them with www.immobilise.com
  • Double lock UPVC doors or use dead locks on solid doors
  • Keep all spare keys, including car keys, away from the front door and out of sight to avoid them being ‘fished’ through the letter box
  • Keep windows locked with the key and keep it out of sight
  • Don’t leave packaging of expensive items purchased on view as an advertisement to thieves

Neighbourhood Police Officers will be patrolling in residential areas and if they believe a property is at risk of being burgled, they will pop a ‘Here’s a bright idea’ card through the door along with contact details for further crime prevention advice.

Residents can pick up security advice by following @TVP_ChiltSBucks and @csafetycdcsbdc on Twitter. For regular updates on crime and disorder in your area you can sign up to Thames Valley Alert.

For further advice on crime reduction contact Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council’s Joint Community Safety team on 01494 586535 or visit:- https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/ www.chiltern.gov.uk/crimereduction or www.southbucks.gov.uk/crimereduction.

Hort Soc Annual Show & Village Bake Off 2018

~ BAACA Newsletter

The Hort Soc Annual Show is upon us and will take place in the Village Hall on Sat 8th September from 2.30pm. As always Tea, Coffee, Homemade Cakes and chat will be available.

Why not indulge your competitive streak and enter an exhibit? As well as Fruit, Veg and Flowers, there are classes in cookery, photography and crafts as well as Children’s classes. If you are entering an exhibit set up is from 9.30am to 11am.

All are welcome to come and take a look from, 2.30 onwards, but for a Show Schedule and membership information contact Rachel Watts on 01494 785322.

Forró Fest returns to Bellingdon – August Bank Holiday weekend

~ BAACA Newsletter

Come and experience a little taste of South America at our very own village hall!

As it has for the last two August Bank Holiday weekends, the hall and grounds will be transformed into a Forró dancing spectacular … and if you don’t know what Forró dancing is, why not come along and find out (see image for details)!

We are also very grateful to our regular hirers for their flexibility around the weekend.

17th August – Community Pub Night – CANCELLED

~ BAACA Newsletter

Unfortunately, owing to most of the usual team being unavailable, August pub night is cancelled.

After starting up the pub evenings some three years ago, Don Baker has decided that the time has come to step back and let someone else take responsibility for these popular community events.

So, if you’re wondering what you can do to help, it needs:

  • an overall coordinator
  • volunteers to cook for approx 40 people including a veggie option (need to plan, shop and cook). The more volunteers, the less often you’ll be asked to help
  • commitment from someone (or a group of someones) to clear up afterwards and leave the hall ready for any Saturday morning hirers.

If you can help with any (or all!) of the above, please do get in touch: contact@bellingdon.com