Clearer guidance needed to halt burglaries: Parsley

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Aug 2005

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has called for assistance to halt a spate of burglaries in the Holywood area.

The Holywood representative stated: "Burglaries do not hit the headlines but they carry a huge human cost to those affected. I have every sympathy for those affected.

"There is a growing sense of alarm in many areas such as Holywood about an apparent rise in crime. Although the figures in fact show a decrease, this is small comfort to those whose property or person have been attacked. There is clearly a new wave of people coming into the area intend on taking property, and we must do more to assist.

"Some good work has already been done informing people how to avoid becoming a target through simple measures. I would ask the police and the Housing Executive to ensure every household receives full information about how to ensure properties are not seen as an easy target, and I would ask communities simply to look out for each other and not make it obvious when someone is away. Often very simple and apparently obvious steps can make a huge difference."

ENDS