Keep an eye out forfair weather thieveswarn Sussex Police

Rye PCSO Neil Holden said: “With this nice weather set to stay for a bit I’d like to offer some advice in summer crime prevention.

“Firstly in relation to visiting beauty spots in your car; please remember to remove valuables and to secure your windows and doors.

“The same applies for when at home; if in the back garden ensure the front door and windows are secure, if busy in the shed make sure the house is fully secure, it only takes a few moments for an opportunist thief to get in and out.

“Please continue to be vigilant in your local neighbourhoods; we rely on you for information that could lead to the arrest of those committing crimes in the area. Never hesitate to report suspicious activity to us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

A Sussex Police spokesman added: “With the weather finally improving we know you’ll be out and about in the garden and wanting to leave windows and doors open to let the summer air in but at the same time we’d like you to remain security conscious and make sure it is just the sunshine you are letting in and not an opportunistic burglar.

“Put your garden tools and games away into a secure garage or tools shed after using them, they could be used to break into your home, or your neighbours’.

“If you want to leave windows open while you sleep, fit window restrictors so they cannot be fully opened, or make sure they are not large enough to allow access to a burglar.

“Consider fitting outside security lighting or a visible alarm to help deter burglars. Even using pea shingle or gravel on a driveway and spiky plants in garden beds can help.

“When you leave a room unattended, close the windows and doors -especially on the ground floor.”