Police in Glenroy are reporting a spate of thefts of hot water systems from schools and new properties. Over 2o units have been stolen since November. A school which has been hit 3 times losing 5 hot water systems is now considering installing CCTV or engaging security guards.
Police say that the hot water systems are sold to tradespeople and renovators on the black market. Police recommend that property and homeowners consider protecting their external hot water systems by:
- installing an anti-theft bracket, cage and lock
- not leaving packaging of new systems in plain view
- photographing the system and serial number
- using CCTV that can be monitored from a smart phone.
Police advise that CCTV can help them solve crimes, but many people who install systems at home don’t know how to use them. It is that home operators learn how to operate their CCTV systems and kept footage for police. They strongly recommend that if you don’t know how to use the CCTV system, get someone who does and write down the instructions on how to operate the system and keep the instructions handy. Police can supply CDs, DVDs or USB drives to store video or still shot footage.
2BRUNSWICK
Moreland Leader
13 May 2013
CCTV can help police solve crimes, but many people who install systems at home don’t know how to use them, a Fawkner Sergeant has warned. Sgt Julie Macdonald said it was vital that home operators learned to operate their systems and kept footage for…read more…