Staying safe in your home

• Make sure you secure windows and doors before you leave the house.
• If you are in the garden or upstairs, make sure your downstairs doors are locked,
  and that you have a key with you to get in or out in a hurry.
• Fit window locks and keep the keys in a safe place.
• Keep tools and ladders securely locked away.
• Display your burglar alarm and neighbourhood watch sticker prominently.
• Put up a warning sign for visitors if you have a dog as this will deter thieves.
• Keep valuable items out of view. Don’t leave keys under a doormat or on a
  string through the letterbox. Burglars expect this.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary have comprehensive online advice and top tips about crime prevention.

You can also receive free crime and community information about where you live by signing up to Hampshire Alert.

If you have problems with home security, answering the door, fitting a door chain or a key safe, there are services that can help:

• The Hampshire Bobby Scheme provides free home security and safety checks to anyone in Hampshire who is vulnerable, disabled or over the age of 60. This service is also available to those most vulnerable due to disability or long-term illness. Telephone 0300 777 0157. 

• Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) recommends that you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and ideally in all rooms except your kitchen and bathroom.
  It is important that you regularly check that alarms are not clogged by dust and that you test that their batteries work.
  Plan how you would get out of the house in an emergency. Your working smoke alarm will give you early warning of a fire. You should get out of the house, call the Fire Service and stay out.
  Find out more about fire safety in the home. HIWFRS will also do home safety visits to assess any risks in your home and advise you. You can complete the Safe and well assessment on their website to request a visit or telephone the Community Safety Team on 023 8062 6751. Email: community.firesafety@hantsfire.gov.uk
• If you are hard of hearing, or even a heavy sleeper, you should consider fitting strobe light and vibrating-pad smoke alarms. Contact the RNID information line on 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000.
• The Government has produced leaflets on fire safety for people with sight, hearing or mobility difficulties.

Fraud 
Hampshire Trading Standards warns that an estimated three million people fall victim to scams each year. Scams such as bogus lotteries, prize draws and miracle health cures arrive by post or telephone and target elderly people and the
vulnerable, often leading to debt and depression.

Always be sceptical about any unsolicited offers and never part with money or give your bank or credit card details to obtain a prize or an offer that is too good to be true. Don’t be rushed into making an instant decision and don’t ring premium rate numbers (starting 090) to claim a prize or arrange a parcel delivery.

For further advice or if you are worried that you, or someone close to you, has been a victim of a scam, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.  See further information from Trading Standards.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has further information about fraud and how you can report it.

You can also receive free crime and community information about where you live by signing up to Hampshire Alert.

Online fraud and cyber crime

• As the internet has become part of our daily lives, online fraud has increased - from email scams to fake holiday sites to identity fraud. Read the information and advice from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary on how to protect yourself from these types of scams.
  
  
• Hampshire Bobby Scheme also have a Cyber Bobby Scheme that provides free home visits to give guidance about basic IT security and how to avoid being affected by a cyber crime. This service is available to over 65s, anyone over 18 who is disabled, or anyone who has been a previous victim of cyber crime. 
  
  
• Hampshire Cyber Watch offers free advice, by email or telephone, to any Hampshire resident who is concerned about communications they have received or believes that they may be a victim of cyber crime.

Cold callers and possible doorstep criminals 

Hampshire Trading Standards has information about who might cold call at your door and how to protect yourself from rogue traders and doorstep criminals. They also have a poster which you can print and display which states "We do not buy goods or services at the door - please do not cold call".

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has advice, and helpful videos, on how to spot, and report, suspected doorstep criminals.

Reducing nuisance junk mail and telephone calls

• You can reduce the amount of junk mail delivered to you by visiting the Mailing Preference Service website or calling 0207 291 3310.
• You can stop unaddressed leaflets being delivered by Royal Mail by completing an online form or calling 0345 266 0858.
• You can stop unsolicited telephone calls by visiting the Telephone Preference Service website or calling 0345 070 0707. It may take a while for calls to reduce. If you continue to have a problem, contact the TPS or you can call OFCOM on 020 7981 3040.
• Your telephone provider may also offer a free call screening service which is easy to activate:
  - BT Call Protect
  - TalkTalk Call Safe
  - Sky Talk Shield

There is a lot of equipment which can help you to feel safe in your home, as well as when you are going out, including care technology such as pendant alarms, sensors and GPS trackers. See our Equipment and adaptations section.