Funding boost for burglar alarm project
A project to protect burglary victims across Derbyshire from further crime is to be extended for at least one more year.
So far 566 homes have been given cut-price burglar alarms under the scheme run by Derbyshire County Council - with a further 48 alarms to be fitted.
And latest figures show that 95 per cent of people who have had an alarm fitted have not been targeted by burglars again while 98 per cent said their alarm had made them less fearful of crime.
Now Derbyshire County Council are setting aside £80,000 to allow the scheme to continue for the next 12 months after which consideration will be given to a further extension.
Burglary victims are referred to the project by a police officer. Homeowners supported by the scheme in 2013 will be asked to contribute £100 towards the cost of their alarm - a £25 increase on the charge made in previous years. The extra income will be used to buy more alarms. Householders receiving benefits do not have to pay.
Derbyshire County Council Community Safety Manager Sally Goodwin said:
"This project has been hugely important for residents who've been hard hit financially and emotionally by burglary.
"People who had an alarm fitted told us they felt safer and less worried about crime, which we know is a major issue affecting quality of life.
"Derbyshire's already a safe place to live but we're committed to continue working closely with the police and other partners to reduce burglaries and other crime to make it even safer."
Derbyshire crime figures have shown a year-on-year fall in burglaries of people's homes since the project started in Chesterfield in 2005. The scheme began there because police figures showed that the borough had more break-ins than other Derbyshire areas.
The project was extended in 2007 to North East Derbyshire and Bolsover and in 2009 it went countywide when Amber Valley, Erewash, South Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak were included.
Home Office figures estimate that the average cost of a burglary is £3,268 per household.
Sally added:
"We arrange for the alarm to be fitted so there's no added stress at what is already a traumatic time.
"With a fitted alarm costing around £500 on average, I would urge all eligible households to take advantage of this great offer. Not only are they saving hundreds of pounds on the price of having an alarm fitted they are also gaining peace of mind."
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