Over the summer months, many of our University, College and School students will take a welcome break from their academic studies. During this time, some students like to head off and explore foreign destinations and cultures, but the majority will stay at home, perhaps hoping to bag a summer job to help fund that other youthful rite of passage – summer music festivals.

In Britain, over the summer, there are a plethora of summer festivals happening… Ranging from free open air concerts to world famous music festivals such as T in the Park, Isle of Wight Festival and Radio 1′s Big Weekend…
Where top bands can be seen headlining over a 3-4 day period. Over the summer months many ‘revellers’ head to these festivals and the last thing on their minds is their own personal safety.

At Crime Prevention Products we understand that festival-goers will be too busy listening to their favourite musical tracks and having a good time than spend time worrying if their tent or possessions are safe. Which is why we’ve decided it’s time to publish a few quick & easy tips for anyone that’s heading off to their favourite summer musical festival to remember.

• Don’t keep all your cash and valuables in the same place, try and spread them around in different pockets/hiding places.
• We all know how the opportunistic thief works, so try and make life hard for him, leave your tent in a mess (shouldn’t be too hard this one), hide all bags under clothes or sleeping bags – leave nothing at hand.
• If you have to travel by car then leave nothing of value in it, empty your glove compartment and leave it open for all to see.
• Try and pitch your tent next to a friends as they can look after your possessions and vice versa.
• Most importantly, if you find someone looking through your possessions don’t tackle them on your own, report them to site security/police as soon as possible.

When it comes to our health, there’s plenty amongst us who will admit that they’re not fit and could do with losing a few pounds… According to one source, around 60% of adults living in the UK are overweight (source). With the spring weather and slightly longer daylight hours now on our doorsteps its time to ditch the late night glass of wine, avoid those delicious snacks and admit that the scales aren’t wonky.

Hundreds of thousands of people will start their Spring keep fit regime over the next week or so. Local parks and well known running routes will soon see an influx of joggers and power walkers of every shape and size determined to drop that dress size or take the belt buckle down a knotch.

As residents purchase tracksuits, trainers, iPods and even water bottles to make themselves look the part, there is one essential part of a joggers or power walkers ‘kit’ that shouldn’t be left out and that’s a personal protection alarm.

It only takes a few seconds for an assailant to assault you, as you walk or jog past that poorly lit area of the park, or by leaping out at you from behind a parked car or bush. By wearing a Wrist Alarm Personal Safety Alarm, which have been deigned for joggers and power walkers in mind, it will emit an ear piercing 130 dB Alarm, buying you the time required to make your escape.

This year, whilst thinking about your keep fit regime, consider your own personal safety regime as well.

There are many reasons why individuals carry knives, some say it’s for protection or self-defense, while others wish to increase their ‘street cred’ or to gain more ‘respect’ amongst their peers, then there are those few who just want to simply ‘hurt others’!

Let’s get one thing straight. Carrying a knife is illegal in the UK and if a person is found with a knife in their possession – they will be prosecuted by the courts.

A disturbing fact, is that 50% of young people think it’s OK to carry a knife for protection (source). UK schools have been the brunt of knife-related incidents. However, the problem isn’t just contained to schools – colleges, youth clubs and private functions are just as likely to experience violent knife-related incidents.

While the Government and other bodies try their best to educate young people from carrying knives, the best way to stop knife crime from happening inside a building is to prevent anyone entering with a knife or a metal object?

By using a Hand Held Metal Detector to scan individuals when entering a building might seem a bit dramatic to some, it sends a pro-active message to those who are intent on carrying a blade that their presence is not welcome if they try to enter the building with a concealed knife or other sharp insrtument on their body.

When it comes to home & garden and personal security, we tend to think of these things as essential. Yet many of us still go through everyday life without implementing any precautions that would help avoid unnecessary events from happening to ourselves, our property or our loved ones. There are various reasons why, of-course, we ignore/disregard implememnting security measures… It might be down to cost, or you haven’t found the right equipment yet, perhaps it’s a fear of using technology, or, most likely, you’re still in the frame of mind “that it will never happen to you“!

When it comes to personal security or protecting your property, Crime Prevention Products have various low cost security devices that will benefit yourself and your home greatly…

When it comes to your home & garden security, many thefts are committed by opportunistic thieves and could have been avoided. Open windows or doors, poor shed or garage security account for a large percentage of burglaries. CCTV cameras are an ideal way to let opportunist thieves know that your property is protected. You can install the IllumiCam Security Floodlight with Hidden Camera & Audible Warning system for just £119.99 – that’s an extremely affordable, high-end security system that will deter any thief from entering your property.

Sometimes we come into contact with people we’d rather avoid. You know the situation, it might be someone who has had too much to drink, or a gang of youths, who focus their attention on you. By carrying a personal alarm, at least you’ll have a device which is ready-to-hand and can deter any unwanted attention. Personal Alarms can fit discreetly into your everyday life, ensuring that if you’re ever required to make a hasty escape, the 120+dB alarm will give you those vital seconds needed.

Personal and home & garden security, doesn’t need to be an expensive purchase, just have a look around our site – www.c-p-p.co.uk – we’re pretty sure you’ll find the right product for you at an extremely affordable price.

These last few months we’ve being writing blog posts to inform our readers about the increasing trend in home, farm and shop/office burglaries. More worryingly, however, is that over the last quarter there has been a 10% rise in the amount of robberies using a knife.(source). These knifepoint muggings include theft of mobiles (smart phones in particular), iPods, handbags which may include home and car keys, wallets and cash.

In total, there were just over 15,000 knifepoint muggings and robberies – some so vicious that victims were murdeered for their personal possessions – with over half of these reported muggings taking place in London.

We understand that it is difficult to control knife crime on the streets. Cuts in the policing infrastructure won’t help either. However, what we can do is offer some form of help to help keep you safe if you are ever confronted with a knifepoint mugging.

In general, the best advice is to hand over your phone or any other personal belongings such as credit cards etc.. Mobile phones can be replaced, bank cards can be cancelled. It’s most likely that the mugger will be highly agitated and if they have a weapon such as a knife on themselves they may be intent on physical harm.

Try to remain calm and non-confrontational. Carry a personal alarm as this can be activated and give you valuable seconds to make your escape if the situation worsens and you feel you are likely to be attacked. Once the ordeal is over, report the crime to the nearest police station, don’t bottle things up, it’s understandable that people get extremely emotional after being confronted with a knife crime. However, if you report it to the police, your actions might stop the same ordeal happening to some other individual.

As we near the end of the month, a lot of employees will be receiving their last wage packet before Christmas is upon them. This is the best opportunity to purchase those much-wanted xmas pressies. However, as we at Crime Prevention Products are constantly warning people, there are those amongst us who will gladly help themselves to your hard earned cash by snatching your purse or wallet!

Christmas shopping is a stressful enough time without having to endure the upsetting experience of finding yourself robbed or pickpocketed. To ensure that no one simply walks away with your money, we’d like to take this opportunity to publish a few tips to help protect your cash…

• When taking money out of any bank ‘ATM’, make sure that no one can invade your space and ‘sneak a peek’ at your PIN number.
• Once your cash is dispensed, place it somewhere safe before you walk away from the bank.
• Never place you cash or wallet in your back pocket – pickpockets love this and will see you as an easy target.
• Never take your cash out and count it in public, this will advertise to everyone that you have money.
• When out shopping in busy stores and market places always ensure that your bag is kept securely closed.

One good tip is, if you happen to be carrying a lot of money, then try and separate your money into different pockets, purses and wallets! That way, if any pickpocket happens to get their hands on your money, they’ll not have stolen your full amount and you’ll still have some to continue shopping.

As we approach the end of October, children up and down the country will be adorning some strange and wonderful costumes in an attempt to frighten family members and neighbours. On Halloween night, thousands of costumed kids will head out to fill their Halloween Bag full of ‘sweets, toffee apples, tablet and other treats‘.

Even though many neighbours love this time of year and warmly welcome the ‘antics of children’ as they chap doors in the neighbourhood and shout ‘trick or treat‘ there are still a few precautions that are best followed in order to make it a properly safe halloween night.

Here at Crime Prevention Products we know that everyone loves this time of year, however we also understand that there are many dangers lurking in every city, town or village, just waiting to take advantage on any unprepared ‘Ghosts and Ghouls‘.

So, whilst you are out and about, it’s best to remember :

• Never leave your own neighbourhood unless you’re with an adult or a responsible person.
• Always stay on the pavements and make sure streets which you visit are well lit.
• Never enter a strangers house.
• Never just run across a main road, always look left, right and left again.
• If you’re crossing a busy road always remove your face mask. Face masks can restrict your view and you might not see that oncoming vehicle.

By NOT following these simple but effective Halloween Safety Rules you may lose more than your sweets, treats and toffee apples. Stay safe!

In just a couple of months time many directors, managers and employees will be heading out to either their local bar, restaurant or club in order to celebrate their companies annual Christmas party. This is one of the few occasions where managers and employees can forget all about the pressures of everyday work thus allowing them to let their hair down and relax. This is also a time when many employees see this as the perfect opportunity to treat themselves and spend their hard earned cash on a new xmas outfit.

Alongside those new togs there is one accessory that always turns heads and that’s a new designer handbag (which may have cost a small fortune). Although it’s not just those with a keen fashion sense who will have noticed your new bag – opportunistic thieves may also show their appreciation and will be keen to see it close-up as well as the contents of you’re handbag.

No one likes to place their new (or old) handbag on a wet, dirty floor where it may be accidentally kicked under a table and even out of sight. That’s why we at Crime Prevention Products can supply you with the perfect handbag accessory the Handbag Keep-Safe Hook With Compact Mirror… This simple device will keep any handbag well out the way of dirty floors and more importantly in easy sight of its owner.

With the average contents of a handbag totalling around £350 – never mind the purchase price of the bag itself – it’s worth making sure you keep your handbag safe whilst looking good at the same time.