TWO new initiatives aimed at keeping the Wrexham area safer during this autumn and winter have been launched by the local Community Safety Partnership.

‘The Twilight Burglary’ and ‘Bonfire and Hallowe'en Campaigns’ have both got underway in the county borough.

“Operation Twilight aims to encourage residents to keep their homes secure this winter and promotes a simple message 'Anyone Home ? .. Protect your home this winter,” said PC Gary McLeod of Wrexham Community Safety.

“It is a fact that every year as the evenings draw in and the clocks are turned back there is an increase in the number of early evening burglaries. This national trend is mirrored in Wrexham and we are urging residents to be vigilant and to take heed of safety advice and guidance that is being issued in a bid to avoid becoming a victim of burglary.”

The Twilight Burglary campaign encourages the combined use of low energy light bulbs and timer switches in homes to create the impression a property is occupied, deterring burglars.

Funding from the Home Office has enabled the Partnership to purchase a significant number of timer switches for the campaign and the Energy Efficiency team at Wrexham Council has supported the campaign by contributing energy efficient bulbs for dissemination.

The bulbs and timer switches are being distributed by Police Community Beat managers and Police Community Support Officer's, to properties and individuals in the county borough deemed to be most vulnerable.

In the second initiative, the Bonfire and Hallowe'en Campaign has again seen agencies in Wrexham join forces to prevent and reduce anti social behaviour and criminal damage.

A series of Hallowe'en posters have been produced by the partnership which will be made available to shopkeepers, householders and children in the in the run up to Hallowe'en.

Retailers will support the campaign by agreeing not to sell eggs and flour to young people throughout October, and householders will be given posters to display in their homes to either encourage or deter ‘trick or treat’ callers.

Janet Growcott, community safety manager said: “The Community Safety Partnership is particularly pleased to launch the Twilight Burglary and Bonfire and Hallowe'en campaigns. Our aim as a partnership is to make Wrexham County Borough a safe place to live visit and work. We aim to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the county and we are confident that both these campaigns will promote positive messages to residents in the county and also demonstrate to perpetrators of crime and anti-social behaviour that their behaviour will not be tolerated.”