HOUSEHOLDERS are being offered a free beat the burglar 'kit' as part of a new community safety initiative.

The Bacup and Stacksteads Burglary Fightback Campaign is funded through Rossendale Council, Lancashire Police and Bacup and Stacksteads Community Partnership through SRB funding.

Any resident of Bacup and Stacksteads of any age is eligible to apply for the free security kits - they do not have to have been a victim of crime in order to qualify.

As part of the campaign, free five lever door locks, door chains, door viewers and window locks are being offered to residents who want to improve the security of their home.

Police community safety officer Trish Ellins said: "Most burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves. In fact, national figures show that in two out of ten burglaries, they don't even have to use force - they get in through an open door or window.

"Fortunately, burglary is not a huge problem in Bacup and Stacksteads but even one burglary is too much for us.

"With this in mind I would urge people to play their part in reducing crime by taking advantage of this new initiative and fighting back against the burglar."

National statistics show: a third of burglars get in through a back window; most burglaries occur when the owner is out so time switches act as a deterrent; visible burglar alarms make a burglar think twice; garaged and sheds need to be secure and locked; only nine per cent of incidents where property is stolen is it eventually returned.

The burglary fightback scheme will be launched on Wednesday at 10am at Bacup police station.

Anyone interested in taking advantage of the scheme can contact project co-ordinator Donald Earnshaw at Bacup Neighbourhood Office on 07779 039381.