Wiltshire Police urge mindfulness during Diwali celebrations
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service have also issued some safety guidance
Wiltshire Police are urging those who are celebrating Diwali to take precautions to ensure they don’t fall victim to crime.
Last year, there was a spate of burglaries in Wiltshire on a Friday evening whilst families were out celebrating.
Nationally, gold thefts and burglaries around this time of year rise as families of South Asian heritage are more likely to wear and display valuable gold for cultural reasons.
The Force has issued the following advice for those taking part in the celebrations:
• Ensure lights are left on at your address as well as a TV or radio so it appears occupied
• Where possible, ensure a vehicle is left on your driveway - it could be a neighbour or relative
• Consider locking valuables in a safety deposit box
• Add security measures to your home such as CCTV, doorbell cameras and alarms
• Refrain from sharing information about large celebrations, gatherings and extended absences from home on social media.
Det Con Jo Chesshire of Wiltshire Police’s Burglary Team said: “Offenders know that residents will have valuable gold in their homes and will be out and about at various festivities over the coming days and weeks, leaving homes unoccupied, so we are urging residents to be mindful of their home security to help reduce the risk of falling victim to this type of crime.”
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have also issued some guidance during the festival of the lights.
It leads to an increase in the of divas or oil lamps, as light is believed to signify goodness, meaning various lamps are burnt throughout the day and into the night to ward off darkness and evil.
The service has the following advice:
• Make sure all candles and divas are in a safe and secure holder and that all tea lights are placed on a heat resistant surface.
• Keep candles and divas away from soft furnishings, including curtains, and out of the reach of young children.
• Special care should be taken with home-made decorated candles and divas to ensure that the flame does not come into contact with anything which could catch light. Long hair and clothing (especially saris, chunris, chunis and dupattas) are also very flammable.
• Candles should not be left unattended at any time – care should be taken when retiring to bed or while attending prayers.
• Never ‘daisy-chain’ extension leads or adapters – daisy-chaining involves plugging one extension into another in order to reach further or plug more appliances in, and creates a huge fire risk.
• Ensure that all fireworks meet British safety standards – store them in a metal box, read the instructions, never go back to a lit firework and keep a bucket of water nearby.
• When cooking during the festival, don’t leave the stove unattended.
• If a fire does break out, follow the simple rule of getting everyone out, staying out and calling 999. Never go back into the property to collect belongings.
• If you don’t have a smoke alarm, please use this festival as the ideal opportunity to get one. They are inexpensive and easy to install, and they give you an early warning to get out of the property in the event of a fire.
Prevention Delivery Manager Vikki Thomas said the service wants Diwali to be enjoyable, but also safe: “Sadly, we have had fires in the past caused by Diwali candles and daisy-chained extension cables that have caused real devastation.
“By following our advice, you can keep your family and home as safe as possible from the risks posed by fire.”