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On September 18, the BBC will focus on ways to tackle crime.
We're looking at crime because it's been approximately six months since Tony Blair announced he would halt the rise in street crime. | Telephone our Crime Cracking line on 01865 889 045 if you've been a victim of crime. |
Rather than just highlighting the problem, we'd like to find out what can be done - how communities can work together to crack crime. Part of the coverage will include the best crime fighting initiatives that have worked in the county. Fancy yourself as a crime cracker?  | | Win this Autolok 2000 steering wheel lock |
We're offering a Thatcham approved car immobiliser - Autolok 2000 - for the best practical crime fighting tips we receive. We'd like to hear your top crime fighting ideas for use in the car, the house and in the community Email your crime fighting ideas to: [email protected]
Crime fighting tips: My tip: When going away, put a down tent pegs around the outside of your back or front garden with some green garden twine zig zagged between them. Anyone trying to sneak through the back will soon trip and get tangled. You can also attach tin cans with dried peas/stones inside. These will make a noise if disturbed but won't rattle in the wind. | | Karl Williamson of Cheshire |
If you are worried about burglars, plant prickly bushes under low windows. Try not to let hedges get too high as burglars can hide behind them. Outside lights are a good idea too. When walking out and about, if you carry a handbag, put it on your shoulder under your coat - it is much harder to grab. Gents could have their wallet fitted to a chain which then hooks to a belt loop. | | Stephanie James |
Many people secure their homes against people breaking in through doors and windows, but the most vulnerable part of the house then becomes the roof. Slates and tiles can be easily lifted and knife can be cut through the felt below, allowing some burglars into your loft. Even if a burglar knows the house is alarmed, they can still raid your loft - many people have valuables up there! When we got out burglar alarm fitted, we installed a monitor sensor in the loft. It was only another £20 on top of the cost of the alarm, but it means that this method of entry is effectively blocked. | | Tara Black of Newtownabbey |
Not many people are aware of this, but all properties built with their electric metre on the outside of their property are at risk. Their electricity supply can be cut off using a simple screwdriver in place of the allen key. Anyone can simply switch off the electricity supply and burgle the house without any risk of security lights alerting passers-by, neighbours or the house holder. My husband designed a simple metal bar that covers the white box and it is secured on both sides with a padlock. This does mean the electricity company has to call to the house for our keys, but we have peace of mind knowing our electricity can't be cut off. | | Diane Preece of County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
If you want a cheap and effective deterrent to having your car stolen, cut the high-tension wire from the distributor and fit a switch hidden somewhere under the dashboard. If the switch is in the off position, it cannot start. | | Tony Taylor |
| A tape of a large dark growling sound when answering the door to strangers is a good deterrent to any would-be burglar at the door. | | Frances Heaton of Lancashire |
| Give free judo lessons to pensioners | | Daniel Hitchins of Stoke on Trent |
We don't have a dog but we know that burglars can be frightened of them. We have very prominent "Beware of the Dog" signs placed strategically throughout our property. In addition, we keep a dog's water bowl, always full of clean water, on the front and back doorstep. We believe it has been a deterrent to date. | | Beth Bowdler of Cornwall |
If you are travelling alone in the car, remember to leave all doors, except the driver's locked. If you car has central locking, remember to hit the driver's door button if you see a menacing character approaching while stopped at traffic lights - so much quicker than shouting an instruction to occupants to lock their doors. | | W.A Hall of Hampshire |
| As the dark nights draw near and Christmas approaches, local criminals will be looking for easy targets, like garden sheds, to supplement their income. Fitting a shed alarm, which is not very expensive, will help protect your tools and bikes. | | Nigel Vaughan of Birmingham |
Take everything off display in your car. If your radio is removable, take it out. Take all money, purses and mobile phones out of sight. Even a box of sweets could be full of money to a thief.
Never park your car where it can be hidden by a van or a taller vehicle that can shield thieves. If you have an alarm/immobiliser or steering wheel lock, always use it - everything provides a visual deterrent. | | Jonathon Putnam |
| When answering the door to a stranger, pretend that you're finishing off a conversation with someone upstairs or in another room as you get to the door, for example; "why don't you look in the wardrobe?" | | Mark Rasmussen of Lancaster |
| I use a wheelchair and carry my handbag on my lap, often worried about people snatching my bag. I took a strap from a holdall and slipped it onto my handbag and the strap goes around my waist, keeping it safe. | | Sheila Coulson of Hartlepool |
My tip is to avoid being a potential victim by being aware at all times. Don't leave your curtains open at night. Don't put the rubbish out at night in just your dressing gown. Never leave the back door unlocked when you're alone in the house. Creating habits like these take just a moment but could even end up saving your life. | | L.D. Bambridge of Bristol |
We have CCTV cameras both front and back - they are connected to ordinary video cameras with a four hour tape in each. Both are set up to long play giving eight hours filming in total to each camera before needing to rewind. The cameras not only protect our property but are set up to view the whole roadway . That way, if we see anything we usually phone up that person's house and inform them that someone is messing around at their property. The tape can be used as police evidence. | | Margaret Singleton of Preston of Lancashire |
| When I go out, I leave a radio or television on as well as a light on in the hall, kitchen and lounge. | | Linda Spevick of Harrow of Middlesex |
| When walking along a street with a handbag or laptop, carry it on the shoulder away from the road. This could prevent someone from snatching it from a car window or motorbike. | | Vivien Taylor of Worsley |
| To help fight crime, just use your eyes! Watch out for yourselves and your neighbours. If people just developed the "village" practice of looking out for one another (the real "neighbourhood watch") then crime figures would drop. You can't expect people to keep an eye out for you if you don't do the same. | | Norah Sinclair of Warwickshire |
| Use a hidden camcorder with a notice informing them that filming is taking place. | | Tamasine Brailey of Bristol |
| I leave the landing light on when I know I'm going to be back late from visiting friends and family, so it looks like someone is home. | | Anonymous |
| Remove the connecting wire on the battery when leaving your car in a dodgy area. It'll still be there when you get back! | | Laura Lee of Essex. |
| Invest in locking wheel nuts for your car, especially if your spare wheel is one of those mounted on the rear door as they are easily removed from your vehicle. | | Sue Wontroba of Sutton Coldfield |
My crime fighting idea is very simple and gives me a lot of pleasure. It's a dog. Hollie is a labrador/springer cross and she's about eight years old now. She's left outside during the day and has access all around our house. If someone approaches, she barks like mad. At night, she's kept inside and should anyone come near the house she barks. At 50p per day for food, she's cheaper than a monitored alarm, more reliable and gives everyone more fun. | | Stephen Barnes of Newtownabbey |
Have you seen a crime happen? What did you do? If you and your neighbours have banded together to do something about reducing crime, then we'd like to hear from you. Or, if you're a "have-a-go hero", then we definitely need to hear from you. We'd also like to hear from you if you have been the victim of crime in Oxfordshire and want to help to stop it happening. 
or telephone our special Crime Cracking line on 01865 889 045. or write to: Oxford Crime Crackers
BBC Oxford
PO Box 952
Oxford
OX2 7YL
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