COMMUNITY safety bosses have given their backing to a national campaign to cut crime this winter.

Hambleton's Community Safety Partnership is supporting the Home Office-led campaign Let's Keep Crime Down to reduce robbery, domestic burglary and vehicle crime.

They are promoting messages across the three areas to help reduce the chance of Hambleton residents being affected by crime.

They include locking doors and windows, even while visiting local shops or gardening, and using timer switches for lights and radios to come on when people are out.

Also included are not leaving the empty boxes of new purchases visible by the dustbin, not leaving valuables in cars, keeping cars locked and not showing off property such as mobile phones, laptops and MP3 players.

"Incidences of robbery, burglary and vehicle crime are falling across the UK - the chance of being a victim of crime is the lowest it has been in 20 years," said partnership chairman Rosemary Taylor.

"But the dark nights give burglars more opportunities, so we want our residents to be extra vigilant and take those few extra precautions."