Opportunistic criminals will use the cover of darkness to commit offences such as theft, burglary, and robbery to steal jewellery and tech more easily.
Thieves will attempt to open insecure doors and windows or target empty homes and those with valuables clearly on display.
Always ensure that doors and windows are locked, and valuables are kept in a safe place and out of sight.
Nottinghamshire Police has dedicated neighbourhood officers in communities across the county working around the clock to keep residents and their property safe.
The force’s crime prevention officers also provide bespoke, expert advice on practical steps residents can take to increase the security of their homes and improve safety.
In one break-in, two men were caught in the act rummaging through bags of stolen valuables and were jailed.
Stephen Hamilton and Nathan Furnell were overheard by a member of the public, who called the police, discussing stolen mobile phones and bolt croppers in an alleyway off Ascot Road in Bobbers Mill.
Officers searched the area and found the two men on Grassington Road with two rucksacks full of stolen items, including a laptop, an iPad, a smartwatch, a digital camera, a set of car keys, and other jewellery.
The men told officers they were using drugs and were subsequently stopped and searched.
A screwdriver and gloves were found alongside the stolen items, and they were arrested on suspicion of theft and going equipped to steal following the burglary which happened on 16 September 2024.
Nearby, a burglary was reported the same day after a man had returned from work to discover that his home had been ransacked.
The stolen car key found in the possession of Hamilton and Furnell unlocked the car on the driveway of the burgled house.
At interview, Furnell claimed that he found the bags in the alleyway and that they must have been dumped by someone else.
However, extensive CCTV and forensic analysis linked the pair to the break-in.
Hamilton, aged 41, of HMP Fosse Way, and Furnell, aged 39, of no fixed address, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on March 20.
Furnell, who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods, was jailed for 12 months and was ordered to pay a £187 surcharge.
Hamilton pleaded guilty to burglary and going equipped for theft. He was locked up for two years and four months and was ordered to pay a surcharge of £228.
Inspector Paul Shortt, of Nottinghamshire Police’s burglary team, said: “We know that burglary is a personal and invasive crime and can often impact people’s wellbeing and sense of security, which is why we take all reports so seriously.
“The straightforward tips are often the most effective: ensure that all your doors and windows are securely locked, even when at home.
“Burglars don’t want to be seen or heard by neighbours or passers-by, as this will expose them, so installing motion-sensitive lighting to illuminate an area is an effective deterrent.
“We would advise people to remove keys from locks and ensure keys are out of reach and sight of a letterbox, so that a hook cannot be used by thieves to retrieve them.
“Don’t leave windows ajar because that might invite an opportunistic burglar to reach inside or jemmy a window to gain access.
“Installing and setting a burglar alarm, fitting robust bolts and locks to external gates, and removing expensive technology, jewellery, and cash from public view are all effective ways of reducing opportunities for thieves.
“We would always encourage residents to report any suspicious activity to Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.”