IN EFFORTS to stamp out a worrying crimewave in Dorchester town centre, Dorset Police are encouraging businesses to 'think like a burglar' and follow their crime prevention advice.

Since January, at least 15 businesses in the county town have been targeted, some more than once, with cash and goods being stolen.

One of the most recent break-ins was at Pzazz Hair & Beauty Boutique on Great Western Road. The business was burgled twice in the space of three days and owner Sara Lane now fears her business could go under.

Debbie Oldfield, crime prevention and design advisor at Dorset Police said: "Most thieves will choose premises with no obvious signs of security or will choose premises where they feel they won’t be seen or disturbed whilst breaking in. If they succeed in gaining access, this will often act as motivation to try again especially if they see that no improvements have been made to the security.

"To reduce the chances of you becoming a victim of burglary take some time and look at your building and think, 'if i was a burglar what would appeal to me about my business and how would i break in'. If your premises look insecure to you then it will to a burglar."

An alarm is a big deterrent for most burglars as they do not want to be seen or heard. If you do not have an alarm, police are advising you to choose one from a professional alarm installer who is NSI or SSAIB registered.

If you do have an alarm consider contacting your alarm company to ensure it is working correctly and that all the sensors are in the right places.

Businesses are also being urged to ensure their front and rear doors and windows are in good repair and and up to insurance standard.

Avoid keeping large amounts of cash on the premises, if any and consider putting signs up in your windows stating 'no cash is left on the premises overnight'.

If you have a safe make sure it is firmly fixed to a concrete floor or brick wall and hid as much as possible.

Depending on what your business is you may wish to consider installing either Smoke Cloak or Fog Bandit. They aim to stop burglars in their tracks by filling your shop with a thick artificial fog.

And finally businesses are encouraged to install CCTV as a valuable deterrent and detection too to operate 24 hours a day.

Dorchester Chamber for Business president, Steve Bulley said: "The increase in break-ins recently across the town are a real cause for concern. A number of our members have questioned the lack of a visible Police presence and the quality of CCTV. Another fear is that Dorchester will be seen as an easy target by criminal gangs from further afield."

For further advice email debbie.oldfield@dorset.pnn.police.uk or visit dorset.police.uk/