Dorset residents are being urged to nominate crime fighting heroes to win an award.

Organisers say nominations for the Safe Community Hero award are open to anyone involved in tackling crime - whether they're PCSOs, Special Constable volunteers, standout police officers, Neighbourhood Watch representatives or simply vigilant members of the community.

The award is being run by online security retailer safe.co.uk - which has recently carried out a survey about crime that reveals UK attitudes towards burglary and crime in the south west - with some interesting results.

According to the report, 75% of people keep a lookout on neighbours’ houses - and social media crime-fighters are on the rise, with almost half of people surveyed involved in a social media group to help catch local burglars.

Three quarters (75%) of residents in the south west are partial to a spot of 'curtain twitching', and admit to keeping a lookout on their neighbours’ houses, the report says.

On top of this, around half (41%) have had a delivered parcel stolen from outside their front door, fuelling the home security retailer to ramp up community efforts towards preventing burglary.

The research also reveals that social media is increasingly used by communities in the South West to catch burglars, with 47 per cent using online forums such as Facebook groups and even Instagram to help catch burglars in their area.

Communities are fighting back, as it is revealed that 58 per cent demand more police patrolling south west neighbourhoods to prevent burglaries.

Anthony Neary, managing director for safe.co.uk, commented: “We want to give local community ‘heroes’ in Dorset the recognition they deserve, whether they’re part of the local police force or not.

"Burglary can disrupt entire communities and with our research revealing that a significant proportion of us want more police patrolling neighbourhoods, there could be a real place for communities coming together to assist the authorities."

To nominate someone in your community who is making a real difference to the safety and security of your neighbourhood, head to www.safe.co.uk/community-hero-2019 and nominate them before April 11 to be in with a chance of winning a Yale Smart Home CCTV kit for you and your nominee.