CRIME Stoppers is urging the public to heed its home security tips over the festive season, when there is typically a spike in break-and-enters.
Safest House in the Street, a statewide pilot program designed to create awareness about personal, home and community safety, was launched in Newcastle last week.
More than 40,000 burglaries were reported in NSW last year and Newcastle reported the second-highest number of incidents.
Crime Stoppers NSW director Peter Price said the crime prevention program would use social media and the internet to give people information and tools to keep their homes safe during the upcoming holiday period.
"We want people to go away knowing their home is safe and secure, and their possessions are protected."
Mr Price said he hoped people would be encouraged to report any crimes they witnessed using a new fully-encrypted online reporting tool that allows people to report crimes anonymously using a desktop or mobile device.
"If somebody picks up the device, no one would know an incident had been reported," he said.
Visit police.nsw.gov.au to anonymously report a crime or go to crimestoppers.com.au for more information about securing your home.
