ANYONE being woken by a police officer at the door is likely to be alarmed. But some householders in the South Bank area of York have themselves to blame for such night-time interruptions.

Police have been checking doors and windows in the area, following a spate of burglaries.

On discovering lapses in security, the police have woken the householder and given them a polite ticking off.

We might yearn for the days when it was safe to leave the front door unfastened, but nowadays such a relaxed attitude will only lead to trouble. Prevention is an important weapon in the fight against crime, so householders have to play their part and be secure.

Updated: 10:22 Monday, September 24, 2001