A VIRTUAL house has been designed by the police to help show people where their home may be vulnerable to burglars.

The Citadel House is an online digital crime prevention house people can visit to find out about everything from when to use light timer switches and keeping jewellery safe, to making sure garden gates are locked and what sort of plants act as a deterrent for burglars.

Created by Detective Sergeant Ed Slough for use by Warwickshire and West Mercia Police forces, he said Citadel House was designed to show people how a few simple steps can help to make their house more secure from burglars as part of Operation Citadel – an on-going initiative to reduce burglary.

“We wanted to find a way to bring crime prevention to the attention of those people who are perhaps more familiar with using their computer or their iPad. This way we hope to reach a wider audience,” he said.

“Crime prevention is an important message, and it will hopefully make people identify with their own homes and make them think how they could put security in place to make them more secure against burglary.”

Visitors to Citadel House are invited to take a tour through each room in the house, clicking on the information symbols.

Each information point opens a dialogue box containing crime prevention advice linked to that room or the things within the room, such as the television, computer and even a jewellery box. There is even advice on security in the garden.

The links also provide guidance on where to go for more advice, and include information about immobilse.com - the national property register.

Police are encouraging people to register their belongings on the Immobilise website, so if they are unfortunate enough to be burgled and their things do get recovered, they have a better chance of getting them returned. It can also help to lead to a conviction if the stolen property is found with someone.

DS Slough added: “At the end of the day, although crime prevention is a serious message we are trying to get across to people, Citadel House is also quite a fun place to visit.

“As time goes on we may look at adding new sections and additional guidance advice, if a new problem is identified, or if new advice is developed."

To visit Citadel House go to westmercia.police.uk/advice-centre/home-and-garden-security.html.