Lock your houses and cars

RESIDENTS in the Surf Coast Shire as well as visitors to the area during Easter have been reminded to lock their houses and cars.
RACV home services general manager Aaron Flavell said it was important to make sure homes were secure before people set off on their holidays.
He said thieves were typically active over the Easter break, targeting vacant properties while residents were away.
“Thieves look forward to the holiday periods as a chance to strike and they see your holiday as their opportunity.
“Experience shows that people occasionally do forget to do some basic tasks before they leave, presenting thieves with easy entry.
“It is important to ensure external doors and windows are locked and we recommend residents ask trusted neighbours to keep an eye on their house while they are away.”
Other simple techniques to deter thieves while on holiday include setting lights on a timer, leaving clothing hanging on the line, and not posting information on social media that could alert people that you are away.
The thousands of visitors travelling here for the Rip Curl Pro and other events should also take heed, as there is a history of items being stolen from unlocked cars, even when parked in home driveways at night (as well as the cars themselves being stolen).