Community-minded StreetWatch volunteers from West Midlands Police will be out and about, over the festive period, helping communities feel safer and showing their support for the emergency services.

Willenhall StreetWatch group is led by Cal Graham, who said they will be advising people not to put presents where they can be seen from outside through doors and windows. Cal said:

"We’ve had a few cases where people have not locked front doors from the inside and opportunists have walked right in and ransacked the place.”

In Dudley, Barry Cox goes out every day and combines patrols with walking his dog. He added:

"We do walks from the Dudley Tesco, along Birmingham New Road and on Dudley Road towards Great Bridge.

“Having our StreetWatch forum has made this estate into a community and is putting up the value of people’s homes. Word has got out and other estates near us are getting out and about as well.”

Shahbon Hussain, aged 42,volunteers with the North Edgbaston StreetWatch Group. He said that Christmas StreetWatch patrols are an important deterrent to crime. Shahbon added:

“The streets go quiet when everyone is indoors, spending time with their families, but by showing a presence out there we really make a difference.”

If you are interested in giving back to your community and helping make it a better place to be? Find out more on the West Midlands Police website.