How can I keep my Cricket Club safe in the off season?
The clubhouse is often the heart of any sports team. It’s where games are won or lost, celebrated or commiserated, where friends are made and tactics are discussed. But it’s not just for sentimental reasons that they need protecting.
Newspaper reports such as this one from Manchester and this one from Penrith, suggest that Cricket Club break-ins and vandalism are becoming more prevalent, especially in the off-season, or periods of un-occupancy.
With thieves becoming more sophisticated in their methods, keeping your cricket club, your grounds and your equipment safe is becoming more difficult than ever. The rural location of cricket clubs is often a contributing factor to why they’re targeted so frequently. With police presence a lot lower, it makes it easier for criminals to move in and out with a lower risk of being caught.
Whether you’re a pub team, a local team, or a large established cricket club, having good cricket club insurance is essential in the aftermath of an event. Whilst you can’t eliminate the risk of theft or vandalism completely, you can implement changes at your local cricket club which could help prevent any incidents from taking place.
Firstly, it’s sensible to invest in a good alarm system. Intruder alarms can be a great deterrent for would-be burglars. Put it into your routine to set the alarm as you leave the premises, and make sure to keep up with regular testing and maintenance. Some alarm systems can be linked directly to the police, this could be something that you discuss with your local force.
For additional security, it might be worthwhile to look at a CCTV system. Whilst this can be expensive, it acts as a visual deterrent to thieves and vandals and it can also provide visual evidence if an incident were to happen.
Another visual deterrent is to make sure that somebody is regularly visiting the grounds. If it’s the off-season and there’s no training or matches, people will start to realise this and some more nefarious characters could use this as an opportunity for vandalism or theft. If someone is visiting the grounds regularly, this might deter them. It is also useful as it’s a great time to check up on the upkeep of the grounds, and to pick up on any maintenance issues, and get them fixed.
It’s especially important to visit the club in episodes of extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall, heavy snowfall and storms. Take care to check for damage to the building, roof, pitches and equipment. Even small leaks can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage if left untreated!
Whilst the club is locked up, it might be a sensible idea to remove high-value items from the premises and temporarily store them elsewhere. If it’s not possible to remove them, mark them with the club’s name, or with Smart Water - speak with your local police station for more advice on this. Marked items, or brightly painted items, will be much harder to sell on, so will be less enticing to steal!
For equipment that has to remain at the grounds, such as machinery, vehicles, large sports equipment, make sure that the security in place is adequate enough to keep thieves out. The level of theft is becoming more professional in recent years, so a shipping container with a chain and a lock is unlikely to deter a theft from taking place.
Following the above advice should help to keep your club protected, especially during periods on un-occupancy. If something were to happen to your club, such as a break-in, or vandalism, then making sure that you have the right cricket insurance policy in place can help in recouping costs.
Owzat Insurance has over 20 years of experience in providing insurance to cricket clubs, and currently insures over 500 clubs nationwide. If you’re looking for a competitive cricket club insurance quote, please get in touch today.