Clocks Go Back Sunday: Lock It, Light It, Hide It, Report It

In the UK, the clocks go back 1 hour at 2am on Sunday, October 25, 2026, and the evenings get darker from that night on. Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber issued an advisory on October 23, 2026, urging residents to remember four key messages this autumn and winter: "Lock it. Light it. Hide it. Report it".

"As the clocks go back this weekend and the evenings become darker, the police will be proactively tackling burglary but there are a few simple steps we can all take to reduce our own risk of becoming a victim of burglary," Barber said in the October 23 advisory.

The advisory notes that as daylight hours reduce and more people spend time away from home during weekends and the festive season, opportunities for burglars can increase. It does not claim burglaries rise by any measured amount after the clock change, and neither police source in this story gives a burglary count or rate. The advice stands on its own: simple precautions make a difference.

"Measures such as locking doors and windows, improving lighting around your property and keeping valuables out of sight can make a significant difference in deterring offenders," Barber said.

A hand holding a key at a locked front door under a warm porch light at dusk

The Thames Valley checklist

The advisory lists six practical precautions:

Leave lights on when you are not home, to make the house appear occupied
Maintain gardens so there is no cover for a burglar to hide
Make sure garages, sheds and other outbuildings are securely locked
Cancel any regular deliveries if you are heading away
Install outdoor sockets for festive lighting, where possible
Avoid leaving packaging from expensive gifts visible outside the home

Superintendent John Batty of Thames Valley Police put the opportunistic nature of the crime plainly: "Many burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves who get in through an open door or window and take their chance."

Barber added: "Burglary remains low in Thames Valley; but every crime can have a devastating impact on families."

If you notice suspicious activity in the Thames Valley area, the advisory says to report it to Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or through the online reporting platform, and to always dial 999 in an emergency. Residents are also encouraged to join their local Neighbourhood Watch scheme and to sign up to Thames Valley Alerts for free local crime prevention advice.

The US side: a different date, the same habits

US readers should note one important difference. In the United States, daylight saving ends a week later, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. local time. Most of the United States follows daylight saving time, but Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and most of Arizona do not observe it, while the Navajo territories in Arizona do.

Separately, and not tied to the US clock change, the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia published burglary prevention advice for October, which is Crime Prevention Month. Its opening line is worth remembering at any hour: "Burglars do not wait for nightfall. They can strike at any hour, including midday."

The Fairfax County resident tips are:

Keep every door and window locked, even while you are at home
Add deadbolts and reinforced strike plates to strengthen entry points
Place motion-activated lights near doors and other access areas
Trim bushes and trees so burglars have nowhere to hide
Skip the hidden spare key and use a lockbox instead
Set timers on lamps and TVs so the home looks occupied
Lock up garages and sheds so tools and ladders stay out of reach

For businesses, the Fairfax County release adds: install quality locks on all doors and windows; protect glass doors and windows with security film or bars; leave interior and exterior lights on after hours; consider property design upgrades, such as bollards or barriers; restrict who holds keys and rekey locks when employees depart; lock up safes and registers and do not leave extra cash on site overnight; put up surveillance cameras with clearly visible warning signs; and schedule routine security reviews with the Crime Prevention Unit.

Two Fairfax County points are worth knowing in full. Residents and business owners can request a free security assessment from the Crime Prevention Unit at their district station. And registering a camera with the Connect Fairfax County program does not give police access to your footage; it helps detectives locate cameras near a crime scene that may have recorded useful evidence. The non-emergency number given in the release is 703-691-2131, and in an emergency, always call 911.

A homeowner fastening a padlock on a garden shed at dusk, with a lit house behind

Do it tonight, not next weekend

The clock change is the natural trigger for a home security reset, and it costs little. Walk the house this evening: lock doors and windows, set light timers for the darker evenings, move valuables out of sight from windows, lock the shed, and hide the spare key in a lockbox rather than under a pot.

If you are renting, the same habits apply. For renter friendly gear, see our guide to the best home security systems for renters. And with the holiday delivery season coming, our guide to preventing package theft covers the delivery side of the same problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the UK clocks go back in 2026?

The UK clocks go back 1 hour at 2am on Sunday, October 25, 2026, moving from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time.

When does US daylight saving end in 2026?

US daylight saving ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, one week after the UK clock change. Clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. local time.

What are the four Thames Valley burglary prevention messages?

Lock it. Light it. Hide it. Report it, as urged by Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber in the October 23, 2026 advisory.

What should I do if I see suspicious activity?

In the Thames Valley area, report it to Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or through the online reporting platform, and always dial 999 in an emergency. In Fairfax County, the non-emergency number is 703-691-2131, and in an emergency, always call 911.

Does registering a camera with Connect Fairfax County give police access to my footage?

No. Registering a camera does not give police access to your footage. It helps detectives locate cameras near a crime scene that may have recorded useful evidence, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.