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Neighbourhood Watch - Current Alerts
01/12/2005 A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CRIME REDUCTION OFFICER Watch Out Burglary Artifice is the official title given to
offences committed by ‘bogus callers’ Distraction Burglary, Burglary Trick
are some other terms used for this type of offence. Callers posing as officials
or workmen for utilities such as Water, Gas, Electricity or Council are
operating in Suffolk towns and villages, targeting elderly and vulnerable
persons. Offenders are responsible for committing one of the most distressing
and offensive of crimes. So Why Us? How do they select which home to visit, are we
advertising our age and vulnerability? This is a question that police
investigators are now asking at the scene of such offences. What indicators are
present that encouraged a ‘bogus caller’ to visit this particular home? How
should you respond to callers at your home? IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO DENY ENTRY INTO YOUR HOME. What to do if someone calls at your door 1. Check to see
who it is by using a spy hole if you have one fitted, or look through a window. 2. Always put the
door chain on before you open the door. (if you don’t have a door chain or bar
it’s a good idea to get one fitted) 3. Leave the door
chain on during your discussion with the caller. 4. Look at the
callers clothing. Some official callers may have a uniform bearing their
organisations name or logo. 5. Always ask for
identity! It’s your right to do so 6. NO IDENTITY NO
ENTRY 7. If identity is
produced, Check it carefully, leave the chain on whilst you do so. Genuine
callers will not mind you taking this action. 8. Some utility
services operate a ‘password’ system. Contact the utilities company the
caller is claiming to represent. 9. NOT SURE, then
do not let them in, ask them to call later. You will then give yourself time to
check with the organ isation or contact a friend or relative. 10. Never
let anyone into your home unless you are SURE they are genuine. Contact your local Police Crime Reduction Officer and
request a free copy of leaflet ‘How to Beat the Bogus Caller’ Crime Reduction Officer Mr Les King Suffolk Police 01284-774313 Leslie.king@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
01/08/04 My first few months as the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator have thankfully been very quiet. Several instances of minor thefts, particularly from outbuildings etc. have been reported so we must all be watchful. Other than that we are extremely lucky to live in such a peaceful environment! If anyone has anything to report I do have some incident report forms, so do contact me. Peter Tillett
05/07/03 A resident of our village was phoned by a bogus police officer who called himself Detective Inspector Andrews. He had a foreign ( Asian? ) accent and was asking for the person's credit card PIN number in connection with an 'urgent investigation' he was undertaking. Later, a dark car was seen outside the house and the credit cards had been stolen from the bedroom. Please be very alert to any repetition of this scam and dial 999 if you observe anything which could possibly be connected with this crime.
05/07/03 @ 17.00hrs
01/04/03 You will be pleased to know that things are relatively quite on the crime front at the moment. About three weeks ago someone in the village presented me with a letter she had received offering her a huge financial award if she posted £10 to the address given. I consulted PC Ruth Horton about this and it turns out to be an illegal scam based on the piramid selling principle. If you receive such an offer, please consign it to the pink sack for recycling. I asked Paul Brooks if he would be willing to stand in for me when I'm away and he agreed. This is much appreciated, knowing as we do how busy he is at the moment.
07- 09/02/03 Damage caused to cars in Long Melford High Street. Any information please to Sudbury Police Station 01284 774300 quote ref: SU/03/216
01/12/02 Speaking to our Police Officer she reminded me of the threat, especially to the elderly, of the doorstep 'cowboy tradesmen' with his hard sell technique. This has already cropped up in our village (about two months age) so please be on your guard against people who offer you unsolicited goods at the door and those who offer to do work for you at what appears to be a very low price. There is usually a catch and they demand cash payment and leave you with no business address or written record of the work they have done. Otherwise everything seems peaceful, as we would wish it to be. If you are away over Christmas or the New Year, please arrange for a neighbour to keep a look out, and to rig up a time switch to operate a light during the dark evenings. Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator
01/08/02 We are pleased to welcome PC Ruth Horton as the Community Police Officer for our area. A garden shed was broken into during the day on Friday 19th July and a petrol-driven hedge cutter was stolen. Theft from outbuildings are increasing, so be vigilant. The Crime Reduction Officer has produced leaflets with hints on keeping your property safe. Copies are obtainable from the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.
01/05/02 Our
local policeman, PC Archie Seager will
be moving to the
central Sudbury area soon and will
be replaced by WPC
Ruth Horton on 1st June 2002. So we say thank you to Archie
for looking after us and welcome to Ruth who will
keep an eye on us and her other 12 parishes! Archie
was always there, however trifling my problem was, so thank you again. There will
be a 20% increase in front line officers, so we need
not feel unduly apprehensive about our security. Our part of the country is
about the safest. This is no doubt why the phone tree gets little used. I am
considering whether we should put out a test message on a regular basis- say
every six months- so we don’t forget who our contacts in the phone tree are.
However we must not be complacent. If you require any help or advice please contact me and I will be able to help with the information you may need. Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator email address: neighbourhoodwatch@thorpe-morieux.org.uk
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