Neighbourhood-Watch-GtTothamSth

Lights Out
The Chairman of Maldon Section NHW has send out a letter to Councillor Rodney Bass and MP John Whittingdale regarding the proposed turning out of many of the street lights between 12.00 and 5.00am, on behalf of Maldon Section Neighbourhood Watch.

Dear Councillor Bass,

I am writing on behalf of the Neighbourhood Watch coordinators in Maldon to express the concerns of many of us regarding the potential increase in car crime, burglary and antisocial behaviour which may follow the turning off of street lighting in our area, which is one of the pilots for this scheme. In addition there may be increased difficulties for those outside at night with regard to personal safety and road safety.

The concern is that whole areas will be in darkness, rather than a reduction in lighting, which would be justified on environmental grounds Please advise us of your intentions regarding this aspect.

In addition, CCTV cameras may be ineffective as a result of reduced lighting. Please advise us whether this has been taken into consideration

Finally the fear of crime, which many darkened areas may cause is very difficult to quantify or measure, but is a factor which should be taken into consideration, particularly for elderly of disabled people

I look forward to your reply and hope that you will take the matters raised into consideration.

We have received a reply from Tony Ciaburro, Service Director for Highways and Transportation, Essex County Council. I have reproduced the import of the letter.

I understand the concerns you have raised and can assure you that your views, along with the many others we have received, will be included in the evaluation process we have planned for this proposal.

The detail of the pilot scheme in the \Maldon and Uttlesford areas is still being considered and you can be assured that no decisions will be made until consultation with local district and parish councils and the police have taken place,. The county council is mindful that some areas are more vulnerable than others and the areas you mention such as where CCTV is installed will be considered before implementing the pilot scheme.

Environmentally the reduction in carbon emissions is an issue that Essex county council is trying to address and the switching to part night lighting will make a significant contribution.


Crime Reduction Officer for Maldon Police Ray Stannard’s Report.

Handbag Thefts are still a problem in the two major supermarkets in Maldon. Whereas before this was “Purse Dipping”, this is now the whole handbag which is being taken. Before, it was thought to be organised gangs coming into the area. Now this problem is thought to be local opportunists.

Don’t turn your back on your handbag when looking at the shelves. (We know that, don’t we, but we still do it!)

Car crime.
At the moment this is mainly criminal damage in the Maldon and Heybridge areas. Thefts from cars are down. Sat Nav theft has died down. (But don’t get complacent.)

The “Polish Problem”
The vast majority of migrant workers such as Poles in this country are hard working and honest. However, there are some Polish people going around the area, often a woman or women. They carry a card with a few written words, or sometimes a pencil drawing, saying something along the lines of “I need money” for some sad story. This started at Burnham and is now across the district. Whilst calling on people like this isn’t necessarily a crime, there have been 2 or 3 incidents where the callers have physically forced their way into the property and taken some money.

Some of our old folk can be a bit of a ‘soft touch’, falling for a sad story.

If you are called on by such people, can you inform the police immediately, please.
Saying, “Oh, they were here last week” isn’t as helpful.

Burglary.
We haven’t had the “summer problem” like we had last year.

However, town centre shops staff rooms have been targeted, with handbags stolen, including money, house and car keys. This represents considerable cost to the victim, who then has to change house and car locks.

Please keep an eye on Engineering type properties, those having “scrap” metal such as steel and copper piping. There have been a number of thefts of such material from Tollesbury to Maldon. This isn’t small amounts; tons are going missing, £20,000 worth; serious losses This would need the right equipment to shift it. If you see anything you think is suspicious, please dial 999 immediately

On the “Home Front” there have been a number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued for Antisocial Behaviour. One night was particularly bad with five £80 FPNs being issue for urinating in the street.

Any Other Business.

The next Chelmsford Police and Community Consultative Group Public Meeting is on Tuesday 10th Oct 06 at King Edwards Grammar School, Broomfield Road, Chelmsford.


The new opening hours for Maldon Police station are

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 9.00am to 5.00pm

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Police Station will be open from 8,00am to 8.00pm.

(This refers to the front office being open to the public. It doesn’t mean that nobody’s there the rest of the time.)

The Chief Constable of Essex has agreed in principle to Paid Coordinator.
Ray asked the coordinators if we would be happy to see a part time Neighbourhood Watch position funded by the police to cover the district, facilitating communication between the Police and the Coordinators and hence to the public. This was approved of by all the coordinators present. This is still very much in the discussion stage, unlikely to be introduced before the next financial year, and the exact details of such a post would need thinking out and some fine tuning. It’s hoped to use the “Ringmaster “ scheme of texts, phones and emails to get the information out quickly.

The next Maldon Section NHW meeting is on 30th November. If you’d like an issue raised, please contact me. (Linda) Or, if it’s not personal, leave a comment on the Blog

I'm just wondering if anyone is reading these blogs. I know they haven't been going long, so local people may not be aware of them. Their aim is to keep residents in touch with local Neighbourhood Watch issues, local news, and what's happening with our local police force.

There is a visit counter, but that seems to count visits to the profile, not each site, so I don't know how many visits (if any) I'm getting. I'm not very good with technical things, so perhaps I haven't grasped the best way to monitor this.

However, I have enabled the comments feature to take comments from anyone. If you've read this post, could you please acknowledge with a brief comment. Are you a local resident, or are you just browsing? Just wondering, that's all. Thanks.

Artifice Burglary
St Michaels Close, Latchingdon
– At 11.15am on Friday 15/09/06, two males called on an elderly resident & asked if he wanted any trees cut. Whilst doing the work in the garden one of the suspects distracted the resident over changing the cost of the work done, whilst the other suspect male disappeared into the house. After the suspect males left the premises, the elderly resident discovered his cash box containing a considerable amount of money missing from his bedroom, and in addition a Minolta Camera and a mobile phone were also stolen.

Males were described as being:-

1) White, approx 5ft 10ins, aged about 23/24 years, slim build, wearing a blue shirt, blue trousers.

2) White, approx 5ft 9ins, aged about 40 years, heavy build, with hair growth on his chin, wearing white/dirty shirt, blue trousers

Vehicle in their possession was a white flat back van with mesh/netting on the side, registration unknown. There was believed to have been a wheelbarrow in the back of the vehicle.

If anyone can help and have seen these persons and can give police any information to identify the males or their vehicle, please contact Maldon CID on 01621 852255 and quote reference EP-20060915-0590.

Did you see anything suspicious?

11th September 2.30pm, a Black Dell Insperon 1000 Laptop computer and charger were stolen from a premises in Hall Road.

Did you see anything suspicious, for example, someone walking down the road with a laptop under their arm? Has anyone tried to sell you a laptop fitting this description?

If you have any information, please contact Maldon Front Desk on 852255.

The officer dealing with the case is PC Littlefield and the crime reference number is C 422 A/24481/06

Maldon Police Station 01621 852255
Tolleshunt D’Arcy Police Station 01621 868576
Point of Contact Mobile 07710 046156 – This is picked up by the officer on duty.

It has been a quiet summer in comparison to last summer in our villages. Therefore it has been a good time to welcome our new Sergeant, PS Chapman. He has worked in Maldon for a while and is looking forward to approaching our local issues with an active, problem solving approach.

There are still a number of Polish men selling paintings in Wickham Bishops, Great Totham and Goldhanger. An elderly lady has been burgled by a Polish man who forced her to hand over money once she let him in the house. Please be vigilant, they can be very ‘pushy’ towards the more vulnerable.

Please note that private/ sensitive incidents are not posted in this report.

Great Totham
07/07 – Chapel Road informant believes someone has been entering his back garden during the day, moving garden furniture.

08/07 – Suspicious person was seen looking into informant’s ground floor bedroom window whilst she was there, 0015 hrs. Tall, white male, approximately 60 years of age, medium build.

Various – Beacon Hill home owner has had various items go missing from his back garden, pool thermometer, hose, rabbit cages etc. Noone seen or heard.

13/07 – Man in a small blue car followed a young boy home from the Gt.Totham village store to his home, in Stapler’s Heath. The male did not say anything to the lad but crept behind him until the lad got to his house. No other details known.

23/07 – 2 suspicious males entered kitchen area of The Bull Pub, when challenged, ran off.

26/07 – 2330 hrs, youths seen at the cricket pavilion, looking as though they were trying to get in. No trace upon police arrival, no damage to pavilion.

31/07 – Youths seen intimidating local resident by refusing to move from informant’s garden. Youths spoken to by police.

02/08 – Shed burglary at St.Peter’s Church, overnight of the 29/07. 2 leaf blowers stolen from shed. Noone seen or heard.

10/08 – Arson at the Maldon Road war memorial bus shelter. Committed overnight, the poppy wreath was set alight. No-one seen or heard.

13/08 – Shed burglary at St.Peter’s Church, overnight. 2 lawn mowers stolen from inside shed. No-one seen or heard.

17/08 – A white Citroen Berlingo stolen from Stapler’s Close overnight. Later found dumped in Tudwick Road.

17/08 – Attempted burglary of camping equipment from home in the evening, Goat Lodge Road. House is near footpath and they believe people may have been disturbed and disappeared before taking the equipment.

21/08 – Nuisance youths throwing stones and being loud/ abusive, Catchpole Lane, 1745 hrs.


Wickham Bishops
The ‘boy racers’ from St.Bart;s church carpark have been given clear advice to go to rural locations where they are not going to upset other people in the area. I am in the process of issuing warnings for their driving behaviour, (3 issued so far).

02/07 – 0146 hrs. Male called from the public phonebox outside the One Stop Store, saying that there was a noisy party, and after calling Environmental health, there was ‘going to be a murder in Wickham Bishops tonight’!

02/07 – Early hours of the morning, whilst the informant was holding a wedding party, 3 vehicles were keyed, after an angry male made threats to them about the noise.

17/07 – Criminal damage to St.Bartholemew’s Church windows. Almonds were thrown at the stained glass windows. Noone seen or heard.


19/07 – Prevent Breach of the Peace, footballers from Hatfield Peverel have been told to ask permission before using Wickham Bishops land, as they have been trespassing on Beacon Hill Sports Association land.

22/07 – Grange Road, local resident repeatedly shooting on own land, allowing shot to fall on residents’ cars. Advised by police.

30/07 – Fire, Mount Shell Farm. Believed not suspicious circumstances.

04/08 – Dwelling burglary, Blacksmith’s Lane. Laptop stolen. People entered by lifting yale lock with metal pole, through the letter box.

09/08 – 2150 hrs, road traffic collision, Maypole Road. Motorcyclist fell off of bike. Had no insurance or driving license.

19/08 – Theft of pedal cycle from Maypole Road. Men’s ‘Viking’ bike, grey body with red front forks.

20/08 – Nuisance youths in cars at St.Bartholemew’s carpark, playing loud music and swearing. Given official warnings for behaviour.

29/08 – Car inadvertedly hit a tree down Braxted Road, due to large lorry taking up the whole road.


Little Totham
01/07 – 2030 hrs. Informant had a young male kicking a ball against his fence. When asked to move he ‘kicked off’.

04/07 – Suspicious male, long dark hair, seen watching the young children by The Swan Public House, 1900 hrs. The man drove a black 4 x 4 with ‘Thunder’ written along the side.

05/08 – Pedal bike stolen from side of property. Bike that fitted description was found dumped on beach along Heybridge Road, but when informant had arrived, it had disappeared.

16/08 – A fail to stop road traffic collision, Green Lane. A tractor from a local farm refused to give details after hitting a car.

19/08 – Plains Road, theft of heating oil from tank in garden. Overnight, someone has taken half of the tank’s oil, causing damage to measuring pipe in process.

Great Braxted
26/08 – Theft of handbag from inside car, Braxted Road. Car was open and owner was unloading the car at the time. Noone seen or heard.

31/08 – Stolen vehicle, blue Vauxhall Nova, was found dumped down Braxted Road.


Little Braxted
No incidents in last 2 months.

I've been asked by the author David Fraser to draw people's attention to his book, "A Land Fit for Criminals". To that end, I have posted his blurb below. I haven't yet read the book, so can't review it for you.