Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Section Report Urgent Bogus Caller Alert
We had a Maldon section NHW meeting on 26th November. Here is the Crime Reduction officer’s Report. Please note the very important Bogus caller alert,
Update from last report
· Purse dipping. This has been quiet recently, though one incident has been reported from a customer in Focus. However, please don’t be complacent as Xmas is coming.
· Complacency. Residents are still being complacent with leaving their vehicles unlocked and not just old bangers. Over half the cars suffering thefts were insecure. The Insurance companies generally won’t pay out if basic security measures have not been taken. Also, a lot of garages are left insecure.
· Identity theft. This has become a national problem with the mislaying of disks. Please keep an eye on your accounts for unusual transactions. And do not give out any personal or account details if someone contacts you unexpectedly.
· Spare Wheels on the outside of some vehicles are being nicked, not that some vehicles are no longer supplied with a spare:- This has dropped.
New
· Bogus Callers has taken a very nasty turn. Please be aware of this, but not unduly alarmed.Two waves of incidents have happened. One on 30th October, and one 26th November. 30th October, at about 4.00pm to 5.00pm. there was a distraction burglary in Orchard Close, 3 people purporting to be from the “Water board”. Two were in their 20 –30s, one was older and tubby. On that day there were a number of similar incidents, 2.00pm Mountnessing , others at 4.00pm, 4.40pm. Heybridge at 5.00pm, there was a burglary in Maldon Road, Witham, and a house in Spital Road Maldon. In none of these was a vehicle seen. The strategy was to keep the person busy. In all £5-6,000 and jewellery was taken.
26th November. 9.30 pm approx. Persons went to an address in Orchard Close, the story being their dog was missing in the back garden. The resident refused them entry, but the callers kicked the back door in and gained entry. Between 8.30pm and 10.10pm there were similar incidents in Wickford, Woodham Ferrers, an attempt at Bicknacre and one at Worley.
The strategies used:- The lost dog story
“I’m from the police”
“I’m from the Neighbourhood Watch”
The police are asking residents who have any suspicions about people to contact them immediately. Better a false alarm than another crime of this nature.
As Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, we want to warn people, not to alarm them such that they are terrified. Housing Association houses’ security is being reviewed. But a lot of elderly residents own their own homes. Please, if you have elderly neighbours, please ask them to make sure that their doors are secure with more than a Yale Lock, and that they actually use them. (Perhaps their family can help them in this respect). Also, if they have fall alarms, encourage them to use them in this sort of situation.
· Sat Navs are being stolen from cars,
· In the last 10 days there have been some cheeky copper piping thefts. Eg a Van driver parked his van for 20 minutes, and in that time his tube was opened and the copper removed.
· Lead roofing from churches is going missing in East Anglia, though not locally yet. Please keep an eye on your Church.
· There have been several daytime burglaries in Ulting, Langford, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, including the theft of a unique watch.
· It’s coming up to Christmas. Don’t leave presents in the car, and don’t leave presents on display under the Christmas tree. Don’t be complacent re purse dipping. We have two Victorian Evenings coming up. You shouldn’t need to take large amounts of cash with you, and please be careful, though do enjoy the celebrations.
Update from last report
· Purse dipping. This has been quiet recently, though one incident has been reported from a customer in Focus. However, please don’t be complacent as Xmas is coming.
· Complacency. Residents are still being complacent with leaving their vehicles unlocked and not just old bangers. Over half the cars suffering thefts were insecure. The Insurance companies generally won’t pay out if basic security measures have not been taken. Also, a lot of garages are left insecure.
· Identity theft. This has become a national problem with the mislaying of disks. Please keep an eye on your accounts for unusual transactions. And do not give out any personal or account details if someone contacts you unexpectedly.
· Spare Wheels on the outside of some vehicles are being nicked, not that some vehicles are no longer supplied with a spare:- This has dropped.
New
· Bogus Callers has taken a very nasty turn. Please be aware of this, but not unduly alarmed.Two waves of incidents have happened. One on 30th October, and one 26th November. 30th October, at about 4.00pm to 5.00pm. there was a distraction burglary in Orchard Close, 3 people purporting to be from the “Water board”. Two were in their 20 –30s, one was older and tubby. On that day there were a number of similar incidents, 2.00pm Mountnessing , others at 4.00pm, 4.40pm. Heybridge at 5.00pm, there was a burglary in Maldon Road, Witham, and a house in Spital Road Maldon. In none of these was a vehicle seen. The strategy was to keep the person busy. In all £5-6,000 and jewellery was taken.
26th November. 9.30 pm approx. Persons went to an address in Orchard Close, the story being their dog was missing in the back garden. The resident refused them entry, but the callers kicked the back door in and gained entry. Between 8.30pm and 10.10pm there were similar incidents in Wickford, Woodham Ferrers, an attempt at Bicknacre and one at Worley.
The strategies used:- The lost dog story
“I’m from the police”
“I’m from the Neighbourhood Watch”
The police are asking residents who have any suspicions about people to contact them immediately. Better a false alarm than another crime of this nature.
As Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, we want to warn people, not to alarm them such that they are terrified. Housing Association houses’ security is being reviewed. But a lot of elderly residents own their own homes. Please, if you have elderly neighbours, please ask them to make sure that their doors are secure with more than a Yale Lock, and that they actually use them. (Perhaps their family can help them in this respect). Also, if they have fall alarms, encourage them to use them in this sort of situation.
· Sat Navs are being stolen from cars,
· In the last 10 days there have been some cheeky copper piping thefts. Eg a Van driver parked his van for 20 minutes, and in that time his tube was opened and the copper removed.
· Lead roofing from churches is going missing in East Anglia, though not locally yet. Please keep an eye on your Church.
· There have been several daytime burglaries in Ulting, Langford, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, including the theft of a unique watch.
· It’s coming up to Christmas. Don’t leave presents in the car, and don’t leave presents on display under the Christmas tree. Don’t be complacent re purse dipping. We have two Victorian Evenings coming up. You shouldn’t need to take large amounts of cash with you, and please be careful, though do enjoy the celebrations.
# posted by Evelyn @ 5:50 AM 
