NHW Update 10th March to 20th March

Submitted by admin on Sat, 22/03/2008 - 13:01.

Hello Neighbourhood Watchers,

Here is the latest Update for your information.
Please pass the information relevant to your area to those who don't have
email. The better informed we are the better the protection for the
Community.

10th March

  • The owner of an empty and derelict property
    off Walwyn Road,
    Colwall     reports continuing theft
    from the property. This includes lead flashing from the roof, aluminium from a
    caravan, 2 water tanks stolen and copper from a water spout.
  • A resident in Rhea Lane, Ledbury reported
    a red Peugeot 106 XL - Reg P549.TU acting suspiciously late in the evening. The
    vehicle which is not local, had 5 males on board, and drove off at speed when
    approached by the resident. Might have been a bit of lamping but any further
    sightings should be reported to the Police.

11th March

  • Another vehicle Reg. P949.TU - a green Laguna
    Estate, with at least 4 people on board was also seen acting suspiciously in the
    early hours of the morning. It was seen parked at the end of a lane to a
    property in the Munsley area, and the
    occupants of the vehicle appeared to be shining a torch around the area making
    no attempt to move off when the resident came out. An area search by Police
    could not trace the vehicle and any further sightings should be reported to the
    Police.
  • A resident of a farm in Putley reported the theft of
    personal items from a vehicle which was left unlocked on their driveway between
    2100 the previous night and 0700 hrs this morning. Thieves removed a briefcase,
    a coat and some post from the vehicle and later dumped the items which were
    subsequently found. It was later discovered that a credit and debit card which
    had been left in the coat pocket had been removed and enquiries are
    ongoing.

14th March

  • A resident in The Uplands, Fromes Hill
    reports the continuing theft of coal from their bunker. This has been an ongoing
    problem for the past 3 Winters and has become a regular nuisance. Any info as
    to the identity of this rather mean-spirited thief would be
    helpful.

16th March

  • A resident of Floyds Lane, Wellington Heath was visited by an unknown Polish male who stated that his car had broken
    down and asking for a torch. Very sensibly he locked the door and wen to get
    the aid of his neighbour. When they returned and accompanied him to his vehicle
    the car started immediately raising the suspicions of the
    residents.

17th March

  • The owners of a farm in Staplow reported
    the theft of approx 1100 litres of domestic heating oil from their tank, between
    mid December and 5th March. This has only come to light recently. Please bear
    in mind that your tanks are vulnerable at this time of year. PIR lighting and regular checks are essential to keep tabs on
    the oil situation. Re-siting of vulnerable tanks might also be considered as a
    viable option for crime prevention, and it goes without saying that suspicious
    activity should always be reported to the Police.

18th March

  • A padlock and chain were cut to gain entry
    into Wessington Park,
    Woolhope     from where two metal
    sheep gates were stolen by persons unknown. The lock and chain were also
    removed. It is believed that a red van with different coloured rear doors may
    have been involved, as it was reported as acting suspiciously in the area,
    driving slowly, paying close attention to properties. No Reg No was
    taken.
  • Nine solar powered lights were stolen from the front
    garden of a property in St Georges,
    Woolhope    . Nothing was seen or
    heard.

19th March

  • A resident in Panksbridge, Much Cowarne
    was approached by a male asking for any scrap for sale. Although the resident
    said 'no' the he then asked about an old stone sink which could not be seen from
    the road, giving the resident very good reason to suspect he had been snooping
    about. The male
    was in his late 20s-early 30s, stocky build, pale
    complexion, short blond hair and an Irish accent. No-one else was seen in the
    truck so he may have been alone. The vehicle is described as a royal/mid blue
    flat bed pick up - Reg N371.OS. Checks on the vehicle by Police do not indicate
    any immediate concerns but it would be prudent for any further approaches to be
    reported to the Police. Well done to the NHW'er who took the details of the
    vehicle and reported it accordingly both to the Police and neighbours.
  • A farmer in Little Marcle reports the
    death of one sheep and the serious wounding of two others which had been
    attacked by two dogs. The dogs area described as a black and a golden
    labrador. If anyone has any information regarding the ownership of these dogs
    we would be grateful for any information..

OPERATION TURN UP
2008 - the
force's initiative to trace bail dodgers, has been hailed a success after a
total of 193 people wanted on warrant were traced. Turn Up started on 28 January
and targeted those offenders who had failed to pay fines or turn up at court for
their cases. Part of the campaign involved sending reminder letters and
Valentine cards to people asking them to surrender; 34% of those who handed
themselves in (66 people) did so as a result of receiving a card or letter.

GARDEN
CRIME
The latest campaign is
Garden Crime ‘Nip garden crime in the bud’. See the link to take you to the
website:

<http://www.westmercia.police.uk/crime/gardencrime.htm>

Advice &
frequently asked questions about Security Alarms

After arresting a well-known burglar, we
interviewed him and this is what he had to say about targeting houses with
alarms:

“Alarms do put you off, you just go
somewhere else. I never used to break in somewhere with a light on, or anywhere
with an alarm. For every house with an alarm there are another nine
without.”

The questions shown below are some of the
more frequent ones asked by prospective buyers of an alarm.

If you have any further questions, either
contact your local police station or telephone the police switchboard on 0845 7
444 888 and ask for the Crime Risk Manager for your area.

Why do I need an
alarm?
Intruder alarms
are an effective deterrent against burglars. They provide a useful warning and
limit the risk of theft and damage to your property. Surveys have consistently
shown that homes are less likely to be burgled if an alarm is
fitted.

What is the point of having an alarm if
no one takes any notice anyway?
It is not necessarily the effect it has on neighbours or passers-by;
it is the way it affects the criminal that matters. Criminals do not like
attracting attention to themselves. Also, they do not know what response the
police have made.

Are alarms difficult to
operate?
Alarms nowadays
are designed to be very user friendly. The two main ways to operate them are by
using a number pad with your own access number, or a key to switch the system
on/off.

Can I still have an alarm if I've got
pets, such as a dog or cat?
Yes you can. There are pet infra-red detectors available, but this is
something you should discuss with your installation company.

Do I need to bother with any other
security measures if I have an alarm fitted?
You should take all the usual security measures,
such as fitting good quality door and window locks, which together will help
make your home less inviting to any would-be burglar.

Are there different types of alarm
systems?
Essentially
there are three types of alarm system. They are listed in order of
effectiveness:

    1. Monitored systems not only provide
    an audible alarm; they also send a signal to a central monitoring station which
    can quickly notify the police. Some systems will even allow the monitoring
    station staff to see or hear if a burglar is in your home. These systems are now
    much more affordable although an annual maintenance and monitoring fee is
    required plus keyholders' information to enable a police response. This type of
    system should meet with the old BS4737 or now EN50131-1.

    2. An audible only system will sound a
    bell or siren to attract attention and help to deter the potential burglar. This
    system should meet with BS4737 (EN50131-1) or BS6799 for a wire free system.
    These type of systems now come under EN50131-1. This type of system buys you
    time but does not guarantee a police response.

    3. DIY alarm systems are available
    through a number of DIY or hardware stores. You should only attempt this if you
    are competent at DIY. This type of system should meet the BS6707.

How do I choose a company to install an
alarm?
We recommend that
you obtain quotes from at least three security companies who are subject to
independent inspection by a recognised body such as:

    • NSI (National Security Inspectorate)
      formerly known as NACOSS
    • SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms
      Inspection Board)

Will the police attend an alarm
activation at my home?
The police will attend the activation of audible-only alarm systems
if there are suspicious circumstances reported to them, e.g. sound of breaking
glass. Police will also attend when they receive notification from a central
monitoring station that a monitored system has been activated.

Before deciding on a particular system,
are there any questions I should ask the security company?

  1. Before you disclose any personal details,
    ensure that you have checked the credentials of your chosen company and request
    proof of identity from the representative.
  2. Ask which independent Inspectorate the
    company is subject to. e.g. NACOSS, SSAIB
  3. Does the alarm system reach the required
    British Standard?
  4. Are there any maintenance and/or
    monitoring contracts, or additional hidden extras, such as call out charges?

  5. Do you own or rent the system?
  6. What period of time does the guarantee
    last for, and what happens if there is a problem after that?
  7. Ask if there is a 24hr call out service
    and emergency attendance within 4hrs.
  8. Ask the installers for adequate training
    on how to operate the system. If in doubt ask again.
  9. Do not accept verbal contracts. Ensure
    that any agreements between you and the company are written, and that you or
    your representative read the contents carefully before signing.

Is there anything else I should do if I
have an alarm fitted?
No
matter which system you may choose, you will need to provide your local police
with details of two key-holders who can be contacted by telephone. They must
have their own means of transport so that they are in a position to attend your
home within 20 minutes of being called.

Details of independent
Inspectorate:

    • NSI (National Security Inspectorate)
      formerly known as NACOSS, Sentinel House, 5 Reform Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire,
      SL6 8BY. Tel: 01628 637512. Website www.nsi.org.uk <http://www.nsi.org.uk>
    • SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms
      Inspection Board) 131 Bedford Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6LA
      Tel: 0191 2963242. Website www.ssaib.org <http://www.ssaib.org>

SMARTWATER
ORDERS

For those of you who have recently
ordered Smartwater kits, please note that the order has gone in but there will
be a short delay in the supply owing to the major interest in this fantastic
product. The current lead time is approximately 3 weeks, although I have put a
plea for earlier delivery. You will be notified as soon as they become
available.

Kind Regards,

Alison Dore
Community Support Officer

Ledbury
Rural
Mob: 07970
602338