Neighbourhood Watch

11th January 2017 - Burglaries

The weekly crime information service from Suffolk Police on the radio this morning at 0845 hours warned that intruders using lumps of concrete bricks etc. were blatantly breaking windows in houses to gain access to steal at various places in the county in the last few weeks.   They are known to  use extreme violence to householders that challenge them and are intent on stealing   jewellery and high value goods.   It is recommended by police  that householders  leave lights on even during the day to make it look as if  houses are occupied and if such unlawful behaviour as described is witnessed the police are called on Telephone 999.   Any descriptions of offenders and vehicles they are or appear to be using should be noted.

 

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Daylight burglaries

Many people don’t pay as much attention to their home’s security during the daylight hours. This is because people tend to feel safer when not surrounded by darkness. However, when looking at statistics burglaries are just as likely to occur during the day.

A burglary at a property can occur at anytime day or night, in fact many burglaries occur during the day, as offenders tend to blend in better with the surroundings and are able to offer more plausible excuses should they be challenged, such as “I am lost”, “I was looking for Mr X who lives somewhere around here”, “I thought this property was for sale” and “I’ve lost my dog”, along with various other excuses that can be more easily made during the normal daylight working hours.

If your home is unoccupied during the day here are a few tips to help you to improve security:

 

  • ALWAYS lock your doors and windows when you leave the house, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Make sure your locks reach British Standards and are fit for purpose.
  • Never assume that your home, garage, shed or studio will be safe while unlocked, even if you’re currently at home. It only takes a minute for someone to enter and take what is not theirs.
  • Remove ALL tools and objects from within your garden that could be used by an offender to break into your home with. 
  • ALWAYS set your intruder alarm if you have one, during the day AND night. And consider installing an alarm in any outbuildings too. Battery operated alarms can be purchased from Sudbury, Hadleigh and Capel Police Stations for £8 each.
  • Use lights and, especially during the day, radios on timers inside your home. 
  • Property mark all electrical and valuable items with a UV & permanent marker pen, which can be purchased from the above stations for £1 each, or use a property marking solution like Smartwater or SelectaDNA.
  • Register any items that have serial numbers on the UK property databasewww.immobilise.com for free, including any bicycles and power tools.
  • Ensure your perimeters are secure with fencing or appropriate hedging and lock sidegates at all times with a padlock or mortice lock.
  • IF YOU REMEMBER JUST ONE THING… Remember to store ALL important valuables including jewellery and cash out of sight and if possible in a hidden wall or floor safe. The first place an offender will look is in the top drawer of your dresser unit, or in the back of a wardrobe. DON’T MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM.

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For information on where to install carbon monoxide alarm co detectors click here

 

FW: Suffolk Rural Alert - Recent theft of trailers and machine



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Recent thefts of trailers and machinery across rural Norfolk have highlighted the need for residents in rural Suffolk to ensure they are taking measures to protect their property. If you have such equipment, please consider the following:

  • Storing trailers securely behind locked gates, and in an area covered by CCTV if possible.
  • Overt marking of trailers and machinery to make them less desirable and harder to dispose of.
  • Use of wheel clamps and ground anchors to secure trailers and other wheeled machinery.
  • Use of hitch locks to cover the tow-bar hitch on trailers.
  • Fit alarms and/or security lights that can alert you to an intruder in outbuildings that contain equipment.
  • Use of wildlife cams/camera traps in/and around barn/outbuilding locations.

More advice regarding rural crime prevention can be found via:

http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/businesssafety/ruralcrimeadvice.aspx

Please take some basic preventative measures, and if you have any information relating to rural crime, call 101. Always call 999 in an emergency, or if you believe a crime is in progress.

 

Police in Suffolk are urging friends, relatives, carers and neighbours to pass on advice to elderly people they care for after five people have been scammed out of almost £30,000.

The ‘elaborate’ scam which is being carried out by con men and women has now hit Suffolk after sweeping across the Metropolitan and Essex Police Force areas.

Since August, Suffolk Police has received five reports of virtually identical scams where a person calls their elderly victim, purporting that they are a Police Officer calling from The Met or Essex Police.

Thelsquo;Police Officer’ calls the victim telling them they are from the police investigating fraud on their bank account. On occasions they claim to be working for the victim’s bank and they ask for account information including their card number, security number and PIN. Should the resident become suspicious the offender suggests they call 999 or 101 to ask for confirmation the caller is a police officer.

The victim then calls the police, but does not realise that the offender has not hung up so goes straight through to them again. In some cases a female offender comes on the line and pretends to be working for the police control room and verifies the so called officer’s details. The caller is then handed back to the original offender who obtains the victims details.

In other cases victims have been told a courier will be sent round to collect their bank card or have even been asked to go to their bank to withdraw large amounts of money which is again collected by courier.

The latest incident in Suffolk happened yesterday, Monday 16 December. A 62 year old woman living in South Ipswich was duped into withdrawing nearly £4,000 from her bank account which was collected by a courier later that day.

Community Safety Manager for Suffolk Police Alan Osborne said: "Fraudsters will try every way possible to scam money out of people and this appears to be one of the latest con tactics they are using.

"The police or banks will never ask for people’s bank account details over the phone and should anyone receive this type of call they should hang up immediately.

"We are working with banks, building societies and taxi or courier companies to raise awareness of this particular scam but we are keen to stress to those people who have elderly family members or neighbours to spread the word and talk to them about this type of crime.

Police are issuing the following advice:

•         Your bank or the police will never ask for your PIN, bank card or bank account details over the phone – never give these details out.

•         The police will never call you and ask you to withdraw money from your account to give to a courier or taxi driver, regardless of how convincing they may seem.

•         If you receive such a call leave the landline for at least five minutes to make an outside call. Fraudsters will keep the line open and have been known to play ring tones, hold music and a recorded message down the phone so the victim believes they are making a call to a legitimate number.

•         Use a friend’s of neighbour’s telephone instead.

•         Friends, family, carers and neighbours are asked to spread the word to ensure everyone is aware of this scam and what they should do.

If you have been a victim call police on 101 or 999 if you are vulnerable and need police assistance – and remember allow your  landline to clear for at least five minutes before you call, or ideally use an alternative line.

 

 

 Please use the following link to pass useful information to Suffolk Police about any incident.http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/reportacrime tellthepolice.aspx

DO NOT USE THIS LINK IN AN EMERGENCY OR IN A SITUATION THAT REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE POLICE RESPONSE WHEN YOU SHOULD RING 999.

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