Crime Warning from Local Police & Burglary Prevention Leaflet
Please find below a message from the local police about burglaries and a leaflet giving some guidance on how to make your property safer.
There is a peak in burglaries before Christmas and you can click on the following link to view the Burglary Leaflet Xmas 2015
Crimes reported for the week ending December 12th.
We have had crimes reported last week:
Burglary Dwelling – Gascoigne Gardens IG8
Attempted Burglary Dwelling – Cavendish Avenue E4
Theft from Motor :
- Vehicle Beech Hall Road E4
- Castleton Road E17
- Woodstock Road E17
Please be extra vigilant these burglaries were committed because the front UVPC door was not locked properly. Please ensure you lift the handle and turn the key to engage the locking mechanism. If this is not engaged a tool can be used to prise the door lock open. . With regard to the Theft from Motor Vehicle :Youths have been seen on the ward trying door handles for an unlocked vehicle, have you locked your car? Please lock valuables out of sight in the boot if you must leave anything in the car.
Christmas Parties, Office Parties, New Year celebrations and out and about
Firstly, if you are going out, or going away, then keep dates and times private, and tell a trusted friend or family member to keep an eye on your home.
Check your security settings on your social media profiles to ensure that only your friends can see your information, such as posts informing others that your home is empty. Assume that anything you post can be read by anybody.
When using ATMs, be aware of who is around you and check for unusual devices on the machine before using it. Think about how much cash you need to take out and bear in mind that you can always top up later
Be aware of bogus charity collectors and ask for their charity number, which can be checked atwww.gov.uk. Make sure that your kind donation makes it to the organization you want it to and not to a criminal.
When out at Christmas meals, be aware of table surfing. Ensure you don’t leave valuable items on the table and keep bags zipped up. Also, keep phones, wallets, and keys in zip-up pockets, out of the sight of thieves. You also need to keep an eye on your drink, as if left unattended it could be spiked. Also be aware of whom you accept drinks from, you never know what the person’s intention might be.
When out and about, don’t give out personal information to anyone as this might lead to nuisance text, calls and emails.
Remember, when travelling home, only use licensed taxi companies and pre-book your ride. It is worth knowing that only black cabs are allowed to make indiscriminate pickups.
If walking home, stick to well-lit paths and walk toward oncoming traffic, this means nobody can stop and offer you a lift. Keep phones out of sight and try not walk home on your own. Be aware of your environment and who’s around you. Listening to music or being distracted by your phone could see you walking into danger.
When it comes to drink driving, don’t take the risk and leave the car at home. Drink driving and the result from a night of foolishness can have long-lasting consequences. Don’t take unnecessary risks with your safety after you have had a drink by running across roads. You will be putting yourself and others in danger.
Make sure a good night does not end with a trip to A&E. Make the most of the festive period by looking after yourself and staying safe.
Alert Be aware of A group/couple reported as accidentally spilling something over their Victim, then as they help to “make things better” i.e. brushing your coat etc. distraction takes place so that your property can be stolen.
Christmas presents and home security.
At this festive time of year it is great to see all the lights and Christmas decorations which are on show on Hale End Road .
We would ask you to be aware that whist your tree and presents can be seen in some cases very clearly it is also an invite to a burglar as they can see clearly first of all if anyone is at home, secondly they can see what valuables you may have on show please be aware.
Non Emergency number for police is 101 and in an emergency always call 999
Regards,