|
.
HERE IS THE LATEST WING NORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD UPDATE
CRIMES OF NOTE: 28/11/11 – 28/12/11
Aston Abbotts NIL
CublingtonTheft of number plates
Drayton ParslowNIL
Great Brickhill Theft of catalytic converter
Criminal damage to vehicles x 2 (poss domestic related)
Hardwick Nil
Soulbury NIL
StewkleyTheft of catalytic converters x 3
Stoke Hammond Theft of trailer
Vehicle interference
Theft of catalytic converters from company
Weedon Nil
WingTheft of vehicle off Aylesbury Road
*There have been several thefts of catalytic converters in our villages – please see information further below.
CRIME STATISTICS
Looking at the crime figures for Wing North in comparison to last year (during the period 01/04 – 30/11) does offer positive reading – overall reported crime is down in the following areas:
. Serious violent and sexual offences
. Theft of vehicle
. Criminal damage (all)
. Public order
. Theft from person
. Criminal damage to vehicles
. Burglary non-dwelling
. Vehicle interference
Unfortunately there has been an increase in the following reported crimes:
. Burglary dwelling
. Drug possession (cannabis)
. Domestic abuse both injury and non-injury
There has been a significant increase this year, on the Wing North area, in detecting crime – making those take responsibility for their offences is a major step in trying to prevent repeat offending.
Important Burglary Crime Information
A neighbouring area has had number of burglaries where homes with UPVC doors have been targeted by criminals. It is important that residents ensure that UPVC doors are “double-locked”. Doors are double locked by pulling up the internal handle and then turning the key – this ensures the door is held by the five point locking system.
Doors that are not double locked are only held shut at one point and are therefore vulnerable to being forced open.
ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR:
During this time span there were three reports of anti-social behaviour:
Reports of noise disturbance off Stewkley Road, Wing - believed to have been caused by a group of young people under the influence of drink and possibly drugs. An area search was carried out by officers but they were not located.
Report of young people knocking and running from a property in Leighton Road, Wing – security advice given and since the report was made no further incidents have occurred.
Report of a vulnerable female being harassed by two young girls in Stewkley - Girls have been spoken to by the officers that responded to the call and this will be monitored to make sure that the problems do not continue.
ROAD SAFETY ISSUES:
Speed checks carried out in:
Stoke Hammond 22/12/11 on Leighton Road. Ten drivers stopped exceeding the 30mph speed limit and fixed penalty notices issued.
Stewkley 22/12/11 on High Street North. Nineteen drivers stopped exceeding the 30mph speed limit and fixed penalty notices issued.
Burcott 22/12/11. Five vehicles stopped exceeding the 30mph speed limit and fixed penalty notices issued.
OFFENDERS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE:
A 26yr old man from Bedford who was on remand to prison, admitted to a burglary in Great Brickhill from 2004. This offence will be taken into consideration when he is subsequently sentenced at Crown court.
On 03/12/11 a 16yr old male was arrested in Wing after being found in possession of a metal pole during a fracas. He was subsequently charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon
On 27/12/11 a man from Bletchley was arrested in Great Brickhill after damaging a vehicle by smashing the windows. He was also arrested for driving with excess alcohol and was subsequently charged with both offences.
CRIME PRIORITIES:
Crime priorities this month are the continued theft of catalytic converters from vehicle exhaust systems. This is prevailent on the Wing North area at the moment. There have been three thefts from Stewkley and one from Great Brickhill. This has carried on from November when there were seven taken from a number of vans at a garage in Stoke Hammond and also one from Aston Abbotts. There are extra patrols being mounted to combat this and security advice is being given out to businesses and local residents so as to minimise the chances of this type of offence occurring. There is ongoing intelligence sharing with neighbouring police forces to try and trace any suspects and to where the catalytic converters maybe going to after they have been stolen.
HAVE YOUR SAY MEETINGS:
Stoke Hammond Methodist Church 1030 to 1130
11th Jan 2012
15th Feb 2012
14th March 2012
Drayton Parslow Hall 0900 to 1100
20th Jan 2012
17th Feb 2012
16th March 2012
Great Brickhill Parish Hall 1330 to 1530
6th Feb 2012
5th March 2012
Aston Abbotts coffee morning Parish Room 1030 to 1200
19th January 2012
Stewkley Coffee Stop Pavillion 1030 to 1200
12th January 2012
POLICE ATTENDANCE – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES:
Weedon Parish Council at 8pm in the School Room on Weds 18th January 2012
*PREVENTION TIPS FOR THEFT OF CATS
With scrap metal continuing to fetch high prices, research carried out by several police forces is showing that there is an increasse in thieves targeting vehicles fitted with Catalytic Convertors.
In particular, thieves are singling out vehicles such as people carriers 4x4’s or commercial vans are because the ground clearance of the vehicle makes it easier to access the Catalytic convertor. Also it appears that the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the catalytic convertor or the possibility it may be fitted with two.
Some Catalytic convertors are simply bolted together and a thief armed with a simple spanner or socket can easily remove this part of the exhaust system and it can take only a matter of minutes to remove one.
Offences have been committed in public car parks, garage forecourts, vehicle compounds and driveways on residential roads. While the theft of the converter can net the offender in excess of £60.00 per vehicle, the costs to the owner to replace the item can run to several hundred pounds and there’s the inconvenience of the vehicle being off the road and because an owner won’t notice anything’s been taken until they drive the vehicle it can be difficult to know when the offence has happened.
We advice 4x4 and commercial van owners to be vigilant and consider adopting some or all of the measures shown below to help protect their vehicle against this type of theft:”
Property marking
Etching a catalytic converter with a serial number will help police track a stolen converter to a specific injured party and overtly advertising that a vehicle is protected by property marking may also deter offenders as it will potentially reduce the opportunities for selling on the converters at reputable scrap metal dealers. More information on ID etching can be found at www.retainagroup.co.uk.
Welded Bolts
If a catalytic converter is a “bolt on” it is possible to have the bolts welded shut. This is only a deterrent to the lowest grade of catalytic converter thief working with a spanner but may still be enough of a deterrent to help prevent a theft.
Catalytic Converter Protective Sleeves
Protective coverings are quite expensive but make it much more difficult for the saw wielding thief to steal catalytic converters.
Defensive Parking
If it is possible to block the high-clearance vehicles by utilising natural structures such as walls etc and low clearance vehicles to help prevent access underneath, this will help prevent access to the vulnerable area of the vehicle and at the very least slow the thieves down making the target less attractive.
Effective Security Lighting
Good security lighting can make vehicles more visible and improve natural surveillance. External dusk to dawn lighting which automatically stays on during the hours of darkness and goes off as it starts to get light in areas where there is good surveillance from other people, makes the target less attractive.
CCTV / Alarms
The installation of CCTV to cover parking areas can help reduce theft. Remote monitored CCTV could even stop catalytic converter theft before it happens if the monitoring centre can notify the police in real time as an offence takes place. The use of driveway alarms can help alert you to anyone trespassing on your property
REPORTING AN INCIDENT OR CRIME
The new non-emergency number – 101 - is up and running and this is for reporting, making enquiries or making contact with your policing team. Please note that there have been situations where residents on our area have had problems reporting using this number due to the fact that their postcode is LU7 and they have been transferred to Bedfordshire Police. If you need to use the number be firm stating that you are within the Thames valley Policing area and although the postal code is Leighton Buzzard we do come under the Aylesbury Vale District Council.
There have also been times when asking a victim or witness of a crime why they didn’t use the emergency 999 number they have stated that they didn’t feel it was an emergency and didn’t want to over react – if you feel a crime is being committed or about to be committed use 999, if you are concerned and frightened that someone may be trying to enter your home/business/property use 999 – the emergency call taker will listen and respond appropriately. You will never be critised for using 999 if you feel that it is required …….please be mindful that the following calls have been made to our emergency services:
****Spiders in the tub!**** a stain requiring a remover!****rats in the kitchen!**** taps that won't turn off!****
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Unfortunately we all see people driving whilst using their phones – it is an offence and not at all necessary!
Question Can I use my mobile phone whilst driving?
Answer The only permitted use of a mobile phone whilst driving is using a hands free kit. Even that will be unlawful if you allow a call/text etc. to distract you whilst driving.
Driving using a mobile phone without hands free is an offence with a fine between £60 and £1000 (£2500 for drivers of goods vehicles and buses) at court. The standard fixed penalty for driving whilst using a hand held mobile phone is a £60 penalty and 3 licence points.
With or without hands free, if you are driving badly, you can also be prosecuted for careless driving or dangerous driving which carry much higher penalties. If you kill someone in an accident caused by phoning or texting etc. you can expect a lengthy sentence of imprisonment (e.g. up to 7 years for phoning and worse if you are texting).
Question What about using my phone when I am held up in traffic?
Answer The use of a mobile phone without a hands free kit is not allowed whilst driving. Driving includes times when for whatever reasons you are held up during the journey, for example, traffic jams and traffic lights.
Question What if I need to use my mobile phone in an emergency whilst driving?
Answer The use of the mobile phone to call the emergency services on 999 is permitted under the new regulations, if you are acting in response to a real emergency and it is not safe or practical for you to stop to make the call.
Question Is it against the law not to register my details with regards to a car that I have just bought?
Answer Yes, it is an offence not to notify the Secretary of State (DVLA) of your details when you purchase a car. You will be liable for a substantial fine if found guilty of the offence.
Question Is there a difference between the registered keeper and the owner of a vehicle?
Answer A registration document (V5) is not proof of ownership. The registered keeper should be the person who is actually using / keeping the vehicle and this is not necessarily the owner of the vehicle or the person who is paying for it.
He is the person responsible for the vehicle so far as official communications from the police/DVLA etc., but the owner is the person who put up the cash (or was given it as a gift).
The DVLA make a point of saying that the person named on the registration document is not necessarily the owner.
This is particularly true with a company car which is owned by the company, however the registration document should show the registered keeper, i.e. the day to day user (this may be an employee who has it as a permanent perk with his/her job).
In the case of a car used by a married couple, ownership of any property is usually classed as joint and if the husband was stopped driving the vehicle without insurance the police would probably accept that he was joint owner and not look to the wife for additional offences, such as owner permitting no insurance.
A registered keeper will usually be regarded as responsible for parking tickets etc so it would be wise to have the registration document changed if you are the owner, but not the user/keeper. There might also be some circumstances where you would be deemed as being the owner of the vehicle for an insurance offence, e.g. if you are permitting someone to use the vehicle knowing full well it is not insured or roadworthy.
Most insurance companies insist that the person who they insure is the primary user of the vehicle and can specify that the person is the registered keeper. It is up to them who they will or will not insure.
You can now send non-emergency messages to us using the online form that is available on the Thames Valley Police website. A number of people have already sent their concerns using this method. For you to do that please follow the link:
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n256-hys
Please allow some time for us to get back to you as we do check our mail box only at certain times of the day.
You can follow us on Twitter @_ThamesVP alternatively you can give us a ‘like’ on Facebook (opens new window)
IF YOU KNOW ANYONE - NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE WING NORTH AREA WHO MAY LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER AND OTHER INFORMATION FROM US PLEASE INFORM THEM OF COMMUNITY MESSAGING (LINK BELOW) AND THEY WILL THEN BECOME PART OF OUR MAILING LIST. IT IS A GREAT WAY TO PASS INFORMATION AND FORM A LINK TO OUR COMMUNITY – THANK YOU.
WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
For regular updates on crime and disorder in your area you can sign up to Community Messaging
|
