MAKE SURE ONLY SPRING GETS SPRUNG – AND NOT YOUR SHED CONTENTS

Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter for March 2006

5 April 2006

MAKE SURE ONLY SPRING GETS SPRUNG – AND NOT YOUR SHED CONTENTS!

In this month’s column we take a timely look at garden crime this spring and summer – and how you can avoiding falling victim to it.
WITH MILDER weather on its way, spring is traditionally the time that people begin to think about getting back out into their gardens.

After the cold of the winter, however, there may be a further ‘chilling’ surprise for people when they open their shed doors for the first time, only to discover their lawnmower or other tools have been stolen – perhaps weeks or even months before.

And it’s a fact that at this time of year that thefts and burglaries from sheds and garages increase; with homeowners using them more frequently, doors can be easily left unlocked by accident.

So, shed and garage security should be taken as importantly as home security – after all, many of us store lots of tools and valuable garden equipment in them. If sheds or garages are not kept secure, they can be an ideal target for an opportunistic thief.

There are many preventative steps that can be taken to keep thieves away, however. These range from fitting padlocks and padbars to security bars and grilles, or putting mesh over the windows.

"Most of the contents in the shed are usually more expensive than the cost of the shed itself, so it is extremely important that people take heed and protect themselves against thieves," says Herefordshire Division’s crime prevention officer.

"Importantly, when these security measures are fitted, people should remember to use them and keep buildings secured at all times."

Another simple step to take is marking valuables so that, if stolen, their owner can readily identify them. Security marking equipment can be purchased for a small sum from any reputable hardware or gardening store.

In support of these measures, all homeowners can help each other by remaining alert to suspicious activity, individuals and vehicles in their local area. By reporting any suspicious activity, and noting things like registration numbers and descriptions, it could assist the police in taking action should any offence be committed.

Crime prevention advice and further information on garden crime is available from your local Beat Manager and PC Charles Naylor at Hereford Police Station on 08457 444888.

Honest – it really is a police car…

HEREFORDSHIRE DIVISION has a new addition to its fleet of patrol vehicles – although members of the public could be forgiven for not noticing it as it passes by on the county’s roads.

The new Skoda Octavia is an unmarked vehicle and is being used by officers to identify examples of poor driving across the county. It has been funded by the Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership’s Road Safety Implementation Group and replaces another vehicle, which had come to the end of its working life.

"When officers are out on patrol in a marked police car, they find there is a halo effect, with drivers behaving impeccably as soon as they see the vehicle. Unfortunately, this means that the poor drivers who need to have their bad driving highlighted are extremely difficult to identify," explained Inspector Pete Wilson from the division’s Community Safety Department..

"The Skoda, on the other hand, looks like any other road car, and people drive as they naturally would while around it. We are not deliberately trying to catch people out, however, and the car is only ever crewed by uniform officers," added Inspector Wilson.

LEDBURY TOWN

1^st March: A 30-year-old male was injured during an incident in Masefield Close.

6^th/11^th March: Damage was caused to a motor vehicle parked in New Street.

8^th March: A 14-year-old male was slightly injured during an altercation in Mabels Furlong.

9^th March: The garage of a rural property was broken into with a grass strimmer and brush cutter being stolen.

10^th March: A Sonic Air electronic toothbrush valued at £99.99 was stolen from a shop in the High Street. In another incident, a Motorola mobile phone was stolen from a classroom at a local school.

11^th March: A Peugeot scooter was stolen from outside a property in Mabels Furlong.

12^th/13^th March: Damage was caused to a Volkswagen Golf parked in Bye Street.

13^th March: A purse was stolen from the staff area of commercial premises in Orchard Lane.

13^th/15^th March: Timber was stolen from a secure industrial yard in New Street in two separate incidents.

15^th March: Cosmetics worth over £2000 were stolen from a store in the High Street. Three offenders were involved. A purse was stolen from the bag of a lady shopping in a local supermarket.

16^th March: The outer skin of a double glazed window was broken at a home in Ledbury, believed with a stone. Toiletries were stolen from a shop in the Homend.

17^th March: Two males stole various cosmetics from a store in the Homend.

18^th March: A Philishave razor was stolen from a store in the High Street by a male offender.

20^th March: There were two incidents involving obstructing a police officer.

17^th/22^nd March: Unknown offender/s entered field at farm premises in which there are various sheds containing agricultural equipment. An attempt was made to enter a large aluminium storage container and a metal shed.

29^th March: Offender entered store in The Homend grabbed tray of 6 Easter eggs and left without paying for them.

24^th/31^st March: A wooden gatepost was broken off at the rear of a garden in Ledbury.

VILLAGE NEWS

Ashperton

9^th/10^th March: An Ifor Williams trailer was stolen from the driveway of a property in the village.

Aylton

22^nd March: Entry to the garage of a secluded property was forced and a number of items, including a petrol strimmer, Stihl chainsaw, Toro lawn mower and Panasonic video recorder were stolen.

Bosbury

8^th/9^th March: Locks were damaged on the garage door of a rural property and attempts made to gain entry to a barn, nothing was however stolen.

17^th/20^th March: A wooden five-bar gate was stolen from a property being renovated.

Colwall

13^th/14^th March: the name plate was taken from a property in Old Church Road, and an attempt was made to break into commercial premises in Walwyn Road.

13^th/17^th March: A Landrover parked at Colwall train station was entered and damaged.

21^st/22^nd March: A plastic box containing around 40 out of date magazines was stolen from outside a shop in the village.

Cradley

2^nd/4^th March: An Atwood single axle trailer was stolen from a field in Cradley.

19^th/20^th March: Two step ladders were stolen from the garage of a property being built.

Little Marcle

20^th March: A black Suzuki Jeep was stolen from a property in the village.

22^nd March: The lock was broken on garage doors at a secluded property. Nothing was taken from the garage.

Lower Eggleton

12^th March: A Landrover Defender parked on the driveway of a village property was broken into. Damage was caused to the steering column, an attempt was made to remove the stereo and cash was stolen.

19^th March: A male in a red Mercedes panel van filled his vehicle with petrol at the local garage and also put some diesel in a can but left only paying for the petrol. On the 25^th March a Vauxhall Nova driver put £38.01 of petrol into his car and left without offering to pay.

Much Marcle

5^th March: A blue Vauxhall Vectra was stolen from a pub car park.

31^st March: An unknown white male used a crowbar to gain access to a garage by forcing wooden doors open. The offender was disturbed and left in a white van.

Munsley

18^th Feb/5^th March: A number of items including scrap metal, cast iron guttering and horse tack was taken from rural premises between these dates.

Pixley

17^th March: Assorted cutting discs were stolen from an outbuilding at farm premises.

Staplow

9^th/10^th March: A quantity of electric power line cable was stolen from the roadside. It was later recovered from a vehicle and arrests were made.

Woolhope

8^th/9^th March: Damage was caused to padlocks and gates, and heating oil stolen, from the Parish Hall.

Yarkhill

2^nd/3^rd March: A red flat bed trailer, loaded with scrap metal, was stolen from a field at a farm in Yarkhill.

ARRESTS

7^th March: A 22-year0old male was arrested and held in custody after failing to comply with bail conditions.

8^th March: A 25-year-old male from Gwent was arrested and detained in custody for driving whilst disqualified and with no insurance.

11^th March: A 22-year-old Ledbury male was arrested in Hereford and remanded in custody on suspicion of assault.

17^th March: A 35-year-old Ledbury female was arrested on suspicion of theft and released with a caution. A 62-year-old male from Ledbury was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving on the same day.

19^th March: A 30-year-old Ledbury male from Ledbury was arrested in Hereford on drink/drive charges, and a 19-year-old male was arrested in Ledbury following an incident at a local Public House.

22^nd March: A 38-year-old female was arrested following an incident in Bromyard Road.

23^rd March: A 21-year-old Ledbury male was arrested on suspicion of three thefts.

24^th March: A 45-year-old Ledbury male was arrested in Hereford for providing a positive roadside breath test.

25^th March: A 22-year-old male from Colwall was arrested in Hereford on suspicion of drinking and driving.

25^th March: A 22-year-old Ledbury male was arrested in Hereford for assault/resisting Police.

29^th March: An 18-year-old Colwall male was arrested during the early hours on suspicion of assault, he was remanded in custody.

31^st March: A 26-year-old male was arrested in Ledbury for producing a document with intent to deceive. On the same day a 22-year-old Ledbury male was arrested on suspicion of theft from a store.

RESULTS

A 36-year-old male has been remanded in custody following a number of offences across the division between 2004 and 2006.

Ledbury Police Station

Front Counter Opening Hours

The front counter at Ledbury Police Station operates surgery hours as follows :-

Monday to Sunday 9am to 1pm

Tuesday and Friday 4pm to 7pm

Monday, Wednesday &

Thursday 4pm to 8pm

BUT, the counter will remain open during the afternoons except during sickness or holiday periods.

The counter is closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. All other public Holidays the counter will open 9am to 1pm

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Emergency only 999

West Mercia Police 08457 444888

Crimestoppers 0800 555111

Hereford Division Media 01432 347340

Mobile 07967 743147

Website: www.westmercia.police.uk

Crime Prevention Manager - PC Charles Naylor

08457 444888 PC 2139 Judy CARTER, Ledbury RURAL Beat Manager can be contacted on Tel: 08457 444888 and on mobile 07855 785 080 or via email: judith.carter@ westmercia.pnn.police.uk

PC 3441 Deborah HUGGINS, Ledbury RURAL Beat Manager can be contacted on Tel: 08457 444888 and on mobile 07814 554 498 or via email: deborah.huggins@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Community Support Officer Alison DORE can be contacted on Tel: 08457 444888 and on mobile 07970 602 338 or via email: alison.dore@westmercia.pnn. police.uk

PC 3356 Shirley PETERS, Ledbury TOWN Beat Manager can be contacted on Tel: 08457 444888 and on mobile 07967 101 063 or via email: shirley.peters@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

PC 3554 Pete ASKWITH, Ledbury TOWN Beat Manager can be contacted on Tel: 08457 444888 and on mobile 07814 554 496 or via email: peter.askwith@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Ledbury Parish Officer, Leatte CLARKE can be contacted on 08457 444888 and on mobile 07939 055 293 or via email: @ leatte.clarke westmercia.pnn.police.uk