NEWSBEAT Update from Herefordshire Division

NEWSBEAT Update from Herefordshire Division – Ledbury area for May 2006

Received 7 June 2006

HOME BURGLARIES TOP OF THE AGENDA

In this month’s newsletter we look at the success of Herefordshire Division’s Burglary Investigation Unit in its first 12 months.
After its first 12 months of life, the Burglary Unit based at Hereford has proved to be a great success with a 100% increase in the number of house burglaries detected.

The unit, which consists of seven dedicated officers, has played a vital role in ensuring that domestic burglaries are now much less likely to occur.

PC Neil Finch explained, "Hereford is the best division at solving burglaries and reducing the number committed across the whole of the West Mercia force area and it’s due to the fact that we are able to concentrate primarily on this area of crime.

"By concentrating our efforts on burglary we can identify patterns of crime, be able to effectively offer crime prevention advice and with a dedicated unit victims know who to come to for information about their burglary.

"Not only have we have seen an increase in the amount of burglaries that have been detected there has also been a 50% reduction in the number of burglaries committed. This is mainly due to the ability of the unit to respond swiftly to burglary reports and where possible arrest and convict offenders which not only detects those offences but prevents further offences being committed.

"By working so closely on one area of crime we can fully understand the kind of impact that burglary can have on homeowners and their families. The intrusive nature of burglary can be very distressing and more traumatic than you may imagine. Having your home broken into is a violation and can be debilitating due to a lose of confidence after knowing that a stranger has been in your home."

"Our aim is to start to redress the balance when it comes to fear of burglary and transfer the fear of this type of crime from the victim to the offender."

The unit, which is based at Barton Road in Hereford, has two officers who meet with the victims, carry out the initial investigation and offer crime prevention advice, four detectives who investigate the offences and a sergeant who manages the unit.

PC Finch concluded: "By getting closer to the victims and their needs we are able to offer help from other agencies such as Age Concern or the local authority and we can also offer specific crime prevention advice relevant to their needs.

"We hope that the unit goes from strength to strength and that we continue to increase our detections and reduce the number of burglaries that are committed in the first place."

…But that’s no reason to neglect home security in the hot summer months!

HEREFORDSHIRE POLICE are reminding home owners that making sure their homes are properly secured is increasingly important in the summer months.

With windows and doors being left open to try and make the most of any cooling breezes, the summer can be prove too tempting for criminals to ignore. Unsecured windows – especially on the ground floor – can offer an instant route inside a property and then to the trauma of discovering you have been burgled.

And with a dose of seasonal weather tempting many of us into our gardens, there are also other potential opportunities for a quick-thinking criminal who may nip indoors when the rooms are left vacant.

"The simple message to householders is to make sure that homes are kept secure when they are left unattended," explained PC Charles Naylor, Herefordshire Division’s Crime Prevention Manager.

"If you are in the garden and can’t see through to the front door or windows at the front of the house, make sure they are locked shut. This will remove the temptation for a potential burglar and make it much less likely for you to become a target.

"If the weather is hot at night, try wherever possible to keep downstairs or easily-accessible windows securely shut so that again there is less opportunity to gain entry.

"By taking these simple steps you can make life much more difficult for criminals and reduce the likelihood of falling victim to a burglary," added PC Naylor, who can be contacted on 08457 444888 ext 68555 for further crime prevention advice.

LEDBURY TOWN

7^th May: A 59 year-old male needed medical attention after being attacked by a dog in Albert Road.

7^th/9^th May: Graffiti was sprayed onto the side of property in New Street, causing permanent damage. There was a similar incident at the same address on May 10^th.

9^th May: Several containers of milk were stolen from outside the Community Health Centre.

10^th May: Damage was caused to a pane of glass in the communal entrance of a block of flats in Lawnside Road. In a second incident, locks were tampered with on three containers and a portable office at the site being used by Welsh Water. No entry was gained.

Also on 10^th May a purse was taken from a zipped shopping bag in the High Street.

11^th/12^th May: A 3’x3’first floor office window was broken overnight in St Catherine’s House.

12^th/15^th May: A white swivel Bamford 610 dumper truck was stolen from road works at Bush Pitch. The logo ‘Select Plant’ is written on the side of the vehicle.

13^th May: A window was smashed at a Public House in New Street at around 8.30pm.

15^th May: Several bottles of perfume totalling £153.40 in value were stolen from chemists in the High Street. Also 15^th May, a suitcase accidentally left by a coach driver was taken from the drop off point in the High Street. The suitcase, minus contents, was later found in St Catherine’s car park.

In the period leading up to 15^th May, garages in Fox Lane have been defaced with paint and graffiti.

18^th May: A Sony Erikson mobile phone was stolen from a female shopping in Tesco’s.

19^th/20^th May: The boot and divers side of a vehicle parked in a private drive were badly scratched.

20^th/22^nd May: Computer equipment was stolen from a company trading from premises in the Homend.

22^nd May: A security light was broken at the entrance to the Chapel in the cemetery.

24^th/26^th May: A green Isuzu Trooper 4x4 was stolen from Ledbury Railway Station.

25^th May: Damage was caused to the glass in a greenhouse at a property in Margaret Road. Also on 25^th May, solar lights were stolen from Somerfield Stores in New Street. In a third incident, an attempt was made to break into a property in Biddulph Way. Damage was caused to a double glazed window, but no access was gained.

27^th May: Confectionery items were stolen from the garage at the Homend. There were also two instances of fuel to the value of £28 being stolen on the same day.

28^th/29^th May: A window was damaged at a dental surgery in the Southend.

30^th May: There were two shoplifting incidents, one involving a shop in the High Street and the other in the Homend, in which items of cosmetics and clothing were stolen. A blue Diamond Back BMX bike was stolen from Ledbury town Football Club.

31^st May: Toiletries to the value of £20 were stolen from chemists’ shop in the High Street.

31^st May/1^st June: Considerable damage was caused to the paintwork of a car parked in New Street, and about £2000 of damage was caused to property in the Lower Road Trading Estate.

VILLAGE NEWS

Bosbury

2^nd May: A dog needed treatment from a vet after another dog, which had escaped through an insecurely fenced garden in the village, attacked it.

Colwall

8^th/9^th May: 31 birds were stolen from an aviary at the rear of a home in Colwall.

18^th/19^th May: Wire securing a gate at premises in Walwyn Road has been cut, no entry gained.

22^ND May: 4 ducks were shot and damage caused to a litterbin and a ‘private property’ sign at a nature reserve in Walwyn Road. Evidence left behind indicates that a shotgun was used to cause the damage/deaths.

24^th May: A red Vauxhall Corsa parked in Jubilee Drive Conservators Car Park was broken into. A handbag and contents were stolen and windows broken on the vehicle.

26^th May: A Renault Espace parked at a local beauty spot was broken into. The offender/s damaged a front lock and smashed the rear passenger window. A handbag (hidden from view) was stolen.

28^th May: A 15-year-old male suffered scratches and bruising after being assaulted in Brookmill Close.

Cradley

3^rd/24^th May: An ornamental wheelbarrow and some garden tools were stolen from a property in The Leys.

Eastnor

12^th/15^th May: A yellow Bomag sit –on roller was stolen from the woodyard area of Eastnor Castle estate.

20^th/22^nd May: The SIM card to a mobile phone was taken from the bar area of the Cricket and Football pavilion.

Lower Eggleton

12^th May: The driver of a white transit van left the forecourt without paying for diesel valued at £10.12.

15^th May: A Honda Metro left the same premises without paying for petrol worth £20.00.

Much Marcle

31^st May: The rear passenger window of a Rover was broken and three coats stolen from inside whilst the vehicle was parked at Marcle Ridge.

Storridge

15^th/16^th May: A petrol mower and a hedge strimmer were stolen from a rural property after the garage door was forced.

ARRESTS

2^ND May: A 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of affray and released on bail.

10^th May: A 23-year-old Hereford male was arrested in Ledbury following an affray. He was released on bail until later this month.

20^th May: A 57-year-old Whitchurch female was arrested and bailed to Hereford Magistrates Court for an offence under the Police Reform Act.

21^st May: A 22-year-old male from Tarrington was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, charged and bailed until later this month.

25^th May: a 25-year-old male from Fromes Hill was arrested in Hereford on suspicion of supplying controlled substances. He was released on police bail pending further investigations.

26^th May: A 45-year-old Ledbury male was arrested and remanded in custody on suspicion of common assault.

28^th May: A 22-year-old male was arrested in Ledbury for breach of a Court Order and suspicion of theft. He was remanded in custody and later released on bail.

P.S.

Have you recently lost any property? Please check with the Property Officer – your item may have been handed in!

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 8p

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

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 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