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Aynho Neighbourhood Watch

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in the village is supported by a number of area co-ordinators - details of these co-ordinators are published periodically in the Church Newsletter.

Recent Neighbourhood Watch Alerts

Monday, October 13, 2008
This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police.

PARTNER agencies in Northamptonshire are taking to the streets for a week of action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Not In My Neighbourhood Week", which runs from 13-17 October aims to highlight what is being done locally, day in, day out, to tackle crime and >> anti-social behaviour.

Crime fighting agencies will meet with members of the public to discuss the crime issues that need to be tackled in their local area and to build confidence in the work that they do with the police to make communities safer.

Resident organisations, neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Neighbourhood Watch schemes from across Northamptonshire are leading the efforts to inform local people of what is being done in their area.

For more information, and to see when your local SCT is holding a surgery, visit http://www.northants.police.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=22397

Thank you

Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Police hope to catch a thief red handed following a robbery, Shires Retail Park, Warwick

Police are appealing to the public for help in tracing a man who stole a cash box during a robbery on the Sainsburys petrol station forecourt at Shires Retail Park, Tachbrook Park Road, Leamington Spa at around 3.15pm on Thursday 2 October.

Officers believe the man may have travelled to Warwickshire to commit the robbery and are widening their appeal to surrounding areas including Thames Valley where he may have links in the hope of tracing the offender.

Officers believe the man's clothing and skin may be stained with red dye emitted from the cash box after the thief attempted to steal it.

The car he was driving, a newish silver grey or very light green metallic saloon car may also be stained inside with red dye.

The robbery occurred when a black male approached a cash in transit van that was collecting money from the petrol station, and demanded the cash box. Following a brief struggle, he stole the cash box containing a large amount of cash. No weapons were used and no-one was injured during the incident.

The man then ran off to the back of the petrol station and towards the roundabout and Macdonalds. It is believed the man may have got into a newish silver grey or very light green metallic saloon car somewhere nearby which drove off towards the M40.

DC Mark Hewston said "A short while later on the southbound of the M40 at junction 15, a male was seen to discard the security box. This security box had a security device fitted and was emitting a large amount of red smoke and dye."

The dye mechanism destroyed the contents of the box within seconds of the attempt to open it, rendering the contents valueless to the thief.

The offender is described as a black man of average build and wearing a reddish orange jacket and grey clothing.

"We are seeking witnesses who may have seen a male, acting suspiciously in or around the petrol station at the time of the robbery.

"In addition witnesses on the motorway may have seen a vehicle, stopped on the on slip, M40 southbound at junction 15. The vehicle was distinctive as >> it may well have been belching red smoke from its windows or door" DC Hewston said.

"The offender and vehicle may well be heavily contaminated with red dye from the security device and members of the public are requested to contact us if they have any information as to the vehicle or if they know of anybody who has been contaminated with red dye or paint."

Any witnesses who can help police trace this offender are please asked to contact DC 638 Mark Hewston at Leamington CID on 01926 684168/684148 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Further to the message which was sent out earlier today to the areas affected by the water problem, I am sending a further message to all areas.

A phone call was made, supposedly from Anglian Water, to an elderly resident in Weedon this afternoon. The caller was offering to sell "a filter which can detect the virus and do away with the need to boil water".

The resident's son, on hearing about it, phoned Anglian Water who insisted that this was nothing to do with them and that they would never make calls of this kind.

Please be alert to any calls you may receive of this or a similar nature and simply put the phone down.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Police officers are warning motorists to be vigilant after a recent rise in vehicle crime throughout the county.

Northamptonshire Police is hoping that by raising awareness of this trend, people will be able to take more care and prevent themselves becoming victims of opportunist criminals, making sure that the rise in crime does not continue.

In the six-month period between December 3 2007 and May 26 2008 there were 4,305 incidents of vehicle crime throughout the county. In the previous six-month period there were 3,825 incidents including theft of and from motor vehicles.

Superintendent Ivan Balhatchet, operations manager in the Northamptonshire North area, said: "There has been a rise in vehicle crime but it is important to remember that vehicle crime is five per cent down on what it was in 2006-7.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Howard, of the Northamptonshire West Police Area, said: "Sadly, all too many of these crimes, thefts from cars particularly, are easy to prevent if drivers would simply leave nothing in their vehicle when they park.

"All our officers and staff will be concentrating on trying to detect crimes and arrest offenders but we need the help of the public in making sure they keep their property safe."

More satellite navigation systems were taken from vehicles across the county than any other item over the last financial year (2007-08).

There were 894 crimes that involved the theft of sat navs during the year compared with 523 incidents that involved stereo equipment being taken. A total of 446 incidents involved theft of cash while registration plates were stolen in 446 crimes.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard said that satellite navigation systems have been the particular target of thieves and he urged anyone who has a sat nav to remove all traces of it, including the cradle, and the tell-tale sucker marks on the windscreen, when they park.

He said: "Having your car broken into or stolen is annoying and distressing as well as inconvenient. We will be doing everything we can do deal with the people responsible for those crimes but we also need people to focus on their security and look after their car.

"Satellite navigation devices are becoming increasingly popular items to steal. If a criminal can remove them, so can the owner, and the secret to preventing this crime is to remove the item before the thief gets the chance."

He gave the following advice to help beat car crime:
· Never leave anything in your vehicle when you park, not even in the boot
· Always lock your vehicle, even if it will only be unattended for a few minutes. Never leave the keys inside
· Park in a secure, alarmed garage or on a driveway if you have one, otherwise park in a well-lit area
· Keep your car keys safe, secure and out of sight when you are at home
· Fit extra security devices to your car if they do not come as standard. If they are already supplied, make sure you use them.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Please be aware that a marked Anglian Water van was stolen in the north of the county yesterday.

The van contained a uniform and ID card.

Please advise friends, neighbours and particularly the elderly and vulnerable not to open the door or let anyone into their home if they are not expected.

Check whether unexpected callers are genuine by phoning the company, using the number given in the phone book, not the number on any card that you are shown by the caller.

If you have any cause to suspect the caller is not genuine please phone the police immediately. Give as much information as possible about the caller and any transport they may have been using, including the registration number and direction of travel.

Monday, June 02, 2008
Please be aware, there have been a number of suspicious sightings of Eastern European Males taking photographs of horses and it is possible they may be involved in stealing horses to order.

Two vehicles have been observed in connection with this.... a white van N253 XAJ and a red Landcruiser with blacked-out windows. These vehicles have been seen in our area as well as in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

There is no evidence to suggest that these males have committed a crime, however the reports we've received suggest that they have been acting in a manner which arouses suspicion. There have been at least two reports of this so far occurring in Holcot and in the Kettering area.

If you see anyone acting suspiciously or you see the vehicles mentioned above please call Northamptonshire Police immediately on 08453 700700 or 999 if you see a crime in progress.

Remember to keep your property and perimeter as secure as possible. Please read our crime prevention advice below and please pass on this message to anyone you know who owns or works with horses.

Thank you.

Horses can be an expensive investment, not to mention the sentimental value of a horse to its owner. Their security is therefore very important. A number of basic security measures can be taken to protect your horses, some of which are detailed below.

A microchip can be implanted under the horse's skin. This gives it an individual identity number which can be read by a simple scanning device.

It is possible to have your postcode branded into the horse's hooves. The disadvantage with this is that this must be repeated quite regularly as the horse's feet grow.

Field fencing/hedges should be secure and a closed shackle padlock and chain should be fitted to all field gates.

In the field, consider leaving your horse without a headcollar, unless it is particularly difficult for you to catch. This should delay or deter potential thieves and/or malicious persons.

Put up visible notices on yard entry points and field gates which state that the horses and tack are marked and can be identified - these can serve as a visible deterrent.

Keep a detailed description of the horse - the chart on a vaccination certificate or passport should provide this. Photographs of both sides of the horse and one of its head, taken from the front, will also help.

Whilst horses should not be locked into their stables because of the risk of fire, the yard itself can be made secure, with provision for suitable exit points in case of emergency, into fields adjoining the yard which should have secure fencing/hedging with padlocks on any exit points in the boundary.

Ensure that gates cannot be lifted off their hinges - either reverse the top hinge or weld metal plates over the hinges.

Access should be restricted - on a commercial yard make sure that visitors report to reception on arrival and consider provision of visitors badges so that legitimate visitors can be easily identified.

Adequate lighting on the yard is essential for both security and safety. Consider security lights which come on automatically when they detect movement. However if the property is free standing with no other lighting around it, your best leaving the property dark as your simply lighting the property up for thief to see what their doing.

Closed circuit television, although quite expensive to install, is an option as it could help to identify intruders. Similarly it may be possible to have an alarm fitted to the yard, which could be audible in the house as well as on the yard.

If there is not always someone present at the yard, do not always arrive and leave at the same time. Try to vary your routine in order that your movements are not predictable for a thief.

Note: Although you may not be able to implement all the ideas above, if you follow the suggestions as best you can, this will help to keep your horse secure.

Call the Northamptonshire Police switchboard on 08453 700700 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Friday, May 16, 2008
You are invited to come along to the surgeries and community meetings shown below to meet your local SCT officers and discuss any concerns or issues you may have about your local area.

Brackley Library, Manor Road, between 10am and 11am Saturday 21 June 2008 and Saturday 13 September 2008

For further information, ring 08453 700700 and ask to be put through to your local SCT.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
There has recently been a number of burglaries in the county where entry was gained via insecure doors or windows.

With the onset of warm weather, please remember not to leave any ground floor doors or windows open especially if you are not within sight of them.

Always keep entry doors locked and never leave keys in door locks. It enables burglars to break surrounding glass and let themselves in or to use the door for a quick exit. Being able to exit via a door also allows burglars to steal larger items of your property which would be difficult to take through a window.

If you go into the garden, even if only briefly, make sure all doors and windows are locked. You might easily stay out longer than you thought you would, during which time an opportunist burglar can quickly be in and out of your house.

If you have a flat roof over part of your property, remember not to leave any adjacent windows open, giving burglars easy access.

For your practical guide to Crime Prevention please click this link- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/besafebesecure.pdf?view=Binary

Wednesday, May 07, 2008
On Sunday May 4th a blue rectangular plastic storage box containing a quantity of gunpowder and other material of a hazardous nature was stolen during the night from a shed in the Braunston area.

If anyone finds this box, they are advised not to touch the contents and to call the police immediately on 999 quoting the crime reference no. WB3577/08.

Friday, May 02, 2008
Please be aware of a company, claiming to be Group 4, who are cold calling by phone to sell "free" burglar and smoke alarms.

The particular caller reported to the police was female and had a strong Birmingham accent, although this will not necessarily always be the case.

Anyone agreeing to have a "free" alarm will ultimately have to pay a high installation fee !!!

The Group 4 Security Company assure the police that they never cold call.

The police advice is to NEVER EVER buy anything from anyone who knocks on your door or phones you without invitation.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police to all Neighbourhood Watch members as a reminder to pay particular attention to the security of your vehicle.

It is relevant to all but particularly to those in the Thorplands, Lumbertubs, Weedon and St James beats where "theft from vehicle" crime has slightly increased over the last few days.

VEHICLE SECURITY

Please remember to take everything out of your vehicle overnight and to lock your vehicle! Please use any security devices you have on your car including your alarm, steering lock etc.

REMOVE THE TEMPTATION

1. Never leave anything on display in your car; even a scruffy old coat on the back seat is an invitation to a potential thief.
2. Take all your belongings with you when you leave your car.
3. The following items are of particular interest to the thief so should never be left in your car....
Satellite Navigation (see the link below)
Mobile Phones
Laptops
Credit and debit cards
Receipts with card numbers on
Cheque books
Cash
Vehicle Registration Documents
Private mail showing your address.

Please remember that leaving anything, even a plastic bag containing rubbish, may be enough to entice a thief to smash your windows. You may know there's nothing of value in the bag but a thief doesn't and won't think twice about breaking into your vehicle to find out.

SECURITY DEVICES

Locks or other security devices will deter potential thieves; they will go for an easy target.
1. Electronic immobilisers are a way to put off thieves. These prevent the car from being started.
2. Mechanical immobilisers such as steering wheel locks are a good alternative to electronic immobilisers. They are not expensive and are easy to fit.
3. Fit locking wheel nuts. Wheels can be a target for thieves. Wheel nuts are not expensive and are easy to fit.
4. An alarm can help to keep your car secure but it must be installed properly.

KEEP YOUR CAR KEYS SAFE
1. When you leave the car, always remove the ignition key and lock all doors - it only takes a few seconds for a thief to jump into your car and drive away.
2. On icy mornings, never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running to warm it up or defrost the windows.
3. At home, always keep your car keys in a safe place, which is out of sight and away from windows and doors. Thieves have been known to put their hand through letter boxes and to even use a fishing rod or something similar to unhook your keys or lift them from a work surface.

ETCHING

Consider having your car registration number etched onto all glass surfaces, including your headlamps and also the last seven digits of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

SECURITY MARKING
Consider marking all your valuables, especially those that you take in the car frequently. Mark items with your postcode or some other unique identification number. If any of your valuables have serial numbers, make a note of them. This will help police return your possessions to you if they are stolen and recovered. It may also help to convict the offender. SmartWater is a unique and easy way of permanently marking your property. Members of a police-registered NHW scheme can purchase SmartWater at a significantly reduced price.
To find out about SmartWater click here- http://hqinet001:8002/media/article/00/01/43/89/smartwater.mht

DOORS AND WINDOWS

Lock doors and close your windows and sunroof whenever you leave the car, however briefly. Many cars get broken into in the few seconds they are out of the owner's sight.

CAR RADIOS

Always remove your stereo if you can. It is one of the most sought-after items in your car. Please do not put your car stereo fascia in the glove box or under the seat. This will be one of the first places a thief will look. Remember to take it out of your vehicle.

PARKING

1. If you have a garage, use it. Always lock your car and your garage. If you don't have a garage, park on your drive or on a well-lit street.
2. Thieves always prefer to steal from cars parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen. When you park your car away from home, always try to avoid places that are unattended, have easy access, are concealed from public view and have many escape routes. 3. Try to look for a public car park, which is part of the police approved 'Secured Car Parks' scheme. This scheme aims to make car parks safer and more attractive places by setting high standards for design and management in order to prevent crime. Such car parks will display a sign that says 'Secured Car Parks'.
To find Secure Car Parks for any area, click here- http://www.saferparking.com/

MORE LINKS:

For a guide on keeping your Satellite Navigation System safe please click this link- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/sat-nav-protect-advice06?view=Binary

"Steer Clear of Car Crime" click here- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/SteerClearCar06?view=Binary

Contact Details

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator: Linda Hoddinott 1 School End, Aynho

Community Beat Officer: Sergeant Michaela Kennett SCTBrackleyRural@northants.police.uk

Brackley Police Station: 08453 700 700
http://www.northants.police.uk
Emergency Number: 999

Any incidental information from villagers should be passed to Linda or direct to the main switchboard number.


	Recent Neighbourhood Watch Alerts
	Monday, October 13, 2008 This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police. PARTNER agencies in Northamptonshire are taking to the streets for a week of action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. "Not In My Neighbourhood Week", which runs from 13-17 October aims to highlight what is being done locally, day in, day out, to tackle crime and >> anti-social behaviour. Crime fighting agencies will meet with members of the public to discuss the crime issues that need to be tackled in their local area and to build confidence in the work that they do with the police to make communities safer. Resident organisations, neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Neighbourhood Watch schemes from across Northamptonshire are leading the efforts to inform local people of what is being done in their area. For more information, and to see when your local SCT is holding a surgery, visit http://www.northants.police.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=22397 Thank you
	Wednesday, October 08, 2008 Police hope to catch a thief red handed following a robbery, Shires Retail Park, Warwick Police are appealing to the public for help in tracing a man who stole a cash box during a robbery on the Sainsburys petrol station forecourt at Shires Retail Park, Tachbrook Park Road, Leamington Spa at around 3.15pm on Thursday 2 October. Officers believe the man may have travelled to Warwickshire to commit the robbery and are widening their appeal to surrounding areas including Thames Valley where he may have links in the hope of tracing the offender. Officers believe the man's clothing and skin may be stained with red dye emitted from the cash box after the thief attempted to steal it. The car he was driving, a newish silver grey or very light green metallic saloon car may also be stained inside with red dye. The robbery occurred when a black male approached a cash in transit van that was collecting money from the petrol station, and demanded the cash box. Following a brief struggle, he stole the cash box containing a large amount of cash. No weapons were used and no-one was injured during the incident. The man then ran off to the back of the petrol station and towards the roundabout and Macdonalds. It is believed the man may have got into a newish silver grey or very light green metallic saloon car somewhere nearby which drove off towards the M40. DC Mark Hewston said "A short while later on the southbound of the M40 at junction 15, a male was seen to discard the security box. This security box had a security device fitted and was emitting a large amount of red smoke and dye." The dye mechanism destroyed the contents of the box within seconds of the attempt to open it, rendering the contents valueless to the thief. The offender is described as a black man of average build and wearing a reddish orange jacket and grey clothing. "We are seeking witnesses who may have seen a male, acting suspiciously in or around the petrol station at the time of the robbery. "In addition witnesses on the motorway may have seen a vehicle, stopped on the on slip, M40 southbound at junction 15. The vehicle was distinctive as >> it may well have been belching red smoke from its windows or door" DC Hewston said. "The offender and vehicle may well be heavily contaminated with red dye from the security device and members of the public are requested to contact us if they have any information as to the vehicle or if they know of anybody who has been contaminated with red dye or paint." Any witnesses who can help police trace this offender are please asked to contact DC 638 Mark Hewston at Leamington CID on 01926 684168/684148 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
	Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Further to the message which was sent out earlier today to the areas affected by the water problem, I am sending a further message to all areas. A phone call was made, supposedly from Anglian Water, to an elderly resident in Weedon this afternoon. The caller was offering to sell "a filter which can detect the virus and do away with the need to boil water". The resident's son, on hearing about it, phoned Anglian Water who insisted that this was nothing to do with them and that they would never make calls of this kind. Please be alert to any calls you may receive of this or a similar nature and simply put the phone down.
	Thursday, June 19, 2008 Police officers are warning motorists to be vigilant after a recent rise in vehicle crime throughout the county. Northamptonshire Police is hoping that by raising awareness of this trend, people will be able to take more care and prevent themselves becoming victims of opportunist criminals, making sure that the rise in crime does not continue. In the six-month period between December 3 2007 and May 26 2008 there were 4,305 incidents of vehicle crime throughout the county. In the previous six-month period there were 3,825 incidents including theft of and from motor vehicles. Superintendent Ivan Balhatchet, operations manager in the Northamptonshire North area, said: "There has been a rise in vehicle crime but it is important to remember that vehicle crime is five per cent down on what it was in 2006-7. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Howard, of the Northamptonshire West Police Area, said: "Sadly, all too many of these crimes, thefts from cars particularly, are easy to prevent if drivers would simply leave nothing in their vehicle when they park. "All our officers and staff will be concentrating on trying to detect crimes and arrest offenders but we need the help of the public in making sure they keep their property safe." More satellite navigation systems were taken from vehicles across the county than any other item over the last financial year (2007-08). There were 894 crimes that involved the theft of sat navs during the year compared with 523 incidents that involved stereo equipment being taken. A total of 446 incidents involved theft of cash while registration plates were stolen in 446 crimes. Detective Chief Inspector Howard said that satellite navigation systems have been the particular target of thieves and he urged anyone who has a sat nav to remove all traces of it, including the cradle, and the tell-tale sucker marks on the windscreen, when they park. He said: "Having your car broken into or stolen is annoying and distressing as well as inconvenient. We will be doing everything we can do deal with the people responsible for those crimes but we also need people to focus on their security and look after their car. "Satellite navigation devices are becoming increasingly popular items to steal. If a criminal can remove them, so can the owner, and the secret to preventing this crime is to remove the item before the thief gets the chance." He gave the following advice to help beat car crime: · Never leave anything in your vehicle when you park, not even in the boot · Always lock your vehicle, even if it will only be unattended for a few minutes. Never leave the keys inside · Park in a secure, alarmed garage or on a driveway if you have one, otherwise park in a well-lit area · Keep your car keys safe, secure and out of sight when you are at home · Fit extra security devices to your car if they do not come as standard. If they are already supplied, make sure you use them.
	Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Please be aware that a marked Anglian Water van was stolen in the north of the county yesterday. The van contained a uniform and ID card. Please advise friends, neighbours and particularly the elderly and vulnerable not to open the door or let anyone into their home if they are not expected. Check whether unexpected callers are genuine by phoning the company, using the number given in the phone book, not the number on any card that you are shown by the caller. If you have any cause to suspect the caller is not genuine please phone the police immediately. Give as much information as possible about the caller and any transport they may have been using, including the registration number and direction of travel.
	Monday, June 02, 2008 Please be aware, there have been a number of suspicious sightings of Eastern European Males taking photographs of horses and it is possible they may be involved in stealing horses to order. Two vehicles have been observed in connection with this.... a white van N253 XAJ and a red Landcruiser with blacked-out windows. These vehicles have been seen in our area as well as in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. There is no evidence to suggest that these males have committed a crime, however the reports we've received suggest that they have been acting in a manner which arouses suspicion. There have been at least two reports of this so far occurring in Holcot and in the Kettering area. If you see anyone acting suspiciously or you see the vehicles mentioned above please call Northamptonshire Police immediately on 08453 700700 or 999 if you see a crime in progress. Remember to keep your property and perimeter as secure as possible. Please read our crime prevention advice below and please pass on this message to anyone you know who owns or works with horses. Thank you. Horses can be an expensive investment, not to mention the sentimental value of a horse to its owner. Their security is therefore very important. A number of basic security measures can be taken to protect your horses, some of which are detailed below. A microchip can be implanted under the horse's skin. This gives it an individual identity number which can be read by a simple scanning device. It is possible to have your postcode branded into the horse's hooves. The disadvantage with this is that this must be repeated quite regularly as the horse's feet grow. Field fencing/hedges should be secure and a closed shackle padlock and chain should be fitted to all field gates. In the field, consider leaving your horse without a headcollar, unless it is particularly difficult for you to catch. This should delay or deter potential thieves and/or malicious persons. Put up visible notices on yard entry points and field gates which state that the horses and tack are marked and can be identified - these can serve as a visible deterrent. Keep a detailed description of the horse - the chart on a vaccination certificate or passport should provide this. Photographs of both sides of the horse and one of its head, taken from the front, will also help. Whilst horses should not be locked into their stables because of the risk of fire, the yard itself can be made secure, with provision for suitable exit points in case of emergency, into fields adjoining the yard which should have secure fencing/hedging with padlocks on any exit points in the boundary. Ensure that gates cannot be lifted off their hinges - either reverse the top hinge or weld metal plates over the hinges. Access should be restricted - on a commercial yard make sure that visitors report to reception on arrival and consider provision of visitors badges so that legitimate visitors can be easily identified. Adequate lighting on the yard is essential for both security and safety. Consider security lights which come on automatically when they detect movement. However if the property is free standing with no other lighting around it, your best leaving the property dark as your simply lighting the property up for thief to see what their doing. Closed circuit television, although quite expensive to install, is an option as it could help to identify intruders. Similarly it may be possible to have an alarm fitted to the yard, which could be audible in the house as well as on the yard. If there is not always someone present at the yard, do not always arrive and leave at the same time. Try to vary your routine in order that your movements are not predictable for a thief. Note: Although you may not be able to implement all the ideas above, if you follow the suggestions as best you can, this will help to keep your horse secure. Call the Northamptonshire Police switchboard on 08453 700700 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
	Friday, May 16, 2008 You are invited to come along to the surgeries and community meetings shown below to meet your local SCT officers and discuss any concerns or issues you may have about your local area. Brackley Library, Manor Road, between 10am and 11am Saturday 21 June 2008 and Saturday 13 September 2008 For further information, ring 08453 700700 and ask to be put through to your local SCT.
	Wednesday, May 14, 2008 There has recently been a number of burglaries in the county where entry was gained via insecure doors or windows. With the onset of warm weather, please remember not to leave any ground floor doors or windows open especially if you are not within sight of them. Always keep entry doors locked and never leave keys in door locks. It enables burglars to break surrounding glass and let themselves in or to use the door for a quick exit. Being able to exit via a door also allows burglars to steal larger items of your property which would be difficult to take through a window. If you go into the garden, even if only briefly, make sure all doors and windows are locked. You might easily stay out longer than you thought you would, during which time an opportunist burglar can quickly be in and out of your house. If you have a flat roof over part of your property, remember not to leave any adjacent windows open, giving burglars easy access. For your practical guide to Crime Prevention please click this link- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/besafebesecure.pdf?view=Binary
	Wednesday, May 07, 2008 On Sunday May 4th a blue rectangular plastic storage box containing a quantity of gunpowder and other material of a hazardous nature was stolen during the night from a shed in the Braunston area. If anyone finds this box, they are advised not to touch the contents and to call the police immediately on 999 quoting the crime reference no. WB3577/08.
	Friday, May 02, 2008 Please be aware of a company, claiming to be Group 4, who are cold calling by phone to sell "free" burglar and smoke alarms. The particular caller reported to the police was female and had a strong Birmingham accent, although this will not necessarily always be the case. Anyone agreeing to have a "free" alarm will ultimately have to pay a high installation fee !!! The Group 4 Security Company assure the police that they never cold call. The police advice is to NEVER EVER buy anything from anyone who knocks on your door or phones you without invitation.
	Wednesday, April 16, 2008 This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police to all Neighbourhood Watch members as a reminder to pay particular attention to the security of your vehicle. It is relevant to all but particularly to those in the Thorplands, Lumbertubs, Weedon and St James beats where "theft from vehicle" crime has slightly increased over the last few days. VEHICLE SECURITY Please remember to take everything out of your vehicle overnight and to lock your vehicle! Please use any security devices you have on your car including your alarm, steering lock etc. REMOVE THE TEMPTATION 1. Never leave anything on display in your car; even a scruffy old coat on the back seat is an invitation to a potential thief. 2. Take all your belongings with you when you leave your car. 3. The following items are of particular interest to the thief so should never be left in your car.... Satellite Navigation (see the link below) Mobile Phones Laptops Credit and debit cards Receipts with card numbers on Cheque books Cash Vehicle Registration Documents Private mail showing your address. Please remember that leaving anything, even a plastic bag containing rubbish, may be enough to entice a thief to smash your windows. You may know there's nothing of value in the bag but a thief doesn't and won't think twice about breaking into your vehicle to find out. SECURITY DEVICES Locks or other security devices will deter potential thieves; they will go for an easy target. 1. Electronic immobilisers are a way to put off thieves. These prevent the car from being started. 2. Mechanical immobilisers such as steering wheel locks are a good alternative to electronic immobilisers. They are not expensive and are easy to fit. 3. Fit locking wheel nuts. Wheels can be a target for thieves. Wheel nuts are not expensive and are easy to fit. 4. An alarm can help to keep your car secure but it must be installed properly. KEEP YOUR CAR KEYS SAFE 1. When you leave the car, always remove the ignition key and lock all doors - it only takes a few seconds for a thief to jump into your car and drive away. 2. On icy mornings, never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running to warm it up or defrost the windows. 3. At home, always keep your car keys in a safe place, which is out of sight and away from windows and doors. Thieves have been known to put their hand through letter boxes and to even use a fishing rod or something similar to unhook your keys or lift them from a work surface. ETCHING Consider having your car registration number etched onto all glass surfaces, including your headlamps and also the last seven digits of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). SECURITY MARKING Consider marking all your valuables, especially those that you take in the car frequently. Mark items with your postcode or some other unique identification number. If any of your valuables have serial numbers, make a note of them. This will help police return your possessions to you if they are stolen and recovered. It may also help to convict the offender. SmartWater is a unique and easy way of permanently marking your property. Members of a police-registered NHW scheme can purchase SmartWater at a significantly reduced price. To find out about SmartWater click here- http://hqinet001:8002/media/article/00/01/43/89/smartwater.mht DOORS AND WINDOWS Lock doors and close your windows and sunroof whenever you leave the car, however briefly. Many cars get broken into in the few seconds they are out of the owner's sight. CAR RADIOS Always remove your stereo if you can. It is one of the most sought-after items in your car. Please do not put your car stereo fascia in the glove box or under the seat. This will be one of the first places a thief will look. Remember to take it out of your vehicle. PARKING 1. If you have a garage, use it. Always lock your car and your garage. If you don't have a garage, park on your drive or on a well-lit street. 2. Thieves always prefer to steal from cars parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen. When you park your car away from home, always try to avoid places that are unattended, have easy access, are concealed from public view and have many escape routes. 3. Try to look for a public car park, which is part of the police approved 'Secured Car Parks' scheme. This scheme aims to make car parks safer and more attractive places by setting high standards for design and management in order to prevent crime. Such car parks will display a sign that says 'Secured Car Parks'. To find Secure Car Parks for any area, click here- http://www.saferparking.com/ MORE LINKS: For a guide on keeping your Satellite Navigation System safe please click this link- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/sat-nav-protect-advice06?view=Binary "Steer Clear of Car Crime" click here- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/SteerClearCar06?view=Binary