Farnborough Police Neighbourhood Watch Monthly Newsletter - January 2014

How to contact us...

999 - for emergencies or 101 for non emergencies E-mail Farnborough SNT at farnborough.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Welcome to the January issue of the Farnborough Police Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter! All local Police Forces have recently reported an upsurge in various scams from fraudsters, with many newspapers, radio stations and the TV running warnings and advice. Scam letters and phishing emails are now all too common, and with an ever increasing number of residents gaining access to the internet, it is more important than ever to be on guard against scamsters! Emails may purport to come from your bank or email account provider and seek personal details. Letters commonly make false claims relating to lotteries, prize draws or other big wins and may also seek personal details or an advance fee before a prize can be paid out. The Star Courier newspaper dated 23 Jan reported a current scam where a person is pretending to be from BT and demanding some form of payment to prevent being disconnected. This scam is currently being tried throughout the southern counties. Some of the other recent scams reported to Farnborough Police have been: Online auction site targeted by overseas fraudsters who bid and won an expensive item then sent a false invoice which initially appeared to be from PayPal. On checking the actual PayPal site no money had been received. One victim had received an email stating that a distant relative and their whole family had died in a freak accident. They were now the benefactor of millions of pounds following the payment of an admin fee. The fee sent but strangely the millions were never received! A fraudster phoned the victim pretending to be a Police

Officer or from a bank stating that they are investigating various anomalies with the card /account and get the victim to divulge their PIN number for their credit card/debit card. The fraudster sends a taxi/person to the address to collect the card. Once the card is handed over the account is emptied. REMEMBER Genuine Police Officers or bank employees will NEVER, EVER ask for your PIN number. NEVER click onto a hyperlink or open any zip file on any email sent to you asking you to update an account or give your personal details. If you genuinely win something you would NEVER need to pay any money or give your account details towards receiving it. If any company/bank etc phones you and asks for ANY of your personal details or bank details REFUSE and ask the person for their name and details, then check the genuine website for a telephone number and phone them back. Please visit Action Fraud here to report any fraudulent activity and advice on the latest scams. Please visit Cyber Street News here for advice to protect your computer and to remain safe on the internet. The Hampshire Constabulary website also contains further advice and links.

PS Kevin Futers

If it appears too good to be true it invariably is!

Immobilise is a free online property register enabling users to create a secure record of personal possessions such as laptops, mobile phones, cameras and various other items. Protecting personal property is extremely important and registering it on Immobilise can assist in reuniting you with your possessions if stolen or in deterring an offender from stealing them in the first place. Click here to visit the Immobilise website or go to www.immobilise.com

Advice for all Wards: Police are appealing for information about the identity of this woman in connection with the theft of purses in Aldershot town centre over the Christmas period. A number of elderly women had their purses stolen while they were shopping on December 19. The thefts are thought to have taken place between noon and 2pm when the town was busy with shoppers. Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Wentworth at Aldershot police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

EMPRESS & TOWN CENTRE WARD Your SNT team is PC Rob Dunster, PC David Carpenter and PCSO James Charlton. Summary: Cycle thefts are becoming an issue in the Farnborough Central area this month. Police are acting with the management company in order to make the cycle storage under Lynx Court more secure. Police are also in the process of setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme in Farnborough Central. If you know anyone that lives in Farnborough Central development and would like to join the scheme, get them to email david.s.carpenter@hampshire.pnn.police.uk Police are also organising operations to reduce vehicle related Anti-social behaviour in Princesmead Car park and Pinehurst Car park. Police are investigating criminal damage to a vehicle in Empress Avenue. The victim has had his car damaged on several occasions. If you have seen or heard anything that may be linked to this then please call 101 quoting reference 44140024256. Beat Priorities: Burglary. Two Burglary workshops have been held during December to give local residents information on how to better

secure their homes. Crime prevention items were given out at each event. See below for the next event in Princesmead. Cycling on Pavements and in the town centre. The Cycle operation, targeting cyclists in the town centre is currently underway. At this stage Police are enforcing offences with fixed penalty notices. To date the following have been issued: Warnings 40 Fines 4 Drug offences in residential premises. Issues have been reported in Calloway House and Ashton House. We have letter dropped both blocks of flats and are actively seeking new information. Upcoming Events: The team will be visiting the Princesmead on 1st March, to give local residents crime prevention advice and offer the property marking service using www.immobilise.com. We will be there between 11am and 1pm. Monthly Statistics: The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 7

Assault 7

Burglary 2

Damage 5

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 3

CHERRYWOOD WARD Your SNT team is PC Mark Ranola, PCSOs Lynn Anderson, Gordon Pengilley and Nilam Rai. Summary: We have had 7 dwelling burglaries this month in the ward. A common entry to the properties has been to use a tool to lift rear windows and panels have been removed from patio doors. Most of the victims have had jewellery taken with an untidy search of bedrooms. Please lock all doors and windows and consider fitting alarms to your doors and windows. A timer switch to turn your lights on when you are out would also be a good idea. If you see anyone acting suspiciously in your area please call 101. Around 10 persons have been stopped and searched and found to have drugs on them and all are being dealt with accordingly. We are pleased to advise that reports of anti social behaviour is well down since this time last year. Beat Priorities: NHW. We are continuing to canvass for new Neighbourhood watches and are in the process of setting up new watches in Bracklesham Close and Caswell Close. Vehicle Crime. We are continuing to focus on areas where we have had reports of thefts from vehicles, please ensure no valuables are left in your vehicle when it is unattended. We have

had two number plate thefts; please consider fitting your plates with tamper proof screws. Littering, parking issues and ASB in Fairfax Park. We have had no complaints regarding Fairfax play park this month. We have had a meeting with partner agencies who will be assisting with the littering and parking issues. Upcoming Events: Property coding at 6th Form College 3rd, 4th and 5th February during lunch hours. We will be holding a crime prevention surgery focusing on the recent burglaries which will be outside the Hawley Shops on either Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th February (exact details to be advised in due course) Monthly Statistics: The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 7

Assault 6

Burglary 7
P a g e

Damage 3
2

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 3

COVE & SOUTHWOOD WARD Your SNT team is PC Lee Jeffers and PCSO Michelle Curtis.
Summary: Burglary in Hazel Avenue in January where entry was gained via a rear patio door. This continues to be a problem across Farnborough and we are therefore asking people to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to us on 101. Vehicle nuisance continues to be a problem in the Southwood area and we are encouraging more residents to get in touch via 101 to report these nuisance vehicles as and when they are in the area. There are several operations in place to try and catch these offenders and so far, a few have been dealt with. Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are being set up for Southwood Road and Marrowbrook Lane and canvassing has started. It is our aim to work our way across the beat to get maximum coverage of the area and this will be an ongoing priority for the beat team. Beat Priorities: Speeding, Southwood Road. On Monday 6th Jan 2014 between 0915am and 1027am, 231 vehicles were analysed and 14 were over the 30 mile speed limit.

Upcoming Events: Morrisons Beat Surgeries from Sunday 2nd February, 10am12am, we will be holding monthly beat surgeries inside the cafe area at Morrisons Southwood. If you have any issues or concerns that you would like to discuss with your local officers, please come along for an informal chat. Forum date to be announced very soon. Police and councillors are trying to find mutually convenient dates and will get the date out to coordinators as soon as we can. Monthly Statistics: The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 8

Assault 5

Burglary 1

Damage 4

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 2

FERNHILL WARD Your SNT team is PC Martin Cole and PCSO Mitch While.
Summary: During January there has been two reported burglaries in the Fernhill Ward. The first occurred on 14 Jan, in Orchard Close, Blackwater (Ref: 44140016056). Offenders are believed to have used an implement to hook the keys through the letterbox and stolen a high value motor vehicle from the driveway. The second incident occurred on 24 Jan in Ashbury Drive, Blackwater (Ref:44140028663) whereby offenders gained entry via the rear of the property by forcing the rear door. District CID are still investigating both cases and we urge anyone with any information to contact Police via 101, quoting the relevant reference numbers. PC Martin Cole & PCSO Mitch While are happy to discuss crime prevention measures to improve home security, so please feel free to contact us. Beat Priorities: Parking Issues Guillemont School. A local resident from the Potteries contacted Police this week about a parent parking across our Informant's driveway while collecting her children

from school. PC Martin Cole and I will continue to monitor the parking situation by doing regular patrols. Neighbourhood Watch. We would like to welcome Fernhill Lane, Fernhill Walk and Orchard Close, as the latest neighbourhood watch schemes to be established. Upcoming Events: The Fernhill Ward Community Forum will be on Friday 31st Jan, at 7pm at Fernhill Primary School. Local Councillors, County Councillors, Police, Businesses, Schools, NHW Coordinators are all invited to get together to discuss ways in which to improve the area and will decide upon three priorities for the Fernhill Ward. Beat Surgery - The next Surgery will take place at The Fox Pub, on Saturday 1st Jan, between 10am - 12am. If you have any issues that you wish to discuss with either the Local Councillors, County Councillors, or your Local Safer Neighbourhoods Team then please feel free to come down and have an informal chat. Monthly Statistics: The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 2

Assault 8

Burglary 2
P a g e 3

Damage 4

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 2

KNELLWOOD & ST MARKS WARD Your SNT team is PC David McDonald, PCSOs Jenni Lawrence and Matthew Tulett. Summary: We are pleased to welcome PC Dave McDonald (see photo) back to the team full time, following a stint on the district proactive team. Dave is resuming his normal duties in Knellwood & St. Marks on 3rd February. We have had a few vans broken into this month, with offenders mostly targeting tools. Please remember not to leave any valuables in your vehicle when it is unattended. We are pleased to report that following several burglaries towards the end of last year, an offender was caught at the beginning of this month and is now in custody awaiting trial. Two vehicles which were stolen in December from Knellwood and St. Marks have also been recovered and returned to their rightful owners. A house has been broken in to on Alexandra Road between 1340hrs -1450hrs on 29 Jan. If you saw or heard anything, please contact us on 101 and quote 44140034597.

Beat Priorities: We have three new beat priorities for the next 6 months. These are to reduce Burglaries, address parking Issues near to South Farnborough Junior School and address speeding on Reading Road, Salisbury Road & Sycamore Road. We are also pleased to report that burglaries this month have been reduced by 75% on last month and 50% on the same month last year. Remember, if you see anything suspicious you can call Police on 101. If you can, please call at the time and together we can make Knellwood & St. Marks as safe as possible. Upcoming Events: We have several Mobile Crime Prevention Beat Surgeries planned for the upcoming weeks. The local beat team will be on hand to speak to residents about any issues that they might have and to provide crime prevention advice to homeowners. Please come and see us on: Sun 9 Feb Woburn Avenue 2pm-3pm Sun 16 Feb Church Circle 2pm-3pm Sun 16 Feb Park Road 3pm-4pm Sun 9 Mar Avenue Road 2pm-3pm Sun 16 Mar Osborne Road 2pm-3pm Monthly Statistics. The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 4

Assault 3

Burglary 3

Damage 3

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 6

ST JOHNS WARD Your SNT team is PC Lee Jeffers and PCSO Lisa Attwood.
Request for Information: Police are appealing for information following a suspicious incident in Farnborough. Between 8.10am and 8.15am on Friday, January 24, a 12-yearold girl was walking in an alleyway between Middleton Gardens and Marlborough View when an unknown man cycled up beside her. He stopped and looked at her, making the girl feel uncomfortable. The girl ran and the man continued to ride alongside her but turned and rode away when she reached a local convenience store. The man did not say anything to the girl and used no force towards her, but she was left frightened by the incident. The man is described as: Asian , aged in his 30s with a large brown afro and clean shaven. Wearing a red hooded top, blue jogging bottoms and only one sock. Riding a red and black mountain bike. Inspector Olga Venner from Farnborough police station said: I would like to speak to anyone who recognises the description of this man as we would like to speak to him in order to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

The girl was scared by the mans behaviour towards her and we have been carrying out extra patrols in the area at the start and end of the school day to offer reassurance to children and their parents". Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Farnborough Safer Neighbourhoods team by phoning 101. Vehicle damage, Kennet Close: A vehicle had been damaged on a number of occasions In the area of Kennet Close, Farnborough. After a visit from the local safer neighbourhood officer it was agreed that the registered owner would install a Passive Infrared Camera. This CCTV captured a male causing damage to the vehicle. This suspect has now been identified and he has been reported for summons to attend court. Neighbourhood Watch: We are continuing to canvass for new NHW schemes in Woodlands Road and Collier Close. St. Johns Ward currently has 51 active watches with 1350 members. Monthly Statistics: The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 7

Assault 1

Burglary 1
P a g e 4

Damage 7

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 0

Advice for all Wards: Many of the cable type bike locks are not strong enough to deter bike thieves. Farnborough SNT are currently selling Kryptonite Silver Secure D-Locks for 20 (RRP 40) so if you would like to obtain one of these then please e-mail us at: farnborough.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

WEST HEATH WARD Your SNT team is PCSO Harry Collins-Hardman.

Summary: There have been a number of burglaries in the West Heath area over the last month, these have been both dwelling and non-dwelling burglaries where items such as bicycles have been stolen. There has also been a rise in reports of suspicious persons within the ward which have included males acting strangely such as hanging around for seemingly no reason near garages and properties. I continue to encourage the reporting of any suspicious activity in the ward so that myself or colleagues can attend and check what these persons are up to. Overall there have not been many reported crimes in the last month which is in keeping with the normal rates of reporting within the ward and work is being carried out to continue keeping the crime rates in West Heath low for the coming year. Beat Priorities: Blunden Park ASB. I am pleased to say that there have been no reports of any anti-social behaviour in the Blunden Park area in the last 30 days. Patrols in the park area have been routinely carried out and some small groups have been located and spoken to, however were behaving appropriately presenting no issues. Police patrols will continue in an effort to remain at zero reports of ASB for this area. Cycling on Pavements. The cycle operation by Farnborough Safer Neighbourhoods Officers has been in full swing for 3

months now with the first 2 months being the warning phase and a month of enforcement. Officers have been patrolling highlighted areas where cycling on the footpaths is a problem causing danger to pedestrians in an attempt to reduce the issue. During the first phase over 50 warnings were issued to offending cyclists by Police and Hampshire County Council Patrol Officers who were working jointly on this issue. We are now in the enforcement phase and so far a number of fixed penalty notices have been issued. Upcoming Events: A Crime Prevention Surgery and Property recording session will be held on 20 Feb at Blunden Hall car park. I will be there from 6pm to 7pm and welcome residents to come along for general crime prevention advice and to raise any issues/concerns regarding the West Heath area. A Ward forum will be arranged in due course. Monthly Statistics: The figures for last months recorded occurrences in this Ward are shown below.

ASB 5
Newsletter Feedback:

Assault 7

Burglary 2

Damage 5

Robbery 0

Veh Crime 0

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