Crime: 2 July 2010

This message is dated Friday 2nd July for Maidenhead.

I have received more happy birthday messages - many thanks, your kind thoughts and comments are really appreciated - one approaches landmark birthdays with trepidation !

We are having a mini spate of burglaries where the method of entry is unknown. There is no damage to the property and the owner is sure they locked the house. In those circumstances, the most obvious way in, is to use the letterbox method to hook keys from a hallway table, or using a cane / stick to flick open a rimlatch / Yale type lock, or pull back the handle on a UVPC door. Both of these methods are very easy to prevent. Never leaving keys anywhere they can be seen through your letterbox / fitting a letterbox guard and by double locking your front door ! These simple actions anyone can do, cut out this M.O. at a stroke.

CRIME:
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS & LITTLEWICK GREEN:
29/6 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Odney Lane X 2. Car rear windscreen smashed holdall stolen. Car driver's door lock forced - SAT NAV & golf clubs stolen.
30/6 - 1/7 Bisham Bypass. More fuel stolen.

BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
1/7 10 p.m. Wessex Way. A neighbour heard banging from a property currently unoccupied. They went outside and saw 2 lads aged between 14 - 18 wearing dark hoodies, running away. Copper piping had been stolen, causing considerable water damage to the property.
30/6 10.15 - 11.30 p.m. Grenfell Road. Car window smashed and a fair amount of cash stolen from inside.

RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
1/7 6.55 p.m. Ray Mill Road East - Distraction Burglary. I will give you a little detail as this incident is an instruction to us all. A 13 year old lad answered the front door. A man was standing there and he asked if there was an adult in the house. The lad replied no. The man asked for directions to the town centre and asked the lad to draw him a map. The lad went into the house to get a pen and paper leaving the man alone at the door. After finishing the map, the man asked for a glass of water. When he got back the man was inside the hall. He drank the water and left. An IPHONE is missing. The man is described as Asian / mixed race, late twenties, 5'10'', muscled, short shaven hair, facial stubble wearing grey jogging pants and a blue T shirt. I leave it to you, to think about what could have happened in this case. If children are left alone in a house - which should not happen - even for a short while, they must be instructed not to answer the door, nor the phone. They must not go near the door, where they could be seen through glass, even if it is mottled. A child's shape is easy to determine and of course, if their face is visible, it would give away their apprehension. A TV or music must be playing, to let someone outside know that someone is home and has chosen, not to answer the door.

INNER MAIDENHEAD:
30/6 3 p.m. King Street. A witness saw a man go up to a Doritos deliver lorry and steal a box of Doritos from inside. He is described as white, about 18, 5'7'', short blond hair, fairly slim, a tattoo on his arm, wearing no top, blue jogging bottoms and white trainers.

OLDFIELD & BRAY:
29/6 - 30/6 Shoppenhangers Road. Thieves climbed over a fence and attempted to steal a fork lift truck. Dashboard damaged.
29/6 - 30/6 An attempt to steal a forklift truck - unsuccessful.
30/6 - 1/7 Bray Road. A for sale sign has been rammed through a fence causing damage. Neighbours did hear an altercation outside and several did call the police. Many thanks, to those that did that. Many people would just roll over and assume someone else would make the call.
30/6 - 1/7 Windsor Road. Car driver's door lock forced - the ignition was damaged along with a rear light and body panels.
30/6 7 - 9.30 p.m. Avenue Road. Car passenger window forced open - mobile phone and watch stolen.
2/7 3 a.m. Green Lane. Car alarm activated and owner looked out to see 2 people making off. The door had been forced - IPODs and cigarettes stolen.

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
30/6 10.15 - 11.30 p.m. Grenfell Road. Car driver's window smashed - loose change stolen.

The number as always - 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers in complete confidence on 0800 555 111.