Crime: 3 February 2012

I have a received an email from a member to say that she hadn’t noticed the SCAM and Comment section at the bottom of messages, until a few days ago, when she happened to scroll down beyond her Neighbourhood update. Can everyone be aware that after the Neighbourhood Updates, I often include general messages – yesterday it was a message from the Borough re ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD’ and I have added a link of event dates today. Sometimes it is not enough to just read the crime affecting your particular Neighbourhood. Thieves / offenders are not aware of Neighbourhood Policing boundaries. What is happening in your neighbouring Neighbourhoods, could affect you tomorrow / next week – particularly if the police respond with a initiative. Crime trends move around, but do tend to remain similar – burglaries via forced rear patio doors / windows, letterbox entry - if keys are laid on hallway tables, visible through the letterbox, cars with items left on display / left unlocked. The range is fairly limited. If we all do our bit to protect our property, wherever we live, irrespective of actual crime specifically around us, we will all be safer. It is not rocket science, to lock back doors / windows at night when we go to bed ! To lock our cars at night whether on a drive or on the highway – YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE. The more we do to protect ourselves, the more difficult we make it for the opportunist thief to take advantage of our mistakes. The harder it is for them to commit crime, the more likely they are to move on to find an easier target. Why break in and risk being caught – if you can walk in through a back door left unlocked / simply open a car door using the handle, rather than smashing the glass ! WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN PROTECTING OUR PROPERTY !

CRIME:
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
cookhamneighbourhood@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
No crime to report

BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
boynhillcoxgreennhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
1/2 - 2/2 Wednesday 11.30 p.m. Thursday 2 a.m. Westmoreland Road. Burglary via rear patio door – IPOD, mobile, IPAD + docking station, computers X 2 and a purse stolen.
31/1 – 1/2 Tuesday 11.50 p.m. / Wednesday 8.10 a.m. Milverton Close. Offender climbed over a garden gate and walked through a rear kitchen door that had been left UNLOCKED – mobile, laptop, handbag plus contents, house and car keys and sunglasses stolen. As the keys have been stolen all the locks in the house and car will have to be changed – a very expensive business.

RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
Maidenheadriverside&belmontnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
2/2 Thursday 8 p.m. Company, Cromwell Road. Window smashed.
1/2 Wednesday 7 p.m. – 9.45 p.m. Business, Sheephouse Road. Attempt to force rear door – alarm sounded and the offender made off.

INNER MAIDENHEAD:
maidenheadtowncentrenhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
No crime to report.

OLDFIELD & BRAY:
oldfield&braynhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
No crime to report

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
pinkneysgreen&furzeplattnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
No crime to report.

Here is a link to the timetable of the LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY events organised by the Borough:
http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/news_21711_love_your_community_week_2012.htm

SCAMS:

One of our members received the attached Scam – it is good, looks authentic and the English is not too bad – but it is a scam !  See the attachment at the bottom.

I have received this scam email from Beverley. As we know – you do not open attachments to such emails.:

Subject: Track your shipment NO3809

FedEx notification,

Your package has been returned to the FedEx office.
The reason of the return is - Error in the delivery address.
Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office.

FedEx Customer Services.
hi jeff

I had an e mail from the above yesterday, saying there was a problem with my address, so they have returned the parcel back to the depot.  they asked me to complete the attached invoice, luckily could not print off.
I spoke to Fed Ex. and they said this was a 'scam'.  Could it please be included in a 'Ringmaster' sometime.

Chris

Next – Residents are still receiving calls re the Windows / Microsoft Scam ! Just put the phone down !
Hi Jeff,

I had a computer phone scam today 1/02/12 at 15.25. It sounded like a Chinese woman, saying I had a problem with my computer and to switch it on and they will put it right their end. I have had them in the past, but they withheld their phone number.

Hope this maybe of help

Ann

This advice from another member may help !
Jeff

On the subject of computer support scams, it is worth publicising that no organisation or individual can see whether a computer needs attention unless the user has allowed them to do so by responding to one of the many phishing emails that are around, or by unwittingly giving them access by some other means.

So if someone calls out of the blue claiming to be from Microsoft or, as in the call I received on Tuesday, "Smart Support Guys", or any other organisation, and claims that there's a problem with your machine, THEY ARE BOGUS!!

I went through the motions with the guy that called me, up to the point where I could have a good guess at what he would do. He would have talked me through the process of giving him access to my PC and then used that access to either directly steal data, or plant software that captured it, or which would cause errors which I'd then have to pay him to resolve.

So in short, there's no problem until you let these guys in. If you really have a problem there are plenty of reputable local businesses who can sort them out. Don't fall for one of these scammers!

When I'd heard enough, I asked a few probing questions about his company, their registration number, address, etc., and he hung up. Presumably he was hoping he'd move on to someone more gullible...

Nick