Crime: 20 April 2012

On Wednesday evening, we held a NHW Open meeting in Ascot and 2 members of our local CID came along and made a riveting presentation.  One of the suggestions they made, was to photograph all your jewellery.  Sometimes they recover jewellery from a house search and only have word descriptions, to try and identify what they have found – an 18 carat single stone engagement ring – even if you know the weight of the diamond, is not much use, when you have 10 in front of you – which all look very similar.  You will have all seen proper photos on TV.  A neutral background, ruler for size, perhaps a note – in the picture - of any inscriptions / distinguishing marks.  If there is something that would identify it from others, make sure that is in the photo – so – if there is wear to the claws on one side, where the ring is worn beside another – frequent in the case of engagement / eternity / wedding rings, or it is no longer completely round but bent slightly into an oval, make sure you photograph that detail.  That could be the evidence that convicts the thief.  Watches as well – a description of a ‘Cartier tank’ with a leather strap, covers an entire range of watches – but every strap, will show evidence of unique wear – the size of your wrist, etc etc. the bezels often have different coloured semi / precious stones.  We will need all that detail, if your watch is stolen.

Descriptions – these are vital.  Start with the top of their head and work down to their feet – Base ball caps are often decorated.  Everyone’s hair colour / style is different and distinctive.  Eyebrows are can also identify someone – if a lad has part of their eyebrow shaved off / pieced / heavy / meet in the middle etc.  Just work your way down logically.  If they are in a track suit – the colour, any stripes across / down the side of the legs – how many stripes – colour of trainers etc.  Certain of our offenders only wear certain makers of trainers / sports clothes – black and silver / white trainers will immediately identify a certain offender !!!  Practice as you walk around – you may only get a brief view of an offender as they make off.

One of the tips they had was – don’t store this information - as well as your list of serial numbers for laptops, games consoles, TVs, Hi Fi’s etc. on a piece of paper in your home.  Send to yourself as an email !  That way you can access it from anywhere in the world and even forward it to the police, if necessary, instantly !!!!!  Dejan mentioned the ‘Golden Hour’.  The first hour after a theft / burglary is the most productive.  The thief may not have had an opportunity to hide / dispose of the items, so they need all this information instantly.  Also, many thieves will quickly dispose of items to get the cash they want, but some keep and store small mementos – if we can trace those mementos, we can secure a conviction !  SO – one of the most important messages of the evening – make a list of all your serial numbers !!!!!!

CRIME:

BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:

cookhamneighbourhood@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

18/4 – 19/4  Wednesday 11 p.m. / Thursday 7 p.m.   Waltham Road .  Outbuilding door forced – not known if anything stolen.

BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK :

boynhillcoxgreennhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

18/4  Wednesday 10 a.m. / 12.39 p.m.   Welbeck Road .  Burglary.  First floor window smashed – but entry through INSECURE front door.  Untidy search for gold.  A small amount stolen.  The thief may have been disturbed.

18/4  10.20 p.m. / 10.25 p.m.   Highfield Lane .  The owner returned home and saw a man sitting in her car – which HAD BEEN LEFT INSECURE – he immediately made off.  The car had been searched, but nothing stolen.

19/4  Thursday.  White Paddock.  Shed break – a chain saw stolen.  The owner had seen a man the day before walking along the road with a red trolley, which he had thought suspicious.

RIVERSIDE & BELMONT :

maidenheadriverside&belmontnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

16/4 – 20/4  Monday midnight / Friday 9 a.m.   St Luke’s Road.  Attempt top steal lead from around a porch – the area was damaged but the lead could not be ripped out – was the thief disturbed ?

18/4 – 19/4  Wednesday 7 p.m. / Thursday 7 a.m.   College Road.  Car ENTERED BY UNKOWN MEANS – boot searched, handbag plus contents, footware, and clothing stolen.  Have you seen such items discarded anywhere ?

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