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Crime: 16 January 2013
Several
things to begin with: 1.
I
have had increased reports about calls re the Windows
/ Microsoft Scam. This
is where a company calls you, saying they work for Microsoft / Windows and
they can see from their records / equipment that your computer is running
slowly. They can assist and
speed it up. None of this is
true. They don’t work for
Microsoft and in any event, Microsoft cannot ‘see’ anything about your
computer / laptop. The scam
works – when they ask you to type in some text and press ‘run’.
This installs a proxy programme into your computer, they can take
control of your screen and of course hard drive.
They run a diagnostic programme, which always comes up with
unnecessary temporary files etc. While
doing this, they are also trawling through and copying anything they want,
from your hard drive and of course, installing any programmes they want,
at the same time. They are
looking for online paypal / bank / building accounts and of course
passwords – possibly access programmes.
At the end of all this, when they maintain they have cleaned your
computer, they admit there is a charge – minimal - usually £67.
They will of course want to be paid over the internet.....That
involves you giving them a credit / bankcard and of course, your security
number on the back !!!!!! 2.
Nottingham
Knockers – These
are the young lads going door to door, selling household products.
I have a report that they were in Windsor yesterday.
This is also a scam. The
lads can keep whatever they earn over a small amount they have to pay
their boss for the bag and contents.
They know the products are ‘substandard’, you know they are.
Usually, people pay them something, just to go away.
The scam works this way – Phase
1 - you buy rubbish, knowing it is rubbish, you can therefore
easily be parted from your money – Just the target group are looking
for. – Phase
2 – How long does it take you to go and get the cash ?
if you come back quickly with a purse / wallet – they are not
interested. The longer you
take, the more interested they are. - Phase
3 – You return with a ‘note’ in payment – they are not
interested in cash / coins, only notes.
The condition of the note, can tell them if you have a ‘stash’
in the house – a crisp, clean, flat note is what they are after.
They are not interested in crumpled notes from a purse / wallet.
A crisp, clean flat note – means a stash.
Phase
4 – They smell the note.
The longer it has been stored in the house, the mustier it might
smell – the longer it has been stored, the more there is !!!
If you tick these 4 boxes, they note your address.
This is passed back to the boss and they get an extra payment, for
each address supplied – this
is the whole purpose of the exercise – to locate elderly and
vulnerable people, with stashes of cash in their houses.
Those addresses are then sold amongst the criminal fraternity.
After that the callers arrive. Roofers, tarmaccers, garden workers,
double glazing etc. etc. etc. You
do not want to get on one of those lists. THE
SOLUTION – Everyone
across the Thames Valley uses the same words – “I
am sorry, I do not buy goods or services, at the door”.
Then firmly, but politely close the door and phone the
police on the 101 non emergency number and explain that you have had
‘Nottingham Knockers’ at the door.
Be aware that some areas will not know them by this name, so you
may have to explain that they are the young lads going door to door
selling household products. You
will be asked for a full description of the lad, so be prepared and while
you are at the door, have a good look and note the name on the ‘ID’,
they will show you. Don’t
be fooled by any cardboard ID saying they are deaf, dumb or disabled in
some way – they won’t be. Do
not engage in any conversation ! They
will try and engage your sympathy, to get information out of you – “I
tried the house 2 doors down, but there was no response”.
You might reply – “Oh
no, no-one is home, they are on holiday in the Carribean for the next
three weeks”. OR
perhaps, “Oh
no, they are high fliers in the City and never get home before 9 p.m.”
We are all programmed to be helpful and courteous.
It is so much better, just
close the door. The
police will always respond and carry out an Area Search, to look for the
lads and check them out – hence the need for a good description.
Often they have a string of criminal convictions and are not the
type of people you want looking up your hallway. 3.
Fake
£20 notes.
We seem to have a very large number of fake £20 in circulation at
the moment. Some are quite
obvious and look fake. Please
be on your guard and let us know if anyone tries to pass one to you –
particularly if you are a business. The
usual MO is for someone to go into a shop and buy a small value item and
produce a fake £20 to get as much real cash back as possible.
If you are handed one of these, they are not legal tender and you
could be stuck with it ! Always
examine any £20 you are given 4.
THE
COMMUNITY WATCH SPEED GUN.
Some of you may well remember helping the police with our Home
Office Initiative – ‘Safe as Houses’ some years ago.
We had an underspend, and since then I have been purchasing items
with that money, I felt would help NHW and reward them, for their help.
I have been purchasing the purse bells, Window shock alarms,
personal alarms which we recommend for sheds and back doors as well as for
personal use, all of which we have been handing out to members of NHW -
free of charge. As many
members reported a speeding problem in their area, I also purchased – on
your behalf – a ‘Community
Speedwatch’ hand held (hairdryer type) Speedgun,
together with the necessary Volunteer Hi Viz
jackets and warning road signs.
It was purchased to support you, please make use of this
kit. If you think your road,
or a road nearby has become a rat run, or there is dangerous speeding, we
can use this gun, to establish if there really is a problem and the PCSOs
/ Neighbourhood Teams and the RBWM Community Wardens have all been trained
to use it. They are all
perfectly happy to come out and use it, with you there.
It cannot be used for formal enforcement, but it establishes if
there is a problem, which would result in full enforcement.
If you join Community Speedwatch, you go out with a police officer
/ Community warden. They or
you use the hand held device and monitor the speed of cars going past.
It is simple to use – point and click - and very accurate.
The index numbers of any speeding cars are noted and the owner,
receives a warning letter, reminding them that they were driving in a
residential area above the recommended speed limit.
We are always looking for volunteers for ‘Community Speedwatch’.
You may not want to do it in your area, but you can help someone
else, buy doing it in their area – reciprocity.
If you do have a problem road, please email your Neighbourhood Team
using their group email address below, listing the road /s, the day it
happens most and time the problem is at its worst and
whether you would like to attend and assist the officer when he arrives. ALL
COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH SESSIONS, ARE UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF A UNIFORMED
TVP OFFICER, WHO IS ALWAYS IN ATTENDANCE. 5.
SHEDS
AND GARAGES !!! Shed
breaks are beginning and increasing quickly !
We have had them right across RBWM.
PCSO Liz Davidson, will be carrying out some Crime Prevention
Initiatives in the rural Neighbourhoods and the Walthams.
How many of us have been into our garden sheds in the past few
weeks ? The weather has not
been conducive to gardening. Over
the next few weeks though, we will need our tools as roses and other
items, will need pruning. So,
can everyone keep an eye out. As
we start to get our gardens into some sort of order after the winter, we
will be considering purchasing new garden equipment and sheds will become
a target – items will be stolen for sale at car boot sales etc.
If you have favourite tools – and we all do, think about property
marking. Buy a fine
paintbrush and post code everything on the next fine day – not today
obviously, as at this temperature paint won’t dry !
A nice contrasting bright garden colour in oil based paint.
It can be nicely done – copperplate script – artistic as you
like, add some flowers if you want – if
you have grandchildren, what an perfect opportunity for a lovely craft
afternoon – and you will have the memory, every time you garden -
and - the thieves won’t like it. Postcode
and house number – or if you have a house name, the first three letters
– but not ‘The’ if you are The Vicarage !!! CRIME: I
have attached some handouts, re shed breaks and heating oil thefts, which
contain some good advice. MAIDENHEAD
CENTRAL: maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk Neighbourhood
Page: 27/12
– 14/1 Flat,
Longworth Drive. Shed
break – via hole in the roof – spirits and champagne stolen. RIVERSIDE
& BELMONT: maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk NO
CRIME TO REPORT. MAIDENHEAD
WEST BISHAM,
COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL: maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk 15/1
– 16/1 Tuesday 11 p.m. /
Wednesday 9 a.m.
Wellington Cottages, Warren Row. Both
wing mirrors stolen from a Ford Mondeo. 21/12
– 16/1 Mire
lane, Waltham St Lawrence. Repeat
victim – last time heating oil stolen, but not reported.
Heating oil – 1,000 litres stolen again.
This time the pipes in the house froze, pipes burst causing
extensive damage. Again
– it is that time of the year in our rural areas.
Keep an eye on heating oil and make sure any lids access points are
secure – you would not want this to happen to you !
If you do have oil stolen, you must report it.
That way we can put together a pattern of offending and offences. 15/1
Tuesday 8.40 p.m West
End, Waltham St Lawrence. House
double glazed window damaged causing a star like cracking in the outer
pane. 14/1
– 15/1 Monday 7 p.m. /
Tuesday 8 a.m. Pub
/ restaurant, Bisham Road, Bisham.
Car rear window smashed and satchel containing documents, stolen
from the boot. 14/1
Monday 6.15 p.m. / 8 p.m.
Pub, Henly Road, Hurley X 2. Car
rear windscreen smashed – Laptops
X 6, Rucksack and contents including documents, mobile,
sunglasses, gloves AND
KEYS STOLEN. Car
side window smashed – leather bag including documents and spare car keys
stolen. PINKNEYS
GREEN & FURZE PLATT: maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk 15/1
– 16/1 Tuesday 11 p.m. /
Wednesday 9.30 a.m. Oaken
Grove, Furze Platt. Shed
break2 window panels and a door lock were forced – 2 bikes moved and 3
stolen. 15/1
– 16/1 Tuesday / Wednesday Pinkney’s
Drive, Pinkney’s Green. Garage
break – 2 garages broken into – tools moved but nothing stolen.
They may have been disturbed by the garage alarms sounding – you
know it makes sense !!! 15/1
Tuesday 9.40 p.m. / 9.50 p.m.
St. Mark’s Crescent.
The owner heard noises in his back garden and turned on the
exterior lighting. He
couldn’t see anyone, but there was damage to a rear outhouse and a
garden fork against the wall. No
entry gained and nothing stolen. 13/1
– 15/1 Sunday 4 p.m. /
Tuesday 7 a.m. Belmont
Park Avenue. Car ENTERED
BY UNKNOWN MEANS – Golf clubs and cash stolen. 11/1
– 14/1 First
School, Oaken Grove, Furze Platt.
Attempt to force open 2 sheds.
No entry gained. MAIDENHEAD
SOUTH BOYN
HILL, maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk Neighbourhood
Page: 16/1
Wednesday 12 noon. Co-op,
Cox Green Lane. Someone
entered the shop and purchased a scratch card using a fake £20 note !!!!
He confused the assistant to cover the action. OLDFIELD
& BRAY: maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk 14/1
Monday 9.30 a.m. 12.50
p.m. Priors
Way, Holyport. Burglary.
Property accessed via UNLOCKED
SIDE GATE. Garage
door forced to obtain tools then rear patio window forced with 2 garden
spades. Untidy search –
laptops x 2 and accessories stole |
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