Crime: 23 August 2013  

• Make sure that your home is secure. Ensure that you secure all windows and doors, even if you are at home;
• When leaving your house unoccupied where possible set your alarm if you have one;
• If you are going out in the evening try and use timer switches with lights to make your home look occupied. You could also leave a radio on or consider investing in a ‘fake tv’ device.

• Try and let a trusted friend or neighbour know that you are going to be away from home. Perhaps you could encourage them to park on your drive, to make it look like you are at home;
• Ensure your alarm is set, if you have one;
• Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries, if you have them;
• Make sure that all access points to your home are secured, such as gates and activate any external security lighting that you may have;
• Ensure that sheds and out buildings are locked and secured;
• Register your valuables online on the national property database at www.immobilise.com, you can register almost any kind of item on the database free of charge. Immobilise helps Police to reunite stolen items with their rightful owners.

• If you are out and about, make sure you look after purses, wallets and mobile phones, do not leave them unattended anywhere – particularly on restaurant / coffee shop tables. 
• Don’t leave valuable items in vehicles, and ensure your car is parked safely and securely.

For any noise nuisance over the bank holiday, please contact the Borough’s Environmental Health Department.

For Non Emergencies or if you have information about any crime, phone us on the Non Emergency Number 101.

In an emergency, for example where life is in danger or a crime is in progress, please call 999.

NEXT – DODGY BUILDERS.
 
Martyn, from the Ascot Neighbourhood Team came to see me yesterday.  He had just visited an elderly resident who has been employing a man who knocked on her door, to say that she had some work that needed doing on her house and he would sort it out for her.  First though, he needed £2,000 up front, for materials.  She went to the cash till and withdrew this amount and handed it over.  She has no paperwork, no business card, no name, no address, no contact details - nothing.  Martyn has had a look at where he has supposedly been working – Nothing has been done.  The only detail she has about the man is a first name – he calls himself ‘Sebastian’.  The only description is that he is possibly middle aged.  If he has one job in the Ascot area, he probably has several others on the go.  The aggrieved has never even seen a van – he says he parks it around the corner.  If you hear of an elderly neighbour / relative / friend is having work done by anyone who called at the door, please email the Neighbourhood Team at their group email below.  We will send out a PCSO to make discrete enquiries.  People of this age can have their life savings taken, with no hope of ever replacing the money and certainly none, of getting it back.
 
Charity Collectors:
I have been receiving reports of charity collectors, going door to door collecting for admirable charities.  They are asking residents to sign standing orders and tax reclaim forms, as they are no longer insured to collect and carry actual cash.  I am sure you do not need reminding – that as wonderful as the work is carried out by these charities – you must not sign, or complete any paperwork which reveals personal information – particularly bank details on a standing order form.  You can reassure the collector, very politely, that you will complete the forms privately and then send them to wherever they need to go, but you will not be handing it back to them.  Very simple.
 
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Neighbourhood Page:
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berkse-winds

/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n391.htm
22/8  Thursday 6.35 p.m. / 7 p.m.  Supermarket, Moorbridge Road.  Laptop bag containing papers stolen from the boot of a car.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
22/8  Thursday 9 a.m. / 11.30 a.m.  Ray Mill Road East X 2.  1.  Attempted Burglary – Owner has noticed damage to her doorframe, possibly made by a screwdriver.  No entry gained.  2.  House next door - Owner has noticed damage to her doorframe, possibly made by a screwdriver.  No entry gained. 
 
MAIDENHEAD WEST
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Neighbourhood Page:
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berkse-winds

/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n393.htm
22/8  Thursday noon / 7.55 p.m.  Westwood Green, Cookham Rise.  Trainers stolen from outside a house.
 
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
22/8  Thursday 6.30 p.m. / 10.40 p.m.  Oldershaw Mews.  Offenders have entered a rear garden and stolen an INSECURE bike.  A new gents silver bike – no other details.
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Neighbourhood Page:
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berkse-winds

/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n392.htm
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
 
OLDFIELD & BRAY:
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
22/8  Thursday  7 p.m. / 9 p.m.  Cricket Club, Bray Road, Bray.  Car driver’s window smashed – briefcase and contents stolen including a Kindle.
 
Neighbourhood Return
I have been contacted by an organisation that is looking for volunteers – Neighbourhood Return.  Neighbourhood Return is a free service, using local volunteer searchers to help find people with memory problems including dementia, who have gone missing or ‘wandering’.  The aim is to reduce the worries of carers and enable people with memory problems, to remain at home and be part of their communities, for as long as possible.
They are asking for volunteers to join their database of people willing to help, if someone in their local area goes missing.  They are also asking you to let anyone you know who has a relative with memory issues / dementia about this service.  It is not a regular commitment and you may only be called upon for help very rarely, but when needed, you could save the life of a vulnerable person.  If they call and you are not available, just let them know.  They will ask you to walk, cycle or drive to an area and then search on foot following directions from the call centre.  You can stop, or re-join the search at any time.
 
How does it work?
The call centre will:
Contact you via text / home phone message / email.
Send you a description of the missing person and a photograph if they have one.
Direct you to search from point A to point B.
Ask you to ring them when you reach point B.
Direct you as to where to search next – if you are willing to continue
Text you immediately the person is found.
 
If you find the person you let the call centre know and stay with them until their relative / carer / police arrive to take them home.
 
They provide full training and a safe searching guide which you must read and follow.  It is available online at:
www.ourturn.org.uk/safesearching.pdf
 
To Join?
 
You must have a mobile phone.  It is very simple to register online at:
www.ourturn.org.uk
 
or by phone on 0116 229 3118