Crime: 30 August 2013  

1. Shed / Garage breaks.  As you will see from recent messages, we have been targeted for shed and garage breaks for golf clubs, bikes, tools and garden equipment right across RBWM.  The thieves have not been walking into INSECURE sheds and garages, but actively breaking in / forcing doors / cutting off chains and padlocks etc.  They are well prepared.  To remove the items, they must also have had vans or other vehicles.  So – to protect yourself and your neighbours we need you to be uber observant and report any suspicious vans / vehicles driving around your area in the early hours / hours of darkness as soon as you see them.  If in doubt call us – let us make the decision.
2. Pickpockets.  We have had several instances of purses being stolen from handbags while people were shopping in Windsor Town Centre.  Please be on your guard and secure purses well.
3. Mrs. Chalmers designed and has had printed three special postcards – antique in style - of a police officer, a policewoman and 2 officers on horseback from the early 19^th Century.  On the back is a crime prevention message.  They are for handing to anyone who has left a phone, visible on a coffee table / restaurant, in the town centre.  They are brilliant.  PC Val De Haan from the Windsor Town Centre Team has been going up to people, who have a phone on the table, laying out the postcards, then collecting them up with the phones – to emphasise the message and show how easy it is to do !  This has proved very successful and effective to get the message across – and - the tourists love the postcards !  This problem, applies right across the area – not only Windsor Town Centre.

4. Nottingham Knockers.  I have had an email from a member in Maidenhead to say that he reported Nottingham Knockers in his road on the 14^th August.  The PEC operator was not sure if they had the resources to send someone out.  He never got a call back to say thank you, or that there had been a resolution.  Normally our Shift Officers will respond to all these calls and there will then be a follow up, from your Neighbourhood Team.  I raised this at this morning’s police briefing and received reassurances from the 2 Neighbourhood Inspectors – Windsor and Maidenhead that they will make sure this happens.  As a result of not getting a call back with an update, when 3 suspicious middle Europeans arrived the next day, calling door to door selling paintings, they did not call us.  From our point of view, that second call would have been the most significant.  A solution ?  Please phone the PEC when anyone suspicious calls at your door for whatever reason.  Definitely Nottingham Knockers (young unemployed lads going door to door, selling household products), but also picture sellers, left over carpet sellers, charity collectors, drive way / roofers / gardeners etc. - and – people who call at your door asking ridiculous questions – The first thing that comes into their head, when you happen to answer the door.
5. Cold Callers.  If in doubt and you are not expecting anyone – DON’T ANSWER THE DOOR – BUT – make sure they know someone is at home and decided not to answer the door.  Any caller must know that the house is occupied.  Turn up the volue on a radio / turn on and off lights if it is dark etc.
6. Fake Bank Notes.  There has been a sudden flurry of fake £20 notes in circulation.  Most are not brilliant – just keep an eye out – and – warn others.
7. Charity Collectors.  Charity collectors who go door to door, cannot get Insurance any longer to collect and carry cash around the streets.  As a result, they are asking residents to fill in Standing Order and Tax Rebate forms.  We – the police – have a real problem with this, as they will be cold calling, flashing an ID card then asking for your personal, as well as bank details – which of course – YOU CANNOT GIVE THEM.  Our suggestion is you thank them for any pack they can give you and you then make your own arrangements, privately at a later date with your bank – if that is your chosen charity.
8. Children.  As the school holidays draw to a close, we often see kids out and about.  If you feel they are too young to be out unsupervised, or it is too late for them to be out alone, or something may not be quite right, always phone it through to us on the 101 number.  Better to be safe than sorry.

 
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
29/8  Thursday 7.50 a.m. / 10.50 p.m.  Railway Station.  Bike stolen from bike rack outside.  A ladies, silver Giant, Rome 3 bike.  Basket on the front.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
29/8 – 30/8  Thursday 5.45 p.m. / Friday 8 a.m.  St Mark’s Road X 2.  Body panels scratched and dented, wing mirrors damaged.
29/8  Thursday 10 a.m. / 11 a.m.  Ray Park Road.  Burglary.  Garden accessed via INSECURE side gate.  A garden chair was moved to give easier access to an 8ft  high window.  The offender entered through a small hole in the window.  The alarm immediately sounded and they made off via the front kitchen window which would have had to have been unlocked from the inside.  Nothing stolen.
 
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

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27/8 – 29/8  Tuesday noon / Thursday 10 a.m.  Quarry Wood, Marlow.  Outbuilding broken into – 3 bolts cut from the door.  Hedge trimmer, leaf blower and strimmer stolen.
29/8 – 30/8  Thursday 11 p.m. / Friday 5 a.m.  Dean Lane, Cookham.  Garage break.  Electric gates and 2 rear windows of the garage damaged to gain entry – nothing stolen.
 
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
28/8 – 29/8  Wednesday 10.30 p.m. / Thursday 9.45 a.m.  Oldershaw Mews.  Unlocked bike stolen from insecure front garden.  Blue and silver gents bike stolen.
 
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
29/8 – 30/8  Thursday 11 p.m. / Friday 7 a.m.  Bray Court.  Garage break – garage door forced – nothing stolen.
 
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
 
I have also been asked to put out a witness appeal relating to a robbery in the Farnhams:
 
At approximately 11 p.m. on Sunday 18 August, a robbery took place in Church Road, Farnham Royal.  The two aggrieved members of the public, were sitting in a silver Honda Civic, when they were attacked, assaulted by a group of six or seven offenders, who then stole their car.
 
Some of the offenders then drove away in the victim’s Honda Civic.  Just after midnight, it was found ablaze in Park Lane, Horton.
 
Were you in the Farnham Royal, or Horton areas between11 p.m. on the 18 August and 1 a.m. on 19 August?
 
If so did you see the Silver Honda Civic, or anything else that may have been suspicious or related?
 
If you did then please contact PC 7140 Ashley Ruane on the 101 non emergency number as she would be keen to hear from you.  Just call 101 and quote the crime reference GD4308807/13
 
If you ever witness what you believe at the time to be a crime in progress then please call 999 right away.
 
You may also make a report by calling the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.