Crime: 28 April 2014

SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS CONNECTED TO BOGUS CALLERS – SO FAR ONLY IN WINDSOR:
22/4  Tuesday  2 p.m. / 3 p.m.  Dedworth Road.  An elderly aggrieved was walking along the road when he was approached by a man.  He is described as white, late 60s, thinning grey hair, clean shaven wearing a grey jacket and grey jeans.  He had a local accent.  He said he had done work in the past for the aggrieved who still owed him £300.  The aggrieved didn’t believe this, but agreed to pay the money.  The man took him back to the aggrieved’s home, where he wrote a cheque for £3,300.  He was then driven to his bank the town centre, in a white van with 2 other men.  The bank refused to hand over the cash and demanded a passport.  He was then driven home, collected the passport and then taken back to the bank.  He then successfully withdrew £3,300 in cash, which he handed to the man from the street.  The man counted the money in front of him, drove him to the parade of shops in the Dedworth Road.  He then withdrew a further £55 from a cash till and handed it to them.  He was then dropped off close to Tesco.  They said they would be back !  Fortunately they have not been.  The aggrieved was not harmed, nor threatened in any way.  This can happen – and does happen.  We need to protect our vulnerable and elderly residents and offer any assistance we can to them.
25/4  Friday 9 a.m. 3.30 p.m.  Hylle Close.  The owner heard a knock at the door and went to answer it.  Two white men pushed past them saying there was a problem on the roof which they would fix.  They went up into the loft then came down saying there was a problem, they needed £5,000 to fix it.  The owner said they did not have that kind of money, so the men said they would drive them to the bank to collect the money.  He refused and handed them all the money in his wallet – about £20 and they left.  Later his son in law checked and they may have dislodged a tile.  Can you spread the message please.
 
NO-ONE COMES INTO YOUR HOME, UNLESS YOU KNOW THEM, OR THEY HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT.
 
If this owner had used a door chain when answering the door – this could not have happened !  The doorbell goes and we react like Pavlov’s dogs, to answer it.  If you have glass panels, have a look at whoever is calling.  If not look through a window.  If you don’t know them, wave them away !  As you know, I have been reporting a series of Bogus builders recently.  Please warn everyone you know ?
 
BIKE MARKING:
 
I have been putting out loads of messages to Windsor and Maidenhead, where bikes are being stolen all the time from off street and more often, sheds and garages.
 
CAN EVERYONE PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES, TO LOOK AT THEIR BIKES PLEASE ?
 
I have had to put out several reports recently, where the only thing the owner knew about the bike was - it’s colour !  That also was a bit vague – blue...I think !
 
Make, model, identifying features – panniers / drop handle bars / coloured mud guards / saddle colour / whatever.
 
PLEASE ALSO RECORD THE FRAME NUMBER – AND EMAIL IT TO YOURSELF
 
We still have dozens in the back yards, either not claimed, or not reported stolen / lost.
 
Charity collectors going door to door.
 
I have had quite a few emails asking what they should do if they think the charity caller is genuine.  Simple – take the paperwork, complete it and....
 
SEND IT BACK YOURSELF !
 
You must never hand over any documentation which contains personal information, to anyone who cold calls at your door – however worthy the charity.  If you wish to participate, fill it in and send it off - BUT DO NOT HAND IT BACK TO THE COLD CALLER.
 
I have had this in:
Hi
I tried sending a message to you last night to say VSO was going door to door in Hurley last night about 6 p.m.  He talked very quietly and there were a few times, I didn’t hear what he was saying.
 
I just hope the elderly residents didn’t fall for it, if they didn’t hear him correctly.
 
Regards
 
Stephanie
 
AND
 
Jeff,
Regarding the VSO cold-callers, VSO stands for Voluntary Service Overseas. It existed in my young days when at school and we were encouraged to consider it - today it would be referred to as a Gap Year.
 
I think that the callers are genuine. The young lady who called here, said I was the first person she had met who knew what VSO stood for.
 
Your advice is still the right advice - accept the papers if you want to, but do not sign up to anything on the door step.
 
Geoffrey
 
EXACTLY !
 
 
OTHER COLD CALLERS OUT THERE AT THE MOMENT:
 
Hi Jeff,
 
There was a voice on my front door entry phone at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening.  The conversation began with niceties.  Then the man said – ‘Is that your Toyota on the drive’ ?  I replied – ‘Nothing to do with you if it is’ !.
 
Later I heard from neighbour that he was a canvasser drumming up business for a local garage in Maidenhead.
 
Another neighbour, had parted with £100 up front, for a service at some future date.
 
This may be entirely genuine and just a way for a garage to increase it’s business, but I don’t think this should be encouraged ?
 
What do you think ?
 
Sheila
 
I absolutely agree.  Just as with the Charity collectors who cold call, no-one should hand over any cash / personal details to anyone who simply cold calls.  By all means, take the details, but make the appointment yourself – and never - hand cash to a perfect stranger !
I have just put a warning out to Ascot – garden ornaments / statues being stolen there.  If you have them in an easily accessible location – they need to be concreted down please !  Often as we reach this time of year, very valuable garden ornaments / bronze statues are stolen.  Last year about this time, we also had thefts of Koi Carp as well.  Occasionally, the thieves simply pulled the filter return pipe out of the pond to empty it, to make it easier to collect the fish !  please remain alert and report any suspicious cars / vans driving around your streets !
 
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Your Neighbourhood Page on TVP's Website - Click Here
25/4  Friday 7 p.m. / 11 p.m.  Flat over Restaurant, Queen Street.    Offenders have accessed the first floor flat, via metal stairs at the rear onto a flat roof.  They entered the property via a door LEFT INSECURE.  Messy search carried out – black iPHONE 4s, laptop, American passport, cash and rupees stolen along with a jar of coins.
25/4  Friday.  7.30 p.m.  Hines Meadow Car Park.  The owner had left his car INSECURE – a man reached in and grabbed a LAPTOP  and ran to a nearby residential block.  A man has been identified from CCTV and arrested for suspected theft from a vehicle.
24/4  Thursday midnight.  British Rail Car Park.  Bike stolen.  A gents light blue bike.
27/4 – 28/4  Sunday 8 p.m. / Monday 9 a.m.  Sounding Arch Way.  UNSECURED bike stolen from back garden.  A purple BMX bike.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
26/4  Saturday 11.30 p.m.  Bridle Road.  The owner heard noises outside, from what sounded like a group of young lads and turned on their lights to see what was going on.  A shower of gravel was then thrown at the windows braking 2 of them.
26/4  Saturday 10.45 a.m. / 12.45 p.m.  The Crescent.  Car rear windscreen smashed – no attempt to enter or steal anything from the car.
25/4 – 26/4  Friday 6.30 p.m. / Saturday 3 p.m.  Moorside Court, Moor Lane.  Car bonnet badly keyed.
25/4 – 26/4  Friday midnight / Saturday 9.30 a.m.  Laggan Road.  Car badly keyed all around.
 
MAIDENHEAD WEST
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
Your Neighbourhood Page on TVP's Website - Click Here
Your PCSO Liz Davidson has asked me to circulate a date for your diary – Friday 9^th May 5 p.m. / 7 p.m. Opposite the Bell Pub, Waltham St. Lawrence.  This is a ‘Have Your Say Meeting’.  Liz will be there to answer any questions you may have – or just to say hello !  A poster is attached.
18/4 – 24/4  Friday 3 p.m. / Thursday 10 a.m.  Warren Row Road, Knowl Hill.  Offenders have used a blow lamp to burn through wooden shutters / locks.  Once inside a cabin they have carried out other acts of criminal damage with the blowtorch and burnt holes in a trampoline.  Tools stolen.
 
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Your Neighbourhood Page on TVP's Website - Click Here
26/4 – 27/4Saturday 10 p.m. / Sunday 9 a.m.  Brockton Court, Grenfell Road.  Locked communal bike entered, possibly using a key as there was no damage 2 bikes stolen.  Their padlocks were cut and left behind.  1.  A Davies black bike.  2.  A gents black bike.
27/4 – 28/4  Sunday 11 a.m. / Monday 6.20 a.m.  Cox Green Road.  Burglary.  Possibly using letterbox method.  Handbag and cash stolen from a hallway table and car keys from the wall.  They left the front door open and the keybox on the floor.  A white Mercedes E Class 250 was stolen.  The car has been found and recovered in Iver Bucks.
23/4 – 25/4  Wednesday midnight / Friday 7 p.m.  Gordon Cottages, Lock Lane.  Attempted Burglary.  Offenders have attempted to force a rear window – toolmarks around
 
OLDFIELD & BRAY:
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
26/4 – 27/4  Saturday 10 p.m. / Sunday 3.30 p.m.  Chiltern Road.  The seal on French windows damaged, may be in an attempt to remove the UVPC glass panels.
26/4  Saturday 1 a.m.  Car dealership, Moneyrow Green, Holyport.  A member of staff took a mini without permission and drove it around with his friends.  It was driven at high speed and eventually crashed into 2 cars causing a lot of damage.  Several people in the mini were injured.  No members of the public were involved.
24/4  Thursday 8 p.m. / 9.30 p.m..  Monkey Island Lane X 2. 1.  Car rear windscreen smashed – car searched – nothing stolen.  2.  Car rear windscreen smashed – Rucksack and contents stolen