March 2008 Newsletter
| Published: 6th March 2008 18:30 |
BURBAGE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NEWSLETTER
March 2008 Circulation 5941
Working In Partnership To Reduce Crime.
Folks
We have another action packed newsletter, please keep sending in your ideas for news articles which you would like to see.
I am arranging a NHW coordinators meeting on Wednesday 16th April at 7.30 pm location Hastings High School and we have a number of places available to the public. If you would like to attend please book your place by phoning 01455 891086
The guest speakers will be Martyn Ball, LPU Commander Hinckley Police. Ron Grantham or Maddy Arthur HBBC, Diane Sanders Trading Standards and John Moore Burbage Parish Council. There will be an opportunity to ask questions to the speakers, the Burbage Beat Team and myself.
Regards Graham
Members corner
The Lottery Scam
Care, a member has received a letter saying she won the Canadian Lottery even though she had not entered it, all she needed to do was send a cheque to cover expenses. Please don't let greed take over otherwise you will be out of pocket
Dog Fouling
If you own a dog please pick up your dogs mess. I have been advised by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council that dog fouling is a regular problem in Burbage and that they will be looking into catching the offenders. YOU HAVE BEEN WARN.
Any one with any information about dog fouling can ring HBBC and report it confidentially on 01455 238141 just ask for a Street Warden.
No Cold Calling Zones
Many streets are now ‘No Cold Calling Zones' but many of you have not stuck the stickers in window or on the door. It is important to display the signs.
Leaving the car unattended.
Please ensure you lock all car doors when you leave your car unattended, even when you fill up with petrol you should lock your car doors.
Security Alarms Callers
A member had been visited by someone claiming to be selling home security systems, they asked a number of questions and to be shown round and they quoted a figure of £3,000. They had no identification nor a calling card and luckily they were asked to leave. A lucky escape.
Distraction Burglary
Distraction burglary also known as "Bogus Caller" crime has a terrible effect upon its victims, often the older and most vulnerable in our communities. The method of gaining entry to a house is usually by telling the resident a story. This is usually done by claiming to be from the Water Board, other utility provider, police or other official agency. They can also pose as canvassers or door to door sales people. The offenders can be male and female and sometimes children are used to distract the occupant whilst an accomplice enters the premises.
It is unlikely that older people will actually become victims, but the fear of this crime remains high within that age group. We need to make this section of our community feel safer.
The following advice is given to everyone reading this newsletter and it is hoped that you will report any incidents where you suspect that a distraction burglary may have happened or been attempted. Residents can also help by keeping their eye on any elderly resident in their area who might become the victim of these thieves.
ADVICE
If someone claiming to be an official comes to the door, do not let them in unless they have a pre-arranged appointment. If an appointment has been made, check their Identification card and do not let them in unless you are fully satisfied that they are genuine. Always take the identification and check it carefully. NEVER let anyone into your home who cannot provide Identification. If you have not arranged an appointment for the visit, ask them to contact you by letter to arrange a suitable time and date so you can have a friend or relative present when the visit is made.
NEVER let anyone in who you have not made a previous arrangement to see or who cannot produce a genuine identification. IF IN DOUBT - KEEP THEM OUT.
Always place a door chain, door bar or similar device across the door before opening it when someone knocks.
If you do have a strange caller always inform someone, police, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, next door neighbour. This enables the police to warn other residents in the area of the possibility of having bogus callers in the area. If you are at all suspicious of the person who called, please let the police know about the caller and if you can give some type of description even better.
If you are aged 60 or over and have less than £20,000 in savings there is a free service which will fit door chains or bars, Mortice locks, Mortice bolts, window locks and smoke detectors. These are available to residents of the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. It is called "Leicestershire Safe at Home" and they can be contacted on 01530 837097. If you live next to someone who fits the above description who may not be able to contact the service and you would like to help them, you can also contact the above service, but only if the person concerned says it is alright for you to do so. Remember this service is only available to any 60 plus residents.
SmartWater - The Way To Reduce Crime
NOT one of the 600 homes in Burbage using the SmartWater detection system has been burgled since the scheme was introduced 14 months ago. This statement by Hinckley police was backed by research from the University of Leicester. It found from a survey of 100 criminals that simply displaying signs saying a property was protected by Smart Water was a deterrent.
SmartWater is a bottled solution with its own DNA-style code which is used to mark property. It glows under ultra-violet light. It was introduced into Burbage by the Police, Neighbourhood Watch and the Burbage Parish council who between them provided warning signs for houses and on the roads leading into the village.
The study, led by Martin Gill, a professor of criminology at Leicester University, identified SmartWater as being more effective in deterring experienced criminals than security guards, burglar alarms, ink dye tags and CCTV. The impact of SmartWater as a criminal deterrent even topped high-visibility police patrols.
Mr Gill said: "According to our sample, SmartWater provided a strong projected deterrent value in that 74 per cent of the offenders interviewed said they would be put off from breaking into a building with a SmartWater poster or sign displayed. Overall, the findings indicate that crime-reduction strategies using SmartWater products have a strong deterrent effect. In particular, one notable finding of the study was that whilst ‘property marking' in general acts as a reasonable deterrent, the combination of forensic products which SmartWater uses in its holistic approach increases the deterrent factor substantially."
When scored out of ten by respondents in regard to deterrent value, SmartWater was awarded the highest average score (8.3 out of a score of 10) compared to a range of other crime deterrents. CCTV scored 6.2, Burglar Alarms scored 6.0 and security guards scored 4.9.
PC Lesley Clarke, neighbourhood officer for Burbage, said: "We have been delighted with the success so far and have doubled the number of homes we have supplied SmartWater to since October 2006. SmartWater can easily be applied to property and will show up under an ultra-violet light. In the event that the property is stolen and recovered, it can be traced and returned to the owner."
"We have also erected signs at all entrances to Burbage warning people that it is a SmartWater area. Some signs are also going up on individual streets where a substantial number of homes have purchased SmartWater."
Anyone in Burbage who wants more information can visit www.leics.policeuk and search for SmartWater or call the Police on 0116 222 2222 or to hear a detailed explanation of how it works and purchase your supply of SmartWater at a greatly reduced price of £15 a saving of over £30 just pop down to;
Burbage Police Office (behind the library)
Open 10am to 2pm on Farmers Market Day,
The 1st Saturday in the Month 1st March 2008
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Coming Soon - How to Drug Proof Your Kids
Worried parents wondering if there's any way they can stop their kids trying drugs, alcohol or tobacco will be able to find some answers soon at a course in Burbage. Further details to follow but if you are interested please reserve the following dates, 18th and 19th April, in your diary.
Contact Numbers
Emergency Police 999. Non Emergency Police 0116 222 2222 Burbage Beat Team 0116 222 2222 then 2 and 4140 for PC Lesley Clarke Or 4466 for PC Michelle Gray or 6618 for PCSO Corrie Maycock Or 6670 for PCSO Andy Harrison Leaving Your Name & Number Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
| Burbage Parish Council 01455 637533 Hinckley Council 01455 238141 Emergency Out Of Hours 01455 251137 Hinckley Council - Noise / Abandoned Cars / Fly Tipping all Environmental issues. 01455 238141 Victim Support 01455 233544 Age Concern 01455 612452 Hinckley Times 01455 891965 No Cold Calling 08454 040506
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How to find out more about Burbage Neighbourhood Watch
Our Web address is
http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/burbage/neighbourhoodwatch.html or
www.leicestershirenhw.com - Select - NHW Directory - then Burbage NHW or contact Burbage Neighbourhood Watch Development Officer
Graham Davis 01455 891086 by leaving your name & number
or email graham@burbageneighbourhoodwatch.co.uk
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CINEMA FOR YOU(TH)
A monthly cinema club for young people between the ages of 11 and 16 has been started in the Church Extension at St Catherine's Church, Burbage.
Thursday, 13th March at 7.00 pm-£2 - All welcome
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Time Switches - if you think you could benefit from one of these devises which will turn a lamp on in your home at a specific time whilst you are out, there are a limited number available to Burbage residents for free at the next Police Surgery on Saturday the 1st of March 2008 (only one per household).
Fire Safety Check
Make sure your home is safe by arranging a free Home Fire Safety Check by contacting Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters on Telephone number 0116 2872241 now. This service is available to anyone FREE. Book it
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Burbage Neighbourhood Watch is Sponsored by Watchdogs Ltd of Burbage
Providing the following services - Static Guarding, Static Dog Handling, Mobile Patrol Security and Drugs Units, Key Holding, Alarm Response, Drugs and Explosive Search (sniffer dogs), Drugs Awareness Training, Risk Assessments, Security Improvement Plans, Policy Writing including lone working, Lone Working Protection, Key Recovery, Pet Dog and Handler Training. Contact Phil on 0870 750 0545 or Email:info@watchdogs.ltd.uk:
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