NEWSLETTER

    April 2001

    Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer
    Billericay Police Station,
    Billericay
    CM12 9AB
    Direct Line 01277 633090

      You may need a magnifying glass to read the crime figures on the back of this sheet. Normally I can get the details on one page, using a reasonable size typeface, plus some other information. This period has seen a lot of crime and I was keen to list all the details I have. Having said that, I am sure that there is also a good deal of crime that goes un-reported, so the picture is probably worse that is painted here!

    A quick look at the crime details reveals two important points:

    Garages and sheds are increasingly becoming a target for thieves. Why? : Security is usually lax; typical garage doors have a simple lock that is easily forced open. Increasingly garages contain high value good (tools, gardening and sports equipment) that are easily sold on at such places as boot fairs. Garages are sometimes remote from the house and therefore offer the thieves a chance to work without being seen.

    There are some things you can do to protect your garage and shed:

  • i.Fit better locks, consider an additional good quality padlock in addition to the existing lock.
  • Fit a garage / shed alarm - these are available from DIY stores and are particularly useful for remote garages and sheds.
  • Mark your property. Call us if you need help.
  • Last but not least, check your insurance policy - make sure it covers the goods you keep in your shed or garage.

      Secondly, a high proportion of the crime involved Theft From Motor Vehicles, look at the value of the goods stolen - it is fairly low. 38% of all crime is drug related and cars are a soft target. Most of the crime you can see on the back of this sheet will have be committed to fund someone's drug habit. It is probably impossible to arrest every drugs user but useful intelligence to the Police will be able to target the drug dealers. It is not just teenagers and adults that develop drug habits that need constant feeding; school children are deliberately targeted by drug dealers as their future customers - and the main way for school children to obtain the amount of money needed to pay the dealer is to steal. Drug dealers do not put out signs, but they are not that difficult to spot. Keep a lookout for people hanging around school gates or nearby; people in parked cars who get visited by pedestrians; nervous exchanges in pubs and clubs. If you think you have information that can help call the Police on 01277 631212 or PC Kevin Hopton direct on 01268 244028 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111. You do not need to give your name and a call to Crime Stoppers may result in a reward.

    So what does it all cost? The figures quotes for damage are probably understated; some people think a new side window for a car is about £50, in reality £250 is nearer the mark. Look at the number of incidents where tools are stolen; the value is probably accurate but what we do not see is the loss of earnings of the victim, who may go out of business if they cannot afford to replace the equipment. A quick calculation on the cost of reported crime in Billericay for the first three months of 2001 is:

  • Value of goods stolen in Burglaries: £ 38,249
  • Cost of damage caused in Burglaries: £ 9,535
  • Value of goods stolen from vehicles: £ 32,135
  • Damage caused in theft from vehicles: £ 4,980
  • Value of vehicles stolen £ 77,575
  • Cost of criminal damage: £ 14,855
  • Which gives a total of £177,329

    Remember we all pay for this in insurance premiums and Council Taxes. Help Stop It!

      Do you know someone who wants to join Neighbourhood Watch?
    If you wish to join your local scheme or start a scheme in your area, please call us at the Police Station. We will be pleased to give you the name of the local Co-Ordinator or help you start a new scheme.

    Crime Cannot Flourish in a Community that Cares
    .
    Visit the Billericay Neighbourhood Watch site at: www.btinternet.com/~billericay.nw/site/index.html Who's Who
    Police Inspector: Steve Tutton - 01277 631212
    Community Liaison Officer: PC Kevin Hopton
    Direct Line - 01268 244028
    Crime Prevention Colin Mead: 01268 532212
    N.W. Direct Line 01277 633090
    Diary Dates Members meetings are held on the following dates at the Billericay Football Club, Blunts Wall Road, 8pm, everyone is welcome.
    13 June, 8 August, 10 October and 5 December.
    Billericay Fun Day 30 June.

    Crime Figures for February-March 2001

     Burglary

  • 18 February Harbell Close, Thieves broke into a garage, nothing stolen, but £1,200 worth of damage caused.
  • 21 February Rectory Road, Thieves broke into a garage, caused £100 worth of damage entering and stole a quad bike to the value of £1,420.
  • 23 February Stock Road, Thieves forced a side window of a house, causing £200 worth of damage and then stole jewellery to the value of £3,362.
  • 24 February Western Road, Thieves broke into a shop and stole the electronic cash register valued at £650.
  • 11 March Meadow Way, Thieves broke into Sunnymead Junior School, caused £1,000 worth of damage and stole building equipment to the value of £300.
  • 20 March Stonechat Road, Thieves tried to break into a garage, failed, but caused £45 worth of damage.
  • 20 March Stock Road, Thieves broke into Mayflower High School, caused £300 worth of damage and stole computers to the value of £2,800.
  • 26 March Noak Hill Road, Thieves broke into a shop and stole equipment worth £2,583 and caused £1,000 worth of damage.
  • 31 March Belgrave Road, Thieves broke into a shed and stole sports and garden equipment to the value of £800 and caused £10 worth of damage.

    Theft from Motor Vehicle

  • 14 February Lakeside, Thieves stole hub caps, value £40 from a Volkswagen camper van.
  • 16 February Grosvenor Gardens, Thieves stole the index plates, value £10, from a silver BMW 318
  • 17 February Somerfields Car Park, High Street, Thieves stole audio equipment and a mobile phone, value £150, from a Peugeot 309
  • 18 February Railway Station Car Park, Thieves smashed a window of a Vauxhall Corsa, causing £300 worth of damage and stole personal documents to the value of £30.
  • 19 February Railway Station Car Park, Thieves smashed the front near-side window of a BMW car, causing £150 worth of damage, and stole audio equipment to the value of £200.
  • 3 March Burstead Golf Club, Tye Common Road, Thieves smashed the from quarter light of a a Range Rover, causing £80 worth of damage, and stole audio equipment to the value of £350.
  • 6 March Kingsway. Thieves smashed a front quarter light of a Peugeot 106, causing £40 worth of damage, and stole audio equipment to the value of £550.
  • 6 March The Redinge, Thieves smashed a rear quarter light of a Nissan Micra, causing £100 worth of damage, and stole Audio equipment to the value of £50.
  • 6 March The Redinge, Thieves smashed a rear quarter light of a green Peugeot 405 and stole video equipment to the value of £150.
  • 6 March Grange Road, Thieves smashed a front quarter light of a Volkswagen camper, causing £90 worth of damage and stole tools to the value of £500.
  • 7 March Well Mead, Thieves broke into a blue Ford Sierra and stole audio equipment worth £60.
  • 8 March Railway Station Car Park, Thieves smashed front window of a blue Ford Fiesta, causing £100 worth of damage and then stole audio equipment to the value of £385.
  • 11 March Crown Road, Thieves broke into a Renault Clio, causing £100 worth of damage and stole goods valued at £500.
  • 11 March Sunnymede, Thieves broke into a green Peugeot 106 and stole audio equipment to the value of £200.
  • 15 March Hannakins Farm, Thieves broke into a silver Landrover, and stole personal goods and credit cards to the value of £350 (not including what was later spent on the credit cards).
  • 15 March Kings Head, Southend Road, Thieves smashed a rear quarter light of a grey Vauxhall Carlton causing £50 and stole personal goods to the value of £400.
  • 16 March Radford Crescent, Swimming Pool, Thieves smashed a window of a green Mazda MX5, causing £200 worth of damage, and stole audio equipment and personal equipment to the value of £450.
  • 16 March Tye Common Road, Thieves smashed window of blue Ford Mondeo, caused £100 worth of damage and stole personal good and credit cards to the value of £60.
  • 20 March Perry Street, Thieves broke into a Blue Toyota Hi-Ace and stole tools to the value of £1,000
  • 20 March Radford Way, Thieves broke into a black Mercedes-Benz by smashing a window and leaving the boot open, causing £700 worth of damage and stole audio equipment to the value £700.
  • 20 March The Pantiles, Thieves smashed a window of a black Ford Escort, causing £100 worth of damage and stole audio equipment to the value of £140.
  • 20 March Kelvedon Road, Thieves forced the rear door of a while Volkswagen van, causing £200 worth of damage and stole tools to the value of £1,000.
  • 20 March Morris Avenue, Thieves smashed a front window of a black Ford Escort causing £260 worth of damage and stole the tax disk valued at £5.
  • 30 March Rumbullion Drive, Thieves stole the wheels and tyres worth £840 from a blue Ford Mondeo. Theft of Motor Vehicles
  • 31 March Western Road, Thieves stole a Peugeot 106, valued at £3,000.

    Criminal Damage

  • 19 February Scrub Rise, £200 worth of mindless damage to a garden wall.
  • 23 February Twilights, High Street, glass door panel smashed worth £100.
  • 8 March Chapel Street, damage to door locks of a Transit Van.
  • 8 March Perry Street, kitchen window broken, worth £100.
  • 9 March High Street, Criminal caused water damage to a shop , £20 of damage
  • 14 March Western Road, damage to window frame, worth £10.
  • 14 March Salesbury Drive, £45 worth of damage caused to a garden fence
  • 14 March Perry Street, £100 worth of damage caused to windows.
  • 18 March High Street, £750 worth of damage caused to a shop window
  • 19 March Mayflower Pub, fog lamps on a Ford Fiesta smashed, £20 worth of damage reported.
  • 20 March Norsey View Road, £80 worth of damage to a Bedford Van
  • 20 March Ganels Road, £100 worth of damage caused to garage doors.
  • 24 March Bellvue Road, £100 worth of damage to garden fence
  • 26 March Stonechat Road, £250 worth of damage to a garage door
  • 27 March Meadoway, window smashed, causing £40 worth of damage.
  • 27 March High Street Car Park, behind Woolworths, £600 worth of damage to a white Porsche.
  • 29 March Bell Farm Green, £100 worth of damage to a house window.