If you wish to join your local scheme or start a scheme in your area, please call the NW Liaison Office 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.

Remember: Crime Cannot Flourish in a Community that Cares.

NEWSLETTER

December 1999

Sandra Burton, Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer

Billericay Police Station, Billericay CM12 9AB 01277 631212 ext 45431

Christmas Tree Safety.
Every year their are accidents involving Christmas Trees. The two main causes are trees falling on young children or the fairy lights causing a fire. Check your tree is really secure and don’t let small children near it unattended. Check your fairy lights carry the British Standards mark and do not leave them on while you are out of the house.

• A plug in Residual Current device is a good idea as it will protect you and other from electrical shock if the lights do develop a fault.

• Going away for Christmas or the New Year?

• Then keep it a secret! Don’t let the local thieves know.

• Cancel regular deliveries (newspapers, milk)

  Don’t announce you will be away, tell only those who need to know.

• Fit automatic switches to lights and a radio to make it look and sound like you are at home.

• Ask a neighbour to look after your house by dropping in twice a day to open and close the cur- tains, move the mail, switch lights on and off.

• Ask a neighbour to park a car on your drive way and put a bin bag outside your house on bin day.

• Don’t leave stealable goods in sight from a window.

• Do anything to make your home look occupied.

• Make sure you lock the doors! You would be surprised how many people leave their home unlocked.

• And all those receipts and Guarantees . . .

• Yes, aren't there a lot of them? But they could be useful if the present needs to be exchanged or repaired, so put them in a sealed envelope with the gift so the recipient can open it if they ever need to.

• Don’t forget, as soon as possible mark your property with your postcode and house number - we have got pens you can use if you need one.

• If the present has a serial number, record it along with a description and the date you received it in a book, that information may be vital for an insurance claim or to help the Police trace missing property.

• But most of all - DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

• We all like a festive drink or five, and there is not much wrong in that. Trying to judge how much you can safely drink is almost impossible, so use my well proven method, don’t drink any alcohol if you are going to drive. Have an extra few when you get home. It’s easy!

Crime Figures

Burglary

28 October:Decibels, Sun Corner 30 October: Lampern Close

29 October: Dillons, Grange Parade 1 November: Norsey Road

8 November: Bridleway

Theft from Motor Vehicle

22 October: Western Road 26 October: Norsey View Road

27 October: Radford Way 26 October Norsey View Drive

27 October: Kennelworth Close 26 October: Upland Road

7 November: Upland Drive 27 October: Station Road

28 October: Grange Road 3 November: Trinity Road

8 November: Laindon Common Road 11 November: Burstead Drive

4 November: Arundel Mews

Theft of Motor Vehicle

2 November Grange Road

It is probable that much of this crime was drug related. If you think that drug dealers and drug takers are in your area, please call Kevin Hopton on 636454 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. you do not need to give your name. Your information could stop a crime or even save a life.

At this time of year it is always difficult to remind people that not everyone shares the spirit of goodwill to all. There is still the element of our society that would rather steal than earn an honest pound and even though you will be taking time off at Christmas and the New Year, our local thieves and burglars will be working as usual. If fact this is the busiest time of their year.

• In all the hustle and bustle to do the shopping for Christmas it is easy to forget some of the basic safeguards, so here are a few reminders:

• DON'T leave your wallet or purse, with all the lovely cash and credit cards, on shop counters while you go to get the item you forgot. Sounds silly? Watch how many people do it.

• DO put your shopping in the boot of the car, not on the back seat while you go back into the shops.

• DO keep you purse or wallet in a secure (zippered or button) inside pocket, not on the top of your shopping bag.

• DO make sure you set your timers to switch on lights and radios if you are going shopping straight from work and will be home late.

• DON'T tell people in shops when you will not be at home to take a delivery.

CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111

Who's Who

Police Inspector: Steve Tutton - 631212

Community Liaison PC Kevin Hopton

Officer Direct Line - 636454

N W Liaison Officer: Sandra Burton

631212 ext 45431

Crime Prevention Colin Mead

Officer: 01268 532212

Billericay Police Station - 631212

Diary Dates

Members meeting dates for 2000 are:

9 February 12 April

4 June 9 August

11 October 6 December

Everyone is welcome at the Billericay Football Club at 8pm.

NW Items for Sale

Haynes Home Security Manuals: £3 (£9 in the shops)

Golf Marking Kits: £4 (£6 in the shops)

Tamper Proof Tax Holders: £1 each

Call us at the Police Station or come to a meeting if you wish to purchase any of them - all great value and make good Christmas gifts!

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 Po- lice 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

Stop Press: There are people telephoning residents asking if they own a TV/Video/HiFi and then asking if you will be away over Christmas!

Don’t talk to these people. Put the phone down.

Merry Christmas

Billericay Police, Crystal Print and Decibels HiFi and Alarms