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

February 2000

Sandra Burton, Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer

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

The passing of a good friend

It is with great sadness that we have to tell you the BILL ROGERS passed away on 1st January.

Bill was the Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator for the Hillside Road area and provide an unstinting service to the people in his area.

Besides running his own watch, Bill helped to start a number of other watches in nearby roads and was always keen to expand existing watches.

If you have ever walked pass Bill's house you will know that he was a keen and successful gardener, for which he won many prizes.

We will miss seeing him at our meetings and miss the support he always readily gave.

Our thoughts go out to his family at this sad time and we hope they will find comfort from the number of people who will also miss Bill.

Essex Neighbourhood Watch

You may remember that Essex Neighbourhood Watch was formed about 18 months ago with the aim of bringing together all the various schemes in Essex helping to reduce costs with bulk purchasing arrangements. Want to know how things are progressing? Then please come along to The Laindon Community Centre on 7 April at 7.30pm and meet Geoff Ireland, the Chairman of the Essex Neighbourhood Watch group. It will be an open meeting and you are more than wel- come to ask any questions you wish.

Fire blankets DO work!

On of our members purchased one of the fire blankets we had on sale. The bad news is they had to use it. The good news is it saved their house from burning down and probably saved their lives.

Clearing up after Christmas lunch, one of the candles set fire to table decoration (which was supposed to be fire proof); within seconds the whole table was alight. The smoke was so think that they had to cover their faces with damp tea towels to get into the room. Luckily the fire blanket was to hand and they used it to smother the fire.

The furniture in the room was wrecked, along with all the decorations, plus smoke damage in the rest of the house.

It could have been a lot worse, lives could have been lost.

Are you prepared? If you want advice on fire protect just call in at the Fire Station. We have more supplies of Fire Blankets (£14 each), please cal us or come along to the next members meeting if you want one.

Crime on the rise

The latest national crime figures show a rise on many types of crime all across the country. It is the first rise in a number of years and must not be ignored.

Much of the crime experienced is drug related, but the effect on the victim is the same what- ever the cause.

The rise can be stopped and turned around with YOUR help. Now more importantly than ever, report any thing suspicious to the Police - especially if you suspect drug dealing in your area. If we can drive out the drug dealers we will have removed on of the causes of crime.

You do not have to give your name, address or phone number when you call. You can call the Police on 01277 321212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

You can make an impact on crime by being the eyes and ears for the Police. SEE IT, RE- PORT IT, NOW.

The cold weather is here again.

We have been quite lucky with the weather over the past few weeks, but the forecast is that colder weather will move in soon.

To most of us the cold is just an inconvenience and we may have to scrape the car wind shield in the morning, but the older members of our community cold can be a killer.

The onset of hypothermia causes the victim to fall into a sleep they may never awake from.

Please keep an eye out for elderly member of the community in your area, if you don't see them about when you expect to or they have the curtains closed all day - be bold, knock on their door and see if they are ok.

If they are cold, start warming them with warm (not hot) drinks, wrap they in blanks with a warm (not hot) water bottle, get the heating on in the house. If you are more concerned call an ambulance.

Doctors surgeries, hospitals and council offices all have leaflets on how to stay warm and how to cope with people suffering from the cold. If you know of elderly people, you may like to get tem a copy of the leaflets. Either way, please take a few minutes of your time to keep an eye on the elderly , you may save a life and even make a new friend.

CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111

Thefts from Garages and Sheds

There has been a spate of thefts from garages and sheds in the Mountnessing Road and Upland Road areas. The main items stolen has been food from fridges and freezers with access be- ing gained via rear or side fences. If you become victim of such a crime please DO NOT DISTURB the scene of the crime - don't walk in the area or touch anything. Call the Police, tell them about the crime and make a point of saying you have not disturbed the scene.

Billericay Fun Day

Keep Saturday 1 July free on your calendar - Billericay Fun Day strikes again at Sun Corner.

Lots of TOMV and TFMV in Billericay

What it means is Theft Of Motor Vehicle and Theft From Motor Vehicle, and there is a lot of it happening in Billericay.

12 cases of Theft From Motor Vehicles since 28 December, mainly stereo equipment, personal possessions and car parts (such as body kits, spoilers).

10 cases of Theft Of Motor Vehicles since 28 December, mainly the more popular models, which are easier to sell.

Again, you can make the difference by following some simple rules:

Doors and Windows

Lock the doors, windows, boot and sunroof every time you leave your car however briefly.

Ignition Key and Immobiliser

Take the ignition out even when the car is parked on your drive or in your garage. Follow this routine even when filling up at a petrol station or just popping into the newsagents. If you do not have an immobiliser, consider having one fitted.

Steering lock and other security devices

Always use them. They really do take only seconds to fit.

I have heard people say 'we I am only going into the supermarket for 15 minutes' so they think it takes longer than 15 minutes to steal a car! Wrong. The chances are that the car will be stolen within a couple of minutes of leaving it. If you are going into a supermarket you will be away for at least 30 minutes that give the car thief a good 25 minute head start. Time yourself next time you put on your steering wheel lock bet you it takes less than 30 seconds is it worth that 30 seconds to help protect your car?

Valuables and other possessions

Don’t leave them on display. That old coat on the back seat may be worthless but a thief does not know that. They may break in to see if there are credit cards of cash in the pockets. The cost of replacing a car window if often far greater than the value of the good stolen a window will cost you about £100 to replace. If you can, take your belongings with you. If you can't, then lock everything out of sight in the boot. In particular do not leave the following anywhere in your car:

• Cheque, credit cards and debit cards

• Driving documents and personal correspondence - they could help a thief to sell your car or provide a cover story if they are stopped by the police.

• Mobile phones. 40% of all car breakins involve the theft of mobile phones. Yes they are cheap to buy, when you take out a contract. Just go and buy a replacement phone and see how much it will cost you. The thief may not want to sell the phone, just use it for a few calls, throw it way and steal another.

Always remove these if you can. Whether removable or not, all equipment should be marked both visibly and permanently with vehicle registration number. Make a note of the serial number and keep it in a safe place not in the car!

Etching

Arrange to have the vehicle registration number and/or your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched onto all glass surfaces, including the side windows and headlamps. Check with your insurance company, many with provide the service free of charge.

You can also have your very expensive alloy wheels etched by specialists. It is very difficult to positively identify your own set of alloys just by looking at them.

Lastly - They are not Joy Riders they are Car Thieves

Who's Who

• Police Inspector: Steve Tutton - 631212

• Community Liaison PC Kevin Hopton Direct Line - 636454

• N W Liaison Officer:Sandra Burton - 631212 ext 45431

• Crime Prevention;Colin Mead - 01268 532212

• Billericay Police Station - 631212

Diary Dates

Members meeting dates for 2000 are:

9 February; 12 April; 7 June; 9 August;

11 October and 6 December

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

Billericay Fun Day 1st July at Sun Corner

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

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.