CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111

Who's Who
Police Inspector: Steve Tutton - 01277 631212 Community Liaison PC Kevin Hopton Officer: Direct Line - 01268 244028 Crime Prevention Colin Mead: 01268 532212 N.W. Direct Line 01277 633090<

Burglary

• 25 April Westbourne. Thieves broke into a domestic garage and stole a Ridgeback mountain bike worth £250.
  
• 25 April Newlands Road. Thieves broke into a domestic garage, luckily nothing stolen.
  
• 28 April Belgrave. Thieves broke into a secure maintenance cupboard causing £20 worth of damage and stole power tools to the value of £2,500. The thieves also broke into a parked van, but nothing stolen.
  
• 30 April Springfield Road. Thieves broke into a domestic garage, £100 of damage caused but nothing stolen.
  
• 30 April Cromwell Avenue. Thieves broke into a domestic garage, causing £30 worth of damage and stole a Ridgeback mountain bike valued at £200.
  
• 2 May Cromwell Avenue. Thieves broke into a domestic garage and stole a set of Mizzuno Sure Golf Clubs and a Cleveland Driver Hippo Golf Bag valued at £620.
  
• 2 May Cromwell Avenue. Thieves broke into a domestic garage, causing £20 worth of damage and stole an Ammaco pedal cycle and Bosch power tools to the value of £450.
• 10 May Meadow Rise. Thieves tried to break into a shop, but failed.
  
• 10 May The Spinney. One thief distracted the elderly flat owner of a while a second thief stole £856.10.

  Theft from Motor Vehicle
  

• 19 April Stock Road. Thieves broke into a Mazda van and stole power tools to the value of £1,000. £200 worth of damage caused during the break in.
  
• 25 April Perry Street. Thieves stole the alloy wheels valued at £1,200 from a Ford Fiesta.
  
• 26 April Norsey Road. Thieves broke into a Ford Mondeo, causing £100 worth of damage, and stole CDs and keys to the value of £150.
  
• 26 April Hollyford. Thieves forced the nearside front door of a car, causing £200 worth of damage and stole goods and tools to the value of £200.
  
• 26 April Hollyford. Thieves stole the wheels worth £1,000 from a Ford Granada Scorpio.
  
• 26 April Longtail. Thieves forced the front nearside door of a Ford Mondeo, causing £100 worth of damage, and stole tools and keys worth £50.
  
• 28 April Connaught Way. Thieves broke into an Austin Maestro van, causing £100 worth of damage, and then stole Black and Decker and Bosch power tools to the value of £200.
  
• 28 April Grosvenor Gardens. Thieves caused £200 worth of damage to a Citroen Berlingo van when they broke in to steal a Makita screw gun and hammer drill valued at £1,060 and the vehicle Tax Disk.
  
• 28 April Kensington Gardens. Thieves caused £50 worth of damage breaking into a Volkswagen pickup and stole two Makita drills, a transformer, a screw gun and a petrol hedge trimmer, all valued at £600.
  
• 28 April Connaught Way. Thieves caused £100 of damage breaking into a Vauxhall Astra, nothing stolen.
  
• 28 April Porchester Road. Thieves broke into a Ford Escort Van, causing £100 worth of damage and stole two Hilti power drills worth £1,800.
  
• 28 April Portman Drive. Thieves broke into Ford Transit van, causing £75 worth of damage, and stole a Quick Cut Circular Saw valued at £500.
  
• 1 May Summerdale. Thieves caused £80 worth of damage when they stole the standard wheels and tyres, valued at £300 from a Ford Mondeo.
  
• 2 May Carson Road. Thieves stole the wheels and tyres valued at £800 from a Ford Fiesta and then caused £250 worth of damage by breaking a window and stealing personal goods from the car.
  
• 3 May Broome Road. Thieves smashed the rear window of a Ford Racing Puma (estimated damage at £500), stole the key to the alloy wheels and the wheels, valued at £1,500.
  
• 4 May Mons Avenue. Thieves caused £200 worth of damage to a Ford Transit van when they broke in to steal the radio and a power grinder, valued at £400.
  
• 5 May Greenway. Thieves caused £100 worth of damage to a Citroen Berlingo van when they broke in to steal a Bosch power drill and a Makita Cordless drill, valued at £500.
  
• 5 May Darell Way. Thieves caused £100 worth of damage when they broke into an Hyundai van and stole a Bosh 24 volt drill, Bosch 110 volt drill, transformer and a DeWalt battery drill, valued at £1,000.
  
• 5 May Hatfield Drive. Thieves forced the rear door of a White Vauxhall Combi van, causing £100 worth of damage and then stole a Bosch disc cutter and Bosch Drill valued at £700.
  
• 7 May Norsey View Drive. Thieves stole the yellow flashing lamp, valued at £20, from a Peugeot van.
  
• 7 May High Street, car park. Thieves smashed the front window of a car, causing £500 worth of damage and then stole a Kenwood car radio / CD player worth £350.
  
• 7 May Potash Road. Thieves caused £30 worth of damage when they broke into Fiesta Courier van and then stole a Kango Drill worth £400.
  
• 8 May High Street. Thieves broke into a Somerfield van, stole a mobile phone and atlas worth £100.
  
• 10 May High Street car park. Thieves caused £150 worth of damage to a Silver Mercedes-Benz when they broke in to steal a compact disc player valued at £200.

  Theft of Motor Vehicles
  

• 26 April The Links. Black Ford Orion (F237 SAC) valued at £250 stolen.
  
• 29 April Radford Way. Grey Ford Fiesta worth £1,000 stolen, later recovered in Botany Hill.
  
• 9 May Stock Road. White Ford Mondeo (L730 JFV) worth £3,000 stolen.

It is probable that much of this crime was drug related. If you think that drug dealers users are in your area, please call Kevin Hopton on 01268 244028 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. 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.

Theft From Motor Vehicles
Once again this category of crime tops the list. Dwelling Burglary is down and so is Theft of Motor Vehicles, so why is Theft From Motor Vehicles on the increase? Vehicles are usually easier to break in to; thieves can see if they are unattended; thieves can usually see what they want to steal before they break in. Have a look at the figures on the back of this newsletter, there is a high incidence of stealing power tools from vans. The tools probably end up in boot sales or are sold directly to other workmen. If you are offered used power tools at very low prices, think first. Get as many details as you can and call the Police or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Spare a thought for the people who have had the tools of their trade stolen - not only do they need to buy new equipment, but they are loosing income while the are without their tools. If you own tools, ensure that they are post coded. Alloy wheels are also high on the list of desirable things for thieves to steal. More people are using locking wheels nuts, BUT keeping the key with the jack! Thieves are now breaking in to cars to get to the jack to get the wheel nut key. Don't help them. Keep the key in a safe place, like your key ring, which you take out of the car when you leave it - don't you??

Distraction Burglary
(Also known as Bogus Callers and Artifice Burglary) Distraction Burglary is a particularly distressing crime. It is often targeted at the most vulnerable members of our society and can have very serious consequences on the quality of the life of many victims. Bogus callers pose as seemingly credible callers. They dress as utility workers, trades people or even police officer and think nothing of travelling long distances to seek new victims. They are particularly persuasive and articulate in gaining entry to victims homes, with the intent of stealing money and valuable. The average age of victims is 81 years and 60% are female, with a vast majority living alone. The crime can have a devastating effect on the victims and a number have suffered heart attacks, strokes and worsened mental health after a Distraction Burglary has taken place. Think about this if you have elderly relatives or neighbours. Current research suggests that it is older people who are in the main targeted by Bogus caller criminals and that many offences go unreported. In 1998 there were 16,000 known offences nationwide but we believe the total to be four or five times higher. A Government task Force has been set up to combat this particularly evil crime and is providing cash to help fight it. Twenty one agencies, including the Police, Neighbourhood Watch and Trading Standards have joined the task force..

A poignant reminder is the case of a local lady who was distracted by one Bogus Caller while another stole her saving of over £800. This burglary took place during the day and in full view of others.
What can you do to avoid being a victim? Here are a few steps you can take when answering the door:

• STOP think, are you expecting anyone to call?
• CHAIN put this on before you open the door, it will give you a barrier between you and the caller
• CHECK ask for their Identification Card, take and look at it carefully. Close the door and ring the number on the card if you are still not sure.
• GO only when you are sure they are genuine take the door off the chain and let them in . If you are not sure, close the door. If they do not go away, call the Police on 01277 631212 or 999 if they become threatening or abusive.

Members Meeting:
At the 13 June meeting we will have a talk on fraud from two of the country's experts. In October we will have representatives from Basildon Youth Services - which will be a great time to get any of the younger members of your family along to the meeting. August speaker is still not finalised - if you have a topic you would like covered, call us.

E-Mail updates:
Would you like to receive updates on crime in Billericay and urgent crime reports via e-mail? If so send an e-mail to billericaynw@talk21.com We will keep you updated via e-mail on progress of this initiative. Thanks.

Door Step Thefts.
Be ware that someone is stealing milk money, particularly in the Outwood Common area. Please keep an eye out for people acting suspiciously early in the morning. If possible, leave a cheque for your milk man - this would be of no use to the thief.