NEWSLETTER

    May 2001

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

     Vehicle Security At the April Members meeting, Tony and Russell from Decibels (one of the joint sponsors of our newsletters) came along and gave a very interesting talk on Vehicle security systems. This was a particularly relevant talk in light of the rising tide of vehicle crime in Billericay and across the country.

    There were some clear massages from the evening:

  • Don't leave goods on display in the car - lock them out of sight in the boot.
  • Always lock your car when you are away from it, even when paying for petrol in a filling station.
  • Fitting an alarm or security device may help to protect your car.
  • Always park in well lighted areas at night.

    The insurance and security industries use the Thatcham scale of categorising type of alarms and security devices. Qualified alarm installers (such as Decibels) will be able to provide guidance on each type of device. Here is a brief description of the Thatcham catagories:
    Category 1:

    Combined Alarm and Immobiliser

    Alarm goes off if a door or the boot is opened or if the vehicle is entered, by breaking a window for example. Immobilises the engine electrics and locks the steering
    Passively armed immobiliser, that is, it switches itself on when you leave the vehicle.
    Changes its own codes to prevent a thief copying the radio signal that sets and un-sets the alarm.
    Has a battery backed up siren.
    Best fitted by professionals.
    The most expensive type of device

    Category 2:

    Electronic/Electromechanical Immobiliser

    Immobilises the engine electrics and locks the steering
    Passively armed immobiliser, that is, it switches itself on when you leave the vehicle.
    Changes its own codes to prevent a thief copying the radio signal that sets and un-sets the alarm.
    Can be upgraded to include intruder alarm and battery backed up siren.
    Best fitted by professionals.
    Category 3:

    Mechanical Immobiliser

    Typically an additional steering lock or gear leaver lock.
    Provides a highly visible deterrent
    Easy fitted by any driver and fairly inexpensive to purchase
    Can be used in addition to Category 1 and 2.

    All three categories of alarm will help to prevent your vehicle being stolen in varying degrees of success. However, none will prevent a passing thief from smashing a window, leaning in and stealing any thing they fancy. These do not have to be high value goods unfortunately. The yob on its way home in the rain will happily smash a car window and steal a raincoat worth say £10, but cause £500 worth of damage doing it. Drug addicts are also happy to break in to cars to steal radios or low value items to sell for small amounts of cash to feed their sad little habits. Keep goods out of sight, even when the car is parked on your own driveway. Alloy wheel thefts - some late news that expensive alloy wheels are being stolen, even those protected by locking wheel nuts. In some cases the wheel nut keys are being kept with the car jack. Please find a more secure place in the car to keep the key, or better still, keep it on your key ring with the ignition key.

    Basildon District Volunteer Carers
    Now for some news about nice people. The Basildon District Volunteer Carers service exists to care for the elderly of Basildon, Billericay and Wickford. The volunteers provide such important services as:

  • Fare Share Car Service which provide a low cost door to door service for those who are unable to use public transport for shopping or visiting friends, but not for hospital visits.
  • Carers Car Service which provide a low cost service for medical journeys, such as hospital and doctors visits.
  • Toe Nail Cutting for those who have difficulty
  • Wheelchair Loan Service
  • Shopping Escort Service If you would like more information we have a supply of flyers (call us on 01277 633090) or you can call Basildon District Volunteer Carers direct on 01268 294235. It is a registered charity and supported by Basildon District Council.
    Like any voluntary organisation, they are always looking for helpers; if you have some time to spare, please give them a call.

    Billericay Police get on their bikes
    The Boys (ha ha ha!) in Blue from Billericay plan to cycle around the District on 20 June. Steve Tutton, Kevin Hopton, Rick Poulton, Mick Franklin, Rob Enderby and Nigel Scott plan to cover the 196 miles in relays of three at a time in about 8 hours. They plan to raise sponsorship money for the Little Haven Hospice which cares for terminally sick children. If you can help with some sponsor ship please contact Kevin Hopton at the Police Station or on 01268 244028 - every little helps!

    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 Diary Dates Members meetings are held on the following dates at the Billericay Football Club, Blunts Wall Road, 8 pm, everyone is welcome.
    13 June, 8 August, 10 October and 5 December.
    Billericay Fun Day: 30 June

    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

    Crime Figures 31 March to 18 April 2001

    Burglary
  • 31 March Noak Hill Road. Thieves entered a house via patio doors and stole photographic equipment, a mobile phone, cheque book and credit cards to the value of £500 (not including use of the stolen cards and cheque book).
  • 6 April Hollyford. Thieves broke into a garage and stole power tools to the value of £750.
  • 7 April Talisman Walk. Thieves forced an entry in a domestic garage, cause £20 worth of damage, and stole gardening equipment to the value of £650.
  • 7 April Noak Hill Road. Thieves broke into a garden shed, causing £80 worth of damage, and stole a Honda Rotary Mover, model HRD535 worth £1200.
  • 9 April Grosvenor Gardens. Thieves broke into a domestic garage, but nothing stolen.
  • 10 April Beams Way. Thieves broke into a home via a side window and stole video and photographic equipment to the value of £4000.
  • 12 April Sylvan Tryst. Thieves broke in to a domestic garage and stole computer equipment and power tools to the value of £480.

    Theft from Motor Vehicle

  • 5 April Ganels Road. Thieves smashed rear widow of a grey Austin Montego, causing £250 worth of damage. Personal and motoring documents to the value of £5 were stolen.
  • 6 April Meadow Rise. Thieves broke into a Ford Escort and stole a mobile phone, valued at £100.
  • 6 April Gardeners Lane. Thieves stole all four alloy wheels and two white indicator lights from a BMW 3 series car. Value of stolen property is £2000.
  • 13 April Caterwood. Thieves broke into a silver Audi car and stole personal goods to the value of £80.
  • 18 April Outwood Farm Road. Thieves broke into a white Bedford Van and stole tools to the value of £160.
  • 18 April Outwood Farm Road. Thieves broke into a white Renault Master Van, causing £100 worth of damage, and stole tools to the value of £1495.
  • 18 April Portman Drive. Thieves broke into a blue Mercedes-Benz Vito van, causing £100 worth of damage and stole tools to the value of £1000.

    Theft of Motor Vehicles

  • 30 March Mallow Gardens. Thieves stole a Blue Yamaha Motor Cycle (P498 PVX) valued at £1,500.
  • 3 April Radford Crescent. Thieves stole a Red Toyota Celica (G755 CJN) valued at £3500. Criminal Damage
  • 2 April High Street. £20 worth of damage caused when criminals smashed a window.
  • 2 April Salesbury Drive. Criminals scratched the paintwork on a Peugeot car, causing £20 worth of damage.
  • 6 April Salesbury Drive. Criminals scratched the paintwork of a Peugeot car, causing £200 worth of damage.
  • 9 April Coxbridge Court. Criminals caused £500 worth of damage to the bodywork of a blue Ford Focus.
  • 10 April Pantiles. Criminals smashed a window of a pub, causing £100 worth of damage.
  • 10 April Langdon Road. Criminals smashed the windscreen of a Renault Espace car, while it was being driven. Luckily no one was injured by the imbeciles who threw the stone. Damage of £500 was caused.
  • 13 April High Street. Criminals smashed a restaurant window causing £1000 worth of damage.
  • 13 April Westbourne Gardens. Criminals smashed the window of a private house, causing £200 in damage.
  • 14 April Stock Road. Criminals caused £100 worth of damage when they smashed two windows at the rear of a shop.
  • 15 April Stock Road. Criminals pulled down a fence panel causing £50 worth of damage.
  • 16 April Grange Road. Criminals damaged the front door of a news agents causing £150 worth of damage.