NEWSLETTER

June Members Meeting Speaker

Mrs Susan Kielty of Trading Standards will be joining us on Wednesday 12 June at Billericay Football Club to talk about Essex Councils Doorstep initiative against Distraction Burglary and bogus doorstep traders.

Mrs Kielty has been the leading figure in the fight against this heinous crime which is typically perpetrated against the more vulnerable in our society—the elderly.

There seems to be no end to the lengths these people will go to trick their way into someone's home or try and con them for shoddy and overpriced work.

Do come along, especially if you are elderly, living alone or you have an elderly relative living apart from you.

There are an every increasing number of defences against these thieves and Mrs. Kielty will be only too pleased to illustrate them.

Here are some general pointers for you:

· If you are elderly or disabled, you may be able to get practical assistance for household repairs from your local care and repair agency. Ask your local council for details.

· If a caller offers you a bargaining for cash, ask for written details first and then get the advice of a friend or relative.

· Don’t let anyone in unless you are sure their ID is genuine. It doesn’t matter whether it’s gas, electricity, roofing or house maintenance – don’t let strangers into your home.

· Take your time to make a decision. A snap decision can easily be the wrong decision.

· You have seven days to change your mind and cancel the contract if what you buy from a doorstep trader costs more than Ł35 and you do not invite the seller to call at your home.

You do not have to talk to doorstep callers. If they becoming annoying close the door; if they become threatening call the Police.

Can you help?

At about 3pm on Wednesday 24 April thieves entered the paper shop at 12 Grange Road, Billericay (next to the Post Office). It is believed they were using a car that may have been parked outside. Whilst in the shop they stole a small amount of cash and a large quantity of cigarettes, about Ł8,000 in all. If you have any information please call PC Ellis on 01268 532212 ext. 45322 or Crimestoppers.

Don’t forget Fun Day

This year it is on Saturday 1 June and held at Lake Meadows. The daytime events will be followed by evening entertainment. Watch the local press for details.

Garage Burglaries

Half of the dwelling burglaries committed in the past six weeks were garage burglaries and in a number of cases the thieves walked into the unsecured garage.

Have a look around your garage and add up the replacement value of the contents; you may be amazed.

Ensure you lock the up when the garage is not in use; both the car door and the personal door. Be especially vigilant if you have an access door from your house into the garage; once inside the garage a burglar has plenty of time to work on the door into your home.

Mark your property with your postcode and house number (or first two letters of your house name). If you need advice or marking kits, give us a call at the Police Station.

If you keep ladders in the garage, keep them chained to the wall to stop them being used to get to bedroom windows.

So what happens to the stolen goods? They usually end up in boot sales, so watch what you buy! It is another good reason for marking your property, when boot sales get raided by the Police and Trading Standards they can trace the source of goods if they are post coded, which may identify the goods as stolen and the sellers as handling stolen goods.

Phone Scams

They are still about and people are still falling for them. If you are asked to call any number being ‘09’ be aware it is premium rate number and may cost Ł5 per minute.

Credit Card Company Callers

A week ago I was called by my credit card company, they wanted to sell me some additional services, I was mildly interested. To ensure I was the card holder they asked me for my security word (typically your mother’s maiden name). At this point in the conversation I realised I could not confirm who they were, so I asked them for my credit card number and the balance on my last statement. They could not respond so I hung up. It very likely was the credit card company calling, but they asked for the security word that would open up my account to anyone and they could not prove who they were! Just because people ask you questions over the phone, you do not have to answer unless you are satisfied they are genuine.

Crime Figures 15 March to 30 April (Six weeks)

Burglary

24 Half the burglaries involved domestic garages. In the majority of these garage burglaries the garage was unlocked and the thieves just walked in. The value of goods stolen amounted to Ł28,301 and damage at Ł3,385. The areas targeted by the thieves were: Carlyle Gardens, Radford Crescent, Dunfane, Western Mews, Dukes Farm Road, Mill Road, Sun Street, Burstead Drive, Newlands Road, Western Road, Jacqueline Gardens, Grange Road, Coach Mews, Talisman Walk, Coopers Drive, Froden Brook, Brightside Close, Trafalgar Way, Laindon Common Close, Church Street, Burstead Drive, Grange Road and Spencer Close.

Theft From Motor Vehicles

24 Thieves stole goods worth Ł19,659 and caused damage worth Ł3,370 while they did it. Most of the reported thefts involved goods that were left on display in the car. Targeted areas were: Salesbury Drive, Tyrrells Road, Porchester Close, Pilgrim Pub, Mountnessing Road, Radford Way, Perry Street, Princes Close, St Agnes Road, Lake Meadows, Crescent Close, The Meadow Way, Chapel Street (2), Burstead Golf Club (2), High Street, Kings Head pub, Radford Crescent, Wesley Avenue (2), Headly Road, Stockbrook Golf Club and High Meadow.

Theft Of Motor Vehicles

6 The theft of motor vehicles has typically been low in Billericay. The thieves tend to steal from the vehicle, usually to feed a drug habit. Do not assume your car is safe from those too lazy to earn a living; ensure you lock it and engage any additional security devices you have. The value of vehicles stolen this period was Ł8,000. It is not high value vehicles that are stolen, just any vehicle that is not well protected. The vehicles were stolen from: Betony Avenue, Rising Sun Pub, Hillway, High Street, Temple Close and Noak Hill Road.

Criminal Damage

27 The mindless caused Ł5,810 worth of damage that we all have to pay for in increased insurance premiums, increased Council Taxes and we have to look at the results of their stupidity—which by the way drags down the value of all the property in Billericay. The areas affected were: Beams Way, Noak Hill Road, Radford Crescent, Laindon Road, Swimming Pool (2), Tye Common Road, Stock Road (2), Radford Way, High Street (3), Fairfield Rise, Meade Close, Lake Avenue, Caterwood, Mountnessing Road, Perry Street, Stockbrook Manor, Cromwell Avenue, Scrub Rise, Chapel Street, High Meadow, Potash Road, Frith Wood Lane and Talisman Walk.

01277 633090 / Email: billericaynw@talk21.com