NEWSLETTER

    September 2003

     Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer

    Billericay Police Station, Billericay CM12 9AB

    Telephone 01277 633090

     

    CRIMESTOPPERS  0800 555 111

     

    If you see anything suspicious, call the Police on 01277 631212 or 999.  Your call is important.

    Crossing the High Street?

    One of our Co-Ordinators has raised a concern that there will soon be a serious accident in the High Street if pedestrians do not take more care when they cross.  There are three pedestrian crossings, but people still take a risk and cross anywhere, usually on a Saturday when there are more cars about.  Use the crossings—it is safer. 

    Quiz Night

    We are teaming up with the Billericay Mayflower Twinning Association this year and holding a Quiz Night on Saturday 22 November at the Women's Institute Hall.  Entry form in the next newsletter.

    Fun Day

    It was a great day at Lake Meadows, we distributed a lot of information, made some money for our funds, had fun and got burnt in the sun.  Many thanks to all those who came to help and to J & B Greengrocers in the High Street for supplying the coconuts at cost price—we really do appreciate their help.

    Guest Speaker for October

    Come along and meet our newest joint sponsor, Hollmark.  A local company specialising in Electrical Installations, who will be telling us about security lighting, detectors and other such crime prevention devices that are available on the market.  A good time to think about the darker evenings ahead and review your security arrangements.

    July Speaker

    Colt Alarms, another of our joint sponsors, came along last July to talk about alarm systems in general.  The technology is getting better all the time, especially in the areas of Passive Infrared  (PIR) detection alarms.  PIR detectors are easy to fit and one can cover a whole room.  The problem used to be that a cat or dog wandering about would set it off.  The latest technology can now detect the size of the object moving and can be programmed to ignore small animals.

    There are many alternative alarms available, such as PIR detectors, door and window detectors, alarms linked to monitoring services etc.  We have some information at the Police Station, but if you would like some advice, call Colt Alarms on 01268 270400 and say you are from Billericay Neighbourhood Watch—they will be happy to advise you .

    Do you have an intruder alarm?

    If you have, please ensure that you register your contact and key holder details at the Police Station.  Drop in at the front desk and provide the Police with details on how to contact you  and who holds the key to your house.  The Police have told us the they will not respond to calls for household alarms if there is no key holder registered.  Sounds harsh?  About 75% of all alarm calls are false alarms (that is good news) but if the Police cannot get into the house to check it over and get the alarm reset, then it is a waste of time.  Please register your details.

    David’s Walk (Sunnymede)

    There has been a considerable amount of litter and mess in the area, usually attributed to the local children.

    At the end of July, some of the local youngsters turned out one evening and swept the streets and cleaned up all the mess.  All unprompted and they then sent a note to residents to say sorry for the mess in the first place.

    Thank you very much to the local youngsters—great job, which is much appreciated by the residents.

     

     

    Who’s Who

    Police Inspector:          Richard Croft - 01277 631212

    Community Liaison     WPC Julie Dawes     

    Officer:                            Direct Line  - 01268 244028

    N.W. Direct Line           01277 633090

     

    Diary Dates

    Members meetings are held on the following dates at the Billericay Football Club, Blunts Wall Road, 8 pm,

    Everyone is welcome on 8 October and 3 December. Quiz Night 22 November.

     

     

    Can you sport the difference? A burglar can! There are seven differences.

    Examine the two pictures, see what security lapses you can spot in the bottom picture.  Any of these apply to you? 


     

     

    How may differences did you spot?

    1       Open window

    2       Newspapers in the letterbox

    3       Post behind the glass door

    4       Milk on the doorstep

    5       Open gate

    6       Open garage with no car

    7       Ladder not secured

    These are all clues that burglars use to identify likely targets.  Don’t make it easy for them.  If you are going on holiday remember to cancel the milk and papers, lock up.  Ask a neighbour to clear the mail, close and open curtains and anything else to make your house look occupied, such as  putting a bag of rubbish outside your house on bin day and perhaps parking on your drive.