Eastbury Neighbourhood watch

Newsletter

Winter 2011

Christmas comes early Inside this issue:

to Eastbury Crime in 2 Eastbury

Speed Watch 2 Readers will remember that ANPR Cameras back in the summer PC When I move across to Sharon Hill our Ward con- Cold Callers 2 Moor Park and Eastbury I stable since 2008, moved on will be concentrating on the BMW Wheels to train as a Detective. priorities already set by the local residents, which in- Don’t Get Stuffed 3 Her place was to be taken clude burglaries around at Christmas by PC 330 Claire Parfitt both areas, speeding / driv- Ward Constable in Carpend- ing issues and theft from New Motoring 3 ers Park, but following an builders vans. I believe that Powers for PCSOs illness PC Parfitt was sadly high visibility is essential to PC Craig writes: effective Policing and from 3 unable to take up the post. My name is PC Simon past experience in Chor- Police Station This left a hole covered by Craig. As from the 12th De- leywood the local residents/ businesses like to see the 4 Sgt. Luke Mitchell who cember 2011 I will be join- Smartwater ing the Neigh- good old Bobbie on the heads up our Neighbourhood bourhood team to cover the beat, rather than just see- Distraction 4 team ably assisted by PCSO Moor Park and Eastbury ing a car drive by. Burglary Gareth Williams, drafted wards along with PCSOs in from Chorleywood. Gareth Williams and Neighbourhood 4 Christopher Bignell. With this in mind some of We received an early my duty time will be spent Team

Christmas present on 12th carrying out high visibility foot patrols along with the Road Stewards 4 December, when PC Simon Since joining Police back in 2005 I have PCSOs, and of course in- Craig became the East- been one of the dedicated vestigating crime that oc- bury / Moor Park ward con- ward constables for Chor- curs within the Moor Park stable, bringing the team leywood, but also covering and Eastbury areas. Useful contacts: back to strength. and Sarratt. PC Simon Craig I look forward to meeting We are also keeping PCSO  01923 472234 Williams to target problems As there were three sepa- the local residents of Moor rate areas the majority of Park and Eastbury very on the Tolpits Lane industri- PCSO Chris Bignell my time was dedicated to soon. al site, allowing PCSO Chris cover the Chorleywood ar- Regards,  01707 354192 Bignell to be more visible in ea, which is very similar to PC 1322 Simon Craig Eastbury and Moor Park. Moor Park and Eastbury. Herts Police  101 Prison for Purse Thief  01707 354000 Textphone for A man who targeted female Ireland stole purses from Although the majority of speech or hearing shoppers at Waitrose handbags twice at Waitrose the offences happened in impaired Stores across four counties in Rickmansworth last No- the Thames Valley area,  18001 101 has been imprisoned for vember and at other Wait- shoppers are still urged to eighteen months. rose Stores in Bedford- be on their guard leading shire, Buckinghamshire and up to Christmas when these John Ireland, aged 43, from Oxfordshire. type of offences are more We wish all our London N12, was sentenced common. Always keep hand- readers a at Reading Crown Court last Ireland was arrested at bags zipped up, ideally they month after pleading guilty Waitrose in Rickmansworth should be kept close to the Merry Christmas to seven theft offences last December by undercov- person rather than left on and a committed in November er Police Officers who pre- shopping trolleys or push- 2010. vented him from striking chairs. Crime-free New again. Year Crime in Eastbury

Over the past few days we have seen a Officers are stepping up patrols in There have also been several cases of number of burglaries, starting with these areas and using both covert and equipment theft from building sites Woodhouse Eves on 1st December, overt methods however as always they and workmen’s vans. This equipment can when intruders forced the back door need residents to keep their eyes be used for further crimes such as to gain entry to the property. They peeled. If you see anyone acting suspi- breaking and entering or as in one re- made an untidy search of the house ciously please dial 999. cent case the theft of a JCB, which and stole jewellery before making off. was then used to At this time of year as the nights draw steal the ATM from This was followed by incidents in Sandy in we do see an increase in this type of a local Tesco store. Lane on 3rd and Kewferry Road on 4th. crime, so we all need to These offences all took place in the carry out small measures If you are having early afternoon / evening, and the of- such as making sure that work done, please try to make your fenders used items left in gardens to all garden equipment is builder aware, after all you’ll be paying break in. locked and secure in sheds for any losses in the long run. or out buildings to ensure Speed Watch we don't become victims. Beware Cold Callers

It appears that the loss of PC Par- New ANPR cameras A company claiming to offer computer fitt delayed the introduction of services is cold calling local residents. Community Speed Watch in East- Three new Automatic Number Plate The firm 24sevenpccare.com with an Recognition Cameras are to be set up apparent Manchester phone number bury, so hopefully the addition of PC Craig to the area will enable the in the area to help catch boundary suggests in the phone call that the recruitment and training process to crossing crooks. resident's computer could be infect- resume. The static cameras which are directly ed with a Trojan Horse virus and then linked to Control Room at Police head- asks for the computer to be switched However, we are happy to report quarters in Welwyn Garden City have on. sightings of PCSO Chris Bignell aided been installed after Three Rivers One of the people to receive such a and abetted by 2 PCs and a speed cam- Council approved the £25,000 fund- call was Watford Rural Parish Council- era catching speeding motorists on ing. lor Diane Day, who is also an Oxhey Westbury Road early one morning, be- The cameras will located at the top of Hall resident. She quizzed the repre- fore going to other locations in the Oxhey Lane by Grims Dyke golf sentative from the company as she area. A number of motorists were course, Batchworth Hill next to the was concerned that she could be the stopped and fined. Prince of Wales pub and Watford Rd potential victim of a scam or end up next to Northwood Headquarters. Banking Scam paying way over the odds. Luke Mitchell, Safer Neighbourhood Diane did not open up her computer Team Sergeant in South Oxhey said: during the call nor did she part with Have you received an e-mail to say that “The idea is that we will have better any information which may have a bank (not necessarily your own) has coverage at our borders.” caused her problems. Instead she put a stop on your account as there was “We know that criminals who commit quizzed the representative to find an unusual withdrawal and wanted con- our more serious crime such as bur- out a little more about the firm's firmation of your account details? glary travel from the Met areas into service This is a long-running scam, with the Three Rivers.” It is not clear whether 24sevenpc- culprits attempting to coax your bank The new cameras mean that vehicles care.com is a reputable company, but security details from you. Don’t reply used by the crooks will be flagged up what is certain is that the but do contact both Action Fraud and immediately as well as being able to "Manchester" phone number is some Consumer Direct, forwarding the email trace the criminals’ movement in the sort of call centre in India, and it is for them to investigate. area. cold calling customers. Diane has been told by her IT ex- www.actionfraud.org.uk, tel 0300 BMW Wheels 1232040 perts that firms like this buy custom- Consumer Direct tel 08454 040506 Yes, BMW wheels are still ers lists from High Street chains. popular with car part Another way is for a computer to If you are still worried contact your randomly ring a number in the hope bank direct, not through any link in the thieves. Some gangs have been caught, but there are others oper- they can persuade people to part with e-mail. money. ating in the area. Be Warned

Page 2

DON’T GET STUFFED AT CHRISTMAS

Make your home look Away for the Holidays? occupied when you are out Ask a trusted friend or neighbour to look after the Use automatic timer house (collecting mail and switches to turn lights on removing it from the door- when it goes dark. mat or letterbox, turning Close curtains once it has lights on, closing/opening got dark but ensure they curtains, etc.) are not left closed in day- Remember to cancel regu- light hours. lar orders of milk and newspapers. Ensure Christmas presents are not left on show under Christmas Shopping Inform neighbours that the tree near a window. you will not be at home and to keep an eye out for Consider installing outside Keep your purse or wallet any suspicious activity. lighting to ensure the safely in a closed handbag If you are using your car more vulnerable areas or inside pocket of a coat. around your property, par- during the holiday, invite ticularly at the sides and Try to wear your handbag a neighbour who is ex- back of your house, are across your body, leaving pecting extra guests to well lit. your hands free to complete park their vehicle(s) on the Christmas shopping. your drive. Put cash and receipts away Place all valuable items securely in a purse or wallet and important documents before leaving the bank or a in a safe. shop. Lock all external doors and Be aware of possible pick- windows before you leave pockets in busy shopping the house and remember centres. to set the house alarm. Keep purchases out of sight while they are in your car.

NEW MOTORING POWERS FOR PCSOS

PCSOs have been given new powers to Offences for which motorists can be Superintendent Jeff Taylor, who is in hand out fines to badly behaved fined include:- charge of policing across Watford, Three Rivers, Dacorum and drivers, motor bikers and cyclists in * Failing to display a current tax disc Hertfordshire. Hertsmere, said: * Sounding a horn at night or when “Parking problems and antisocial Road-users can now face on-the-spot parked fixed penalty notices of up to £60 and motoring, such as noisy mini penalty points on their licence if * Causing an obstruction motorbikes in open spaces are possibly the most frequent caught driving illegally by one of the * Driving on a verge or footway reasons for complaints to local county’s 250 PCSOs. * Making excessive noise. officers. Hertfordshire Constabulary said the They cannot issue tickets for vehicles These new powers will enable us move had come about after anti-social parked on yellow lines, unless the to deal more quickly and parking and driving topped a list of vehicles are causing an obstruction or effectively with these issues and residents’ concerns in a recent are parked dangerously. give our communities an even consultation. better service.”

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Our Neighbourhood Policing Team PC Simon Craig [email protected] PCSO Chris Bignell Our nearest Police Station with an [email protected]

enquiry counter is Rickmansworth PCSO Gareth Williams and in February it was relocated to

Three Rivers House, Northway, [email protected] Rickmansworth. It has wheelchair are based at South Oxhey Police Station and may be access and is open : contacted on 9.30—5.30 Monday to Thursday 01923 472211

9.30—5.00 Friday Closed at the weekend To contact Hertfordshire Police if you see

Tel: 101 or 01707 354000 anything suspicious or anti -social behaviour ring: and ask for Rickmansworth 101 Police Station In an Emergency, including a crime in progress dial

999 If you have information regarding a crime ring: Smartwater ultra-violet sensitive marking fluid continues to be a success in Eastbury. If you haven’t got yours yet or need more, contact one of the Area Coordi- Please remember to say you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch nators on page 4 for an order form or go to www.threerivers.neighbourhoodwatch.org Subscribers to Twitter can follow Herts Police at

the website for Three Rivers neigh- Twitter@HertsPolice and our local team at bourhood Watch, which has all the Twitter@sthoxheypolice latest news for the area.

Distraction Road Stewards Area Co-ordinators for Eastbury Burglary Do you live in 76-86 Batchworth Lane or in the Watford Road be- North Alan Short: Tel: 824192 Not sure? Don’t open the door! - tween Pooh Corner and Northwood [email protected] If you are not expecting anyone and Headquarters? you don’t recognise them, don’t let South Bob Cockerell Tel: 822797 them into your home. Try to com- We need a Road Steward to deliver municate with the caller without about 35 newsletters. Please con- [email protected] opening the door and ask them to tact Alan Short if you are able to return at a time when you have help. South East Ken Mills Tel: 821370 someone you trust with you. [email protected] Finally, we wish to give a big thank

you to all our Road Stewards with- If you are expecting a caller - If a East Richard Crook Tel: 823325 out whom this newsletter could not person you are expecting comes at [email protected] be distributed. the time you have arranged, ask to see their identification before you let them in.

Never keep large amounts of cash at home. Put your money in an ac- count where it is safe.