Tandridge Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter

Bulletin 6 March 4th – March 17th 2021

Dear Neighbourhood Watch Members

Dog Lost, a UK charity, recorded a 170% increase in stolen dogs from 172 in 2019 to 465 last year. is not immune from dog theft so here are a few tips for dog owners.

Pet ID It is now mandatory to have your dog microchipped in the UK. You can get your dog microchipped and registered at a vet. The process implants a little microchip with a unique code under their skin. Should your dog ever be lost or stolen, the chip can be scanned and your details will show up. You can also give your dog extra identification on their collar tags, such as a name and telephone number. Some modern collars can even connect to your phone for GPS tracking if your dog goes missing.

House Security

Many of the recent thefts have involved thieves taking dogs from their homes. Never leave your dog unattended out in the garden where they can be easily snatched. Keep your doors and windows locked while you are out, ideally keep curtains and blinds shut, so thieves cannot look in and see a potential target. Avoid leaving your pet at home while you are out where possible. Furthermore, try and remove anything that could give thieves a clue there is a dog inside your home.

Out and About

Never leave your dog unattended in a parked car or tied up outside a shop, as they can quickly be taken. At parks and other open spaces, you should be wary of letting them off the lead; ideally, train them to come back to you when called, and keep them in your sight. It may be better to use an extendable lead so they can get a run around while still being safe and secure. Mark the leads with your name and telephone number, in case they run off with the lead still attached!

Extra Precautions

Dog charities and the police have noted that certain kinds of dogs are more at risk of theft than others. Female dogs are at a much higher risk. They (if entire) can be bred from and used to produce more lucrative illegal puppies on puppy farms. Certain breeds are worth more so are more frequently targeted by thieves – these include Cocker and Springer Spaniels, Labradors, Frenchie’s and Chihuahuas. Dogs with rarer colour coats and, young puppies which may not have been microchipped, are very valuable to thieves. Avoid spreading the news around that you have new puppies, and never leave them alone.

Unfortunate Circumstances

Even with all the best attention in the world, some dogs do go missing. Hopefully most of these have simply wandered off, and will come home soon, but thievery is a prevalent issue right now. If you suspect your dog is lost or stolen, contact us to file a report. You should also contact local vets and pounds; your dog may have been handed in and is simply waiting to be reunited with you (again, microchipping can speed this process up considerably). Some cases have been reported where thieves steal dogs, wait for fliers to be put up offering a reward, then ‘return’ the pet to claim the reward or even contact the owner for a ransom! Police recommend that you do not offer a financial reward for the return of lost pets to discourage this. However, advertising your pet is lost has led to some success stories. Social media and lost pet websites can get the word spread far and wide.

Karen Hughes

Tandridge Safer Neighbourhood Inspector

CRIME REPORTS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD Our Area Patrol Team and Safer Neighbourhood Team deal with a variety of incidents. Here are a few they dealt with since the last Bulletin and a Court result.

In the early hours of a Saturday morning on January 11th last year, an officer noticed vehicle acting suspiciously around village. The people in the car refused to stop for the officer. A chase ensued during which heavy duty tools including an angle grinder and pneumatic drill were thrown from the car at the officers in hot pursuit – causing them to take speedy evasive action! Both occupants of the vehicle eventually got out and ran off but were immediately caught by officers. The vehicle was still loaded with various powers tools which we were able to identify as being stolen from vans in Tandridge and Reigate and Banstead boroughs.

James Cross, 18 of Grove Road, Lingfield and Niall Exall, 24 of Bakers Mead, Godstone were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Monday, after they both pleaded guilty to their involvement in this. Exall received an 18 month suspended sentence for handling stolen goods and causing a danger to road users and Cross received a 12 month suspended sentence for the same offences as well as being equipped for theft. Both were ordered to pay compensation to the victims of the theft, some of whose tools were damaged beyond repair by the offenders.

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On March 15th after a road traffic collision in Lingfield a male was arrested after failing a roadside breath test. In a male driver was also arrested for drink driving and driving whilst uninsured and in after failing to stop following a road traffic collision a male was arrested for this offence, driving whilst uninsured and driving with no insurance.

If your area is NOT referred to below it is because we have not been informed of the crime or it has not been affected by reported crime in the categories below. Feedback from you will help to achieve the most appropriate circulation of information.

LINGFIELD, NEWCHAPEL AND SMALLFIELD

Burglary Residential including sheds and garages

Weatherill Road, Smallfield. Between 11.03 and 14.00 March 15th the rear door of a house was smashed and after an untidy search jewellery was stolen. A grey BMW car was believed to have been used by the suspect (ref 45210026603).

Vehicle Crime

Toronto Drive, Smallfield – Criminal Damage. Overnight March 3rd to March 4th the window of a vehicle was damaged (ref 45210022813).

Overton Way, Lingfield – Theft. Between 23.00 March 10th and 00.00 March 11th a white Flatbed Transit index MF09HKB was stolen (ref 45210024864).

BLETCHINGLEY, GODSTONE, SOUTH GODSTONE AND NUTFIELD

Burglary Residential including sheds and garages

Coopers Hill Road, Nutfield. Between 03.00 March 6th and 11.00 March 7th two lawn mowers and garden tools were stolen from a property (ref 45210023534).

Goldstone Road, Blenchingly. Sometime between March 12th and 15th after breaking a boundary fence and forcing entry to a chicken shed three chickens were stolen (ref 45210026345).

Burglary Business and Community

Brickhouse Lane, South Godstone. Overnight March 9th to 10th a light industrial unit was entered via a plastic skylight, an internal office door jemmied open and cash stolen (ref 45210024506).

Vehicle Crime

Evelyn Gardens, Godstone – Theft. Overnight March 5th to 6th index plates LJ61HYK were stolen from a vehicle (ref 45210023198).

Bletchingley Road, Godstone – Criminal Damage. Around 18.22 March 9th a projectile was fired at the offside passenger window of a bus causing it to shatter (ref 45210024412).

Eastbourne Road, South Godstone – Theft. Around 22.50 March 8th a wallet was stolen from an unlocked car (ref 45210024038).

Lagham Road, South Godstone – Theft. Sometime between March 11th and 13th a catalytic converter was stolen from a car (ref 45210026714).

Hunters Chase, South Godstone – Criminal Damage. Between 00.01 and 13.59 March 14th the tyres of a vehicle were slashed (ref 45210026974).

OXTED, , HURST GREEN AND

Burglary Residential including sheds and garages

Bluehouse Lane, . Around 12.28 March 5th the downstairs window of a house was smashed with a rock and jewellery, clothing, handbags and a car were stolen. The car was later recovered in Sevenoaks (ref 45210022784). Overnight March 11th after jumping over a side gate and entering a garage through an insecure door the suspect was disturbed by the owner’s animals and fled the same way (ref 45210024997).

Theft

Barnetts Shaw, Oxted. Around 18.05 March 10th a male grabbed the lead of a dog in an attempt to take the dog from the owner. He was described as white, six foot tall, wearing a dark green coat and had a dog with a black K9 harness. A female described as blonde, large build and with a small white dog on a black lead was with him (ref 45210025651).

New Road, Limpsfield. Around mid-day March 10th a male approached the victim as she was walking two dogs and asked to hold their leads. After being refused he attempted to grab the dogs but ran off when a member of the public approached. He was subsequently seen in a white van in a nearby car park and got out of the van but got back in after being shouted at (ref 45210025797).

Vehicle Crime

Mill Lane, Hurst Green – Criminal Damage. Between 17.00 March 5th and 04.15 March 6th the windows of a car were smashed (ref 45210023077).

Nunappleton Way, Hurst Green – Criminal Damage. Between 13.30 and 16.30 March 6th a small hand held drill was used to punch three holes into the plastic trim above the passenger side mirror (ref 45210023458) and between 13.00 and 16.00 March 7th the trim on a vehicle parked on a driveway was damaged (ref 45210023590).

Hurst Green Road, Hurst Green – Criminal Damage. Between 7th to 10th March the rear offside window of a vehicle was smashed (ref 45210024632).

Woodhurst Lane, Oxted – Theft. Between 22.00 March 10th and 02.00 March 11th a grey Mercedes GL index LJ18XVS was stolen from a driveway (ref 45210024939).

East Hill Road, Oxted – Criminal Damage. Overnight 13th to 14th March the window of a car was smashed (ref 45210026024).

Limpsfield Road, Titsey. Between 11.00 and 12.00 March 10th tools were stolen from a van (ref 45210025302).

CATERHAM, CATERHAM ON THE HILL AND

Burglary Residential including sheds and garages

Stafford Road, Caterham. Between 20.45 and 21.12 March 14th after entering a property through an insecure kitchen door an electric scooter was stolen (ref 45210026389).

Vehicle Crime

Birch Avenue, Caterham on the Hill – Theft. Between March 1st and March 3rd a nail was placed in the tyre of a car parked on a driveway (ref 45210022683).

Crescent Road, Caterham – Theft. Between 09.30 and 13.15 March 5th the side window of a car was broken and a dash cam stolen (ref 45210022897).

Court Bushes Road, Whyteleafe – Theft. Overnight March 5th to 6th catalytic converters were stolen from three cars (ref 45210023220/23279/23977).

WARLINGHAM, , TITSEY AND

Burglary Residential including sheds and garages

Eglise Road, Warlingham. Between 19.30 and 22.00 March 5th damage was caused to two front windows of a house that were found open by the victims who were inside at the time. Nothing had been stolen (ref 45210023026).

Shelton Avenue, Warlingham. Around 18.55 March 5th an elderly victim was in her bedroom when two persons forced entry into her home. The two men confronted the victim and proceeded to raid through her belongings. A number of items have been taken including jewellery, bank cards, cash and a phone. The victim was uninjured but left shaken. The suspects are described as two black men 20 years of age, of slim build around 5 foot 8.Please contact us if you have any information you believe might assist our investigation (ref 45210023269).

Slines Oak Road, Woldingham. Between 13.45 and 15.30 March 10th a paving slab was thrown through the window of a patio door. After an untidy search of the house handbags and jewellery were stolen (ref 45210024680).

Vehicle Crime

Paynesfield Road, Tatsfield – Theft . Sometime between February 25th and March 3rd a white Suzuki panel van index EJ03LWW was stolen (ref 45210022293).

Church Hill, Tatsfield – Theft. Between 11.15 and 11.30 March 8th index plates FP08GKV were stolen (ref 45210023803).

Farleigh Road, Warlingham – Criminal Damage. Around 13.45 March 5th an object was thrown at a passing car smashing the rear window. Three young white youths aged 10-13, one wearing a blue hooded top, were suspected of being the culprits (ref 45210022899).

Gresham Avenue, Warlingham – Theft. Around 19.09 March 5th four males in dark coloured VW car false index IM20EBX were involved in the theft of a catalytic converter and threatened a witness when challenged (ref 45210022931).

Hillbury Road, Warlingham - Theft. Around 11.00 March 8th various power tools were stolen from an insecure parked van and the offenders drove off in a black Skoda index LF65CFN or similar (ref 45210023765).

Limpsfield Road, Titsey – Theft. Between 11.00 and 12.00 March 10th tools were stolen from a van parked on a driveway (ref 25302).

------If you have to contact us about a non-urgent matter or to provide information on non-urgent suspicious matters or unusual behaviour you have observed which may be useful intelligence for us at a future date please email Tandridge Safer Neighbourhood Team: tandridge@.pnn.police.uk The information you provide will be read and treated in confidence when the staff are next on duty. Any recipient of InTheKnow is free to copy our Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter to any other interested party who can also register to receive the bulletin at: https://www.intheknow.community You can read past editions on the Tandridge Neighbourhood Watch web site www.tandridgenhw.org if you click on the tab headed Police

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If crime prevention advice is required you can contact our Crime Prevention Advisor Mr Simon Evans at: Email: [email protected] Tel: 101

Message Sent By Neil Barnes (, Office Manager, Tandridge)