Local Crime and Neighbourhood Watch

Police in the Internet
To report NON EMERGENCY Crime and Hate Crime/Incidents on the Internet use www.online.police.uk
When to USE the service:
Theft
Criminal damage/vandalism
Theft from a motor vehicle
Hate crimes and Hate incidents
Do NOT report Road Traffic accidents or collisions or lost property on this site.
When NOT to use this service:
The crime is serious
The crime is happening now
The offender is still there or nearby
Someone saw the crime being committed
Evidence has been left at the scene
IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS DIAL 999
Michael Roberts (CWO/ Coulsdon West)

Landmark Year for Crime Charity

Crimestoppers Crimestoppers aims to celebrate its 20th anniversary in the best way possible - by taking its one millionth telephone call to its free phone number 0800 555 111. Since it began, calls to Crimestoppers have resulted in more than 80,000 arrests and charges. Over £100 million worth of property has been recovered and nearly £150 million worth of drugs. Crimestoppers is an independent charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking criminals off the streets. Around 17 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of the information given to Crimestoppers. One person every five days is charged with murder. It was set up following the Tottenham riots in the 1980s and the brutal murder of PC Keith Blakelock on the Broadwater Farm Estate in London. International businessman Michael Ashcroft (now Lord Ashcroft) offered a reward for information that would lead to the killers. He also brought together a group of like-minded business people who were determined to do something positive to stem the rising levels of crime in Britain. Gradually, plans took shape and in January 1988 Lord Ashcroft and his friends from the world of business and the media launched the Community Action Trust re-named Crimestoppers in 1995. Today Crimestoppers is recognised as a safe and secure way to report crime anonymously. Free calls can be made from landlines and are handled by trained members of staff at the Crimestoppers call centre. Callers are never asked who they are, but simply what they know. Anonymity is guaranteed. The police never know the name of the caller because Crimestoppers do not have the name to pass on. At the same time there are safeguards in place to ensure police time isn't being wasted following up malicious information. Rewards are payable through Crimestoppers by means of code words. Surprisingly, very few rewards are ever claimed by the callers. Most people see making the call as doing their public duty. As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations Crimestoppers has completed work on a revamp of its website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org The search functionality for the popular 'Most Wanted' section, where visitors can help solve crimes, has been vastly improved. Visitors to the site can now search by crime type, region, postcode and specific appeal. Crimestoppers has 39 Volunteers Boards across the UK to promote campaigns and events in their local area. Representatives from Neighbourhood Watch are among the 400 volunteers who sit on the regional boards.

Crime Stoppers - 0800 555 111

Coulsdon West Safer Neighbourhood Team

The team has welcomed a new Sergeant to the team, PS Diane Hill joined in January. PS Hill said "One of our priorities is reducing the burglaries. We are carrying out extra patrols and leafleting areas concerned to raise awareness of local residents. We have also held street briefings, which basically means at publicised times we are in a road to enable residents to come and talk to us about local concerns. We held one in Waitrose car park on Saturday morning, which was very successful. I hope that we will carry out more of these briefings and local residents will come and talk to us to tell us any concerns they have about local crime and disorder." The team can be contacted by phone: 0208 721 2465 or by Email: coulsdonwest.SNT@met.police.uk

Yet Another Sweepstake Lottery Scam!

A local resident recently received a letter purporting to be from "Mrs Ellen Arroyo, Vice President of Once El-Combo Combote Spanish Sweepstake Lottery / International Program." I am very glad to report that, in this case, the resident did the only sensible thing: she did not give out her bank details as requested in the letter, she did take the Spanish stamp for her stamp collection, and she did hand the letter on to me, so that I could warn other potential victims. Please be warned, this is only one of many very similar schemes, from a variety of countries, being utilised by people wanting to access your bank accounts.

Can you help?

In the south of the Borough and in the neighbouring Surrey Police area, a gang has been operating overnight: stealing the catalytic converters from underneath Ford Transit vans and other large vehicles such as 4 x 4s where it is easy to get underneath the vehicle without using a jack. They use pipe cutters to avoid making any noise. If you see or hear anything suspicious involving these types of vehicles do not approach the vehicle but call 999; if any vehicles are seen to be involved a note of the registration numbers will greatly help the Police. There have also been a number of burglaries in the area. As with above, if you see or hear anything that raises your suspicions, call 999 immediately, do not approach suspicious characters yourselves. In the Purley / South Croydon area there has been a series of handbag thefts where the unseen suspect has entered properties through unlocked rear doors or open windows so please be aware. Keep rear doors locked and remove the key.

Rogue Traders

Information from South Norwood SNT and Croydon Trading Standards about a business called Paving by Design which has been cold calling residents in South Norwood. Trading Standards have received a complaint regarding an elderly resident who was persuaded to have paving carried out without any paperwork or any price being quoted. Trading Standards and the Police stopped the work as they were not complying with legislation. Any other sightings of these people should be reported to Trading Standards, Taberner House, Park Lane, CR9 3BT. Telephone 020 8407 1310 extension 62165.

General crime prevention & personal safety advice

• If you have seen something suspicious, or if you see a crime actually being committed ring 999 immediately.
• If you see signs of a break in at home, don't go in - the intruder may still be there. Go to a neighbour's house and call 999.
• Has a crime been committed against you and you are no longer in any danger? Then contact the Police on 020 8667 1212. Alternatively, you can also report non-urgent, minor crime online at www.online.police.uk
Please, DO REPORT ALL CRIME - no matter how little chance you think there is of the Police catching the culprits. The stock excuse for not having a more visible Police presence in the area is that we have a low crime rate. The more you report things, the more likely we are to reverse that perception. Statistics are all they have to go on, after all.

Warning from Crime Prevention Officers

There has been an increase in thefts from garages the Coulsdon area with doors being smashed open where they are made of wood, or metal doors being bent back to gain entry.

POSSIBLE BOGUS WATER CALLER

A local resident has received three phone calls claiming to be from East Surrey Water Co claiming that he has chlorine in his water and they need to call. East Surrey Water has no knowledge of this and they would always write not phone.

ALARM SYSTEMS

The Crime Prevention Officers at Croydon have been made aware that a company selling Alarm installations have been cold calling on people, offering alarm systems that have been recommended by the Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Prevention. They DO NOT endorse any particular companies, but recommend that if you are considering installing an alarm, that you only use N.S.I. (National Security Inspectorate) approved companies.
For a list of approved Installers, please ring 01905 773131
Alternatively you can ring the Crime Prevention Officers on 020 8649 1414 for general security advice.

POLICE HUNT SERIAL FLASHER IN COULSDON

Coulsdon’s ‘Flabby Flasher’ has been targeting women and children. Jumping out of woodland on Farthing Downs, and exposing himself before running off.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect, described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, about 40 years old, with a pale complexion, cropped brown hair and a stocky build, should contact Croydon Police on 020 8667 1212 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 immediately.

A WARNING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Bogus invoices from United Telecom, PO Box 251 CZ are being sent to Croydon businesses asking for a payment for inclusion in an International Trade and Business Database.

Hawkers of Kitchen Equipment and Furniture

Croydon Trading Standards are issuing warnings about two groups of doorstep traders that are operating nationwide.
First Group: Dutch salesmen using false stories to sell kitchen equipment to consumers on their doorsteps are again active in this country. The salesmen target consumers at their homes or places of business. They claim that they are passing through the local area having attended a trade fair, and are trying to sell the remains of their unsold stock of allegedly ‘high quality’ knives and saucepans to avoid paying duty or because of problems with border security.
In fact, the salesmen are visiting the UK for weeks at a time, renting out space in caravan parks to use as a base then driving out to target consumers in areas across the country. They have set up UK companies to allow them to take payments by cheque. The salesmen’s activities appear to be in breach of the Doorstep Selling Regulations – nocancellation rights are given to consumers on making apurchase, although the salesmen have been known to return to collect goods when the consumer has cancelled their cheque before it can be cashed.
Second Group: This warning relates to upholstered furniture, settees and armchairs from Poland, which is arriving in the UK by lorry. It is off-loaded at remote warehouses, and put into smaller white vans. The furniture is then hawked door to door. Typically the furniture is labelled with photocopied swing-ticket safety labels but when tested, fails flammability requirements.
Anyone with information concerning either of these issues is asked to contact:
Croydon Trading Standards - Telephone: 020 8407 1310

The Nominated Neighbour Scheme

This is a Bogus Caller initiative to help older people and vulnerable members of our community to feel safer in their own homes. The scheme works by providing an A5 laminated card that can be held up to the window or shown through the gap in the chained door. It states, “I do not recognise you! Please go to number # who is my nominated neighbour. They will check your identity and return with you.”
For further details please call PC Andy Williams, Crime Prevention Officer on 020 8649 1414.

Roofing Scam

Beware, the return of the roofing scam – Scamsters who break your roof tiles so that they can come and offer to mend the damage in return for huge amounts of cash! They’re in the area again! If they approach you, just say that your son/nephew is dealing with repairs and then call the police.

BOGUS LETTER FROM SOCIAL SERVICES

An elderly resident was recently sent a letter, obliquely inferring that it was from Social Services, saying that she needed to have her security updated. They sent someone round and she was told it would cost her £140 to have the necessary work done. She then took the letter to the Police and it turns out it’s actually from a private security firm –surprise, surprise! Please make your elderly relatives and neighbours aware that this is happening. Someone else might not think to show it to the Police and then pay for things that Age Concern will willingly fit for free for you if they are on benefits. (see below) It would almost certainly be cheaper than anything a private firm would do.

BEWARE OF INTERNET FRAUDSTERS

Police have issued a fresh warning to people using the Internet to beware of fraudsters. It comes as thousands of people are expected to go online to trade their unwanted Christmas gifts. The Metropolitan police say a growing number of people are falling victim to rogue traders on websites such as eBay. In the last 18 months they have recorded 2,330 reported offences in the London area alone. Scams include sending out fraudulent emails impersonating eBay to lure victims into disclosing their account details. Detective chief inspector Stuart Dark said: "If you do win the auction, stop and start asking questions as to who you're going to send your cash to." There are already guidelines to protect customers from online fraud on eBay. The company says the vast majority of fraud concerns people who have traded outside its environment, buying from sellers directly.

Operation Arrow from Age Concern Croydon

Free Home Security Checks for the Over 60’s
This is a service for victims of burglary and attempted burglary and for anyone over 60 who would like a home security check, or feel that they would like home security equipment in their premises upgrading. This service provides free home security equipment, such as door viewers, doorchains, window locks, safe cans, door locks (but not Yaletype locks or mortice locks, you need a professional locksmith for this) It covers the following wards: Kenley, Addiscombe, Ashburton, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Heathfield, New Addington, Sanderstead, Selsdon and Ballards, Shirley (i.e. all the wards NOT covered by Croydon Council’s Safe Project). For more info please call our Minor Repairs team at Age Concern Croydon on 020 8680 5450

VICTIM SUPPORT CROYDON

“Working for victims of crime”: Victim Support is the charity that exists to help victims of all types of crime, providing both emotional and practical support. They are currently looking for volunteers to visit victims in their own homes. Volunteers need to be understanding, good listeners and able to get on with people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Anyone can apply. No previous experience is necessary, as training is given. Volunteer visitors work during the day, in the evenings or at weekends. As a volunteer, you can expect:
• Training, support, supervision and regular meetings with other volunteers
• Out-of-pocket expenses to cover telephone and travel; insurance cover
Courses run on Saturdays for five consecutive weeks in the spring, summer and autumn. If you are interested, or need their help, please phone them on 020 8681 7711.