The main point of my email this week is to reiterate the message about keeping your house secure and also looking out for neighbours and surrounding properties. We are still continuing to have burglaries mainly in the Congleton and Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Team areas.




The burglaries are occurring where unknown offenders are approaching the rear of houses and forcing the rear doors/windows to gain entry. Houses need to have good security all around the houses and also things like outdoor security lights can be a good deterrent as it attracts attention to the house when it goes off. Also please keep valuables and car keys out of sight.



Also as I know that you are already aware of this but please contact the Police with any suspicious incidents that you may see.



Also please see the below appeal that is currently on the Cheshire Police Website:









Police have release an efit of a man they would like to speak to in relation to a burglary in Congleton.



At 11.30am on 22nd October 2011 a man purporting to be a plain clothed police officer tricked his way into an 81 year old man's property in Charlesworth Place.



He conned the man into handing over cash saying it needed to be checked. He then took the cash to a woman who was waiting in a car close by and never returned.



The man is described as white, approximately 50-years-old, 6ft tall, going bald on top with hair on the sides and clean shaven. He was wearing a jacket and dark coloured trousers. He had a Macclesfield accent.



There is no description of the woman or the car at this time.



Anyone with information should contact DC Dave Newton on 0845 458 0000 quoting CC11301068. Alternatively information can be given anonymously by phoning Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Hallowen

Dear Members,

It is drawing closer to the time of your for to start receiving "trick or treaters" at your homes. Cheshire Police are dedicated to tackling calls on anti-social behaviour, we are receiving fewer calls in relation to these types of incidents.

Our assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick has said:

"Anti-social behaviour is unacceptable whatever the time of year however the Halloween period does historically produce an increase in the number of calls we take relating to anti-social behaviour. Therefore our message is clear - parents be aware of what your children are up to on Halloween. Accompany children trick or treating rather than letting them go on their own to make sure they are safe and not being a nuisance to others.

Additionally we want to remind shop owners about selling large quantities of eggs and flour to youngsters, as they may be used in appropriately to cause mischief.

We don’t want to stop people having a good time - enjoy yourself be responsible and remember not everyone wants to participate."


To help you deal with unwanted trick or treaters Cheshire police have produced flyers displaying on each side yes or no to trick or treaters. If someone has displayed no in their window we are asking that there wishes are respected. The flyers are available from the Cheshire Police website for you to download and print or they are being distributed across the Police Stations for you to collect from the helpdesks.

On this weeks posting I have enclosed some safety advice to pass on to your members.


Cheshire remains a safe place to live and a safe place to be out and about in, however there are some steps that could be taken to reduce the risk of becoming the victim of a crime whilst outdoors. Most of these steps are simply common sense and you probably do a lot of them already without thinking twice.
•At night try to avoid taking risky shortcuts through back alleys, parks or waste grounds. Where possible stick to pavements or well lit areas.
•Walk facing traffic so as you can see what's heading towards you and so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
•If you regularly walk home or go out jogging try to vary your routes (without taking risky shortcuts)
•Wearing earphones is common practice these days and can make walks or jogging more entertaining, however be aware the earphones may: appear attractive to potential attackers, damage your hearing and reduce your alertness to your surroundings.
•If you are carrying a bag make sure the clasp is facing inwars, all zips are closed correctly and all pockets closed. If your bag is snatched let it go, your safety is more important than your property.
•If you have expensive items on you such as jewellery, mobile phone or personal stereo keep it out of sight.
•If you are threatened by a person, scream and shout, set off a personal attack alarm to startle the attacker and give you vital seconds to escape. Try to make note of details such as registration plates, clothing, height etc. and then report the incident to the police.

In relation to the above advise there are bells available that attach onto purses or zips of handbags which prevent them being taken - these bells are available at the helpdesk at Crewe Police Station.
All the taxis and public transport of Cheshire are highly regulated making them a very safe way of getting from A to B. By taking small precautions though you can make them even safer.

•On trains or buses try and sit amongst people and steer clear of empty carriages where possible. If you get on an empty bus sit near the driver or conductor.
•Try to stay away from isolated and dark bus stops.
•On trains check to see where the emergency chains, buttons and exits are.
•Do not get in a private hire vehicle unless you have pre-booked it through a registered company as you will not be insured should anything happen and it would be very difficult to track you whereabouts. You may however hail a taxi (usually a black cab) on the street.
•When in a taxi or black cab take note of the drivers details which should be displayed on his badge along with the taxi number. To be extra safe you could text a friend the details.
•When you arrive at your destination ask the driver to wait until you are inside.


Kind Regards

Since posting last week in relation to theft from vehicles we are still having quite a few reported to us so it is essential that you keep valuables out of view or even better out of the vehicle.

If you use a Sat Nav please don’t leave these in your vehicle and please don’t leave the attachment in the window as this just shows there could be a Sat Nav in your car.

We are also seeing a trend in burglaries in the Holmes Chapel, Cranage and Goostrey area. These are mainly close to the A50 corridor, Inspector Gammage has asked me to pass on the message that if you see any suspicious individuals and vehicles then report it to the Police immediately.

The above advise goes out to all areas, as you will know what is suspicious and what isn’t and we may be able to prevent something from happening.

As I have stated in a previous email one of the best things that you can do is to mark your property. There are many different ways in which you can do this for example SmartWater, Red Web, and Selecta DNA. Another option that is available is:




CRIMESTOPPERS PROPERTY PROTECTOR CODE VERIFIER SYSTEM




Details of the above can be found on their website or by typing the Crimestoppers property protector into a search engine on the internet.

Regards

Thefts from cars

Please be aware that there has been a recent increase in theft from vehicles. I believe it is beneficial to remind all members of the importance of removing valuables from vehicles. As well as the threat of having your vehicle window smashed at this time of year people can accidentally leave windows/sunroofs open when they vacate their cars or nip into a garage or a shop. As well as removing items from show make sure that you shut windows and sunroofs every time you leave you vehicle no matter how long you intend to be.

Did you know that in the UK a vehicle is broken into every 23 seconds? Try to follow this simple crime prevention advice to minimise your risk of becoming a victim.

A large proportion of vehicle crime is committed by opportunist thieves. Don't make it easy for them, remember that your vehicle can be like a shop window for thieves so don't advertise your goods to them. Would be thieves are not only interested in seemingly valuable items they will steal almost anything from a vehicle so make sure you consider removing some of the more obscure items that might be in your car.

If you leave any of the items in the following list on show in your car you are making your vehicle vulnerable:

Bank Cards
Briefcases
CD'S / Tapes
Cheque Books
Coats or Clothing (Old or New)
Credit Cards
Handbags
Loose Change
Mobile Phones
Purse/Wallet
Satellite Navigation Systems
Shopping Bags (Even if used to store an item of no value - remember it might be worth a passing thieves while to break in to see what is in the bag)
Sports Bags and Equipment
Stereo (Detachable Front Panels)
Sunglasses (Designer and non-branded)

If you can see any items left in your vehicle so can a thief!

Burglary Information

Since the 11th September we have had three burglaries reported in the Sandbach area, these have been on Mortimer Drive, Middlewich Road, and Manifold Close.

The burglaries have all happened in a similar manor – a panel on the door has been removed to gain entry.

There does not seem to be any specific trend to them and we have also had similar burglaries in the Crewe, Holmes Chapel and Middlewich areas. There is not a massive increase in burglaries that are occurring in Cheshire and infact burglary has fallen by nearly 60% nationally since 1995. In Cheshire, burglaries have dropped by 12.9% in the last five years, which means there are now 592 fewer victims of burglary a year than in 2005.


The county also has a crime rate which is below national average. While this is good reason for you to feel secure in your home, you should remain aware that criminals are opportunists who will take advantage of any chance to steal from you.


One of the best deterrents to burglary is somebody being in the house. Even if there isn’t anybody at home, there are lots of things you can do to give the impression that the house is occupied. Draw the curtains and leave a light on in the house when you go out in the evening.


If you are leaving the house unoccupied for longer, install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically. Make sure that milk bottles and parcels are not left on the doorstep, and that letters and newspapers are not left in the letterbox. Ask a neighbour or relative to regularly clear the doorstop and letterbox. You could also encourage someone to park on your drive while you are away.


Other points to take inconsideration is:

· Keep your valuables out of sight.

· Make your property unappealing – install security lights and burglar alarm.

· Mark all valuable property with UV marker pens.

· Keep photographs of any valuable items.

· Always lock doors and accessible windows.

· Do not leave ladders outside where they could be used to reach upstairs windows.

· Don’t label your house keys with your address.

Thefts from motor vehicles

Please be aware that there have been a number of Theft from Vehicles within
the Crewe, Nantwich and Congleton Neighbourhood Policing Areas over the
last couple of weeks. There is not a specific pattern and incidents tend
to be spread out over the areas.

On several occasions entry has been gained via insecure doors. Please
remind members of the importance of double checking that their vehicles are
secure when left unattended. The majority of us have good security on our
vehicles but this is undermined when doors are left insecure and provides
an opportunist thief with an easy entry point to take your items. It is
also important to remove items from show within your vehicle - even
seemingly inexpensive items. As well as items such as sat navs, cd's,
money and tools, thieves have also been known to take items such as old
coats, handfuls of loose change, sunglasses etc from vehicles. If you have
items such as lunch boxes wrapped in carrier bags or inexpensive items
(such as a gym kit) in a rucksack it is also important to remove these.
You may know that the item in the bag is of no value but an opportunist
thief may take the time to break in to see what is in the bag or rucksack.

There has also been an incident whereby the number plate has been stolen
from a vehicle. An easy solution for anyone wishing to add extra security
to number plates is anti tamper screws which can be obtained from DIY
stores or via the internet. These are a low cost solution to anyone who is
concerned about this type of crime.

The majority of thefts from vehicles take place during overnight periods
when there is less natural surveillance and offenders are afforded the
cover of darkness. If anyone is out and about during this period please
look out for anyone acting suspiciously and report and out of the ordinary
behaviour to the police at the time via 0845 458 0000. If a crime is in
progress please ring 999.

Theft from motor vehicles

In the last couple of weeks there have been a number of theft from vehicle offences committed within the Crewe & Nantwich and Congleton areas, with no specific area being targeted. In the majority of these cases access has been gained to the vehicles via an insecure door. Help to beat the opportunist thief by taking advantage of the security features that are in place in your vehicle and by following crime prevention advise in respect of what you leave on show in your vehicle.

Please consider these simple pieces of advice and pass on to members:

•Ensuring that your vehicle is locked increases the time that it takes an opportunist thief in gaining entry to your vehicle and in doing so increases the likelihood of them being spotted and caught. Take the extra time to check your doors and windows before leaving the vehicle, it'll be worth it in the end.
•If you have a car alarm please use it. The noise alone should be sufficient in scaring a burglar away.
•Wherever possible don't leave items on show in your car. Try and maintain a tidy vehicle and remove anything from clear sight that might catch the eye of an opportunist thief who is passing by. Be mindful that not only seemingly expensive items such as sat navs, cd-players and tools are taken. People stealing from vehicles may break into a car for seemingly random or inexpensive items such as old coats, clothing, handfuls of change, sunglasses, rucksacks.
•Remember that just because you know something left on show is of no value or interest doesn't meant a thief does. A dirty sports kit in a rucksack left on the seat, your used lunch box wrapped in a carrier bag in the foot well etc will no doubt prove of little use to a thief when they find out the contents but if they don't know what is in the bag they may take the chance to break in and see and the subsequent effect on the victim in terms of emotional impact and cost of repair can be great.
•
If you do see anybody that appears to be acting suspiciously around cars then please call Cheshire Police so that we can try and prevent further offences from occurring.

We have seen a dramatic drop in the distraction burglaries that we were having across the division. Can I ask that you check the Cheshire Police website as we place local appeals on there and these also sometimes include photographs of people that we need to speak to. Don't forget it does not matter how small the piece of information you have is as it still may help us trace an offender. The website is: www.cheshire.police.uk.

Thank you again for your assistance

Further update

Please be aware that over the last week we have had a few reports of burglaries where people have gained entry by entering houses through insecure doors. Can you please remind members that they need to keep there property secure and if they are at the rear of their property or enjoying the nice weather that we occasionally have then they need to lock the front doors.

Also in the warm weather and with the school holidays can we also please remember to remind members to keep all bicycles secure and not to leave them out in gardens over night as unfortunately these can be a target.

Please be aware that there have been a number of Theft from Vehicles within the Crewe, Nantwich and Congleton Neighbourhood Policing Areas over the last couple of weeks. There is not a specific pattern and incidents tend to be spread out over the areas.

On several occasions entry has been gained via insecure doors. Please remind members of the importance of double checking that their vehicles are secure when left unattended. The majority of us have good security on our vehicles but this is undermined when doors are left insecure and provides an opportunist thief with an easy entry point to take your items. It is also important to remove items from show within your vehicle - even seemingly inexpensive items. As well as items such as sat navs, cd's, money and tools, thieves have also been known to take items such as old coats, handfuls of loose change, sunglasses etc from vehicles. If you have items such as lunch boxes wrapped in carrier bags or inexpensive items (such as a gym kit) in a rucksack it is also important to remove these. You may know that the item in the bag is of no value but an opportunist thief may take the time to break in to see what is in the bag or rucksack.

The majority of thefts from vehicles take place during overnight periods when there is less natural surveillance and offenders are afforded the cover of darkness. If anyone is out and about during this period please look out for anyone acting suspiciously and report and out of the ordinary behaviour to the police at the time via 0845 458 0000. If a crime is in progress please ring 999.

Can I ask members to be extra aware with regards to shed and garden security particularly during this spate of warmer weather. In recent weeks we have had some thefts from insecure sheds and outbuildings with no specific areas being targeted but being spread out over the area. It is common to see a small increase in this type of crime as the weather improves during Spring and Summer.

Ensure that outbuildings such as sheds and garages are properly secured both during the day and overnight when not in use. It is easy to forget to secure a shed or outbuilding, especially as we access them more for tools, lawn mowers, sports equipment etc and this can provide an easy and simple entry point for opportunist thieves. If family members are also in and out of such buildings remind them of the importance of ensuring that they are properly secure in between uses. Remember that some people have access to their houses via internal garage doors so by leaving the garage insecure you may be leaving your home more vulnerable to opportunist thieves.

If you are using tools and ladders for gardening or a general spring clean around your property, these need to be returned and secured whilst not in use, even if you are only nipping out of your property for a short while. Such items being left around whilst you are absent from your property / overnight can be used to gain entry to either your property or a neighbours property.

Valuable items within outbuildings need to be recorded for insurance purposes and consider extending household insurance to cover particular valuable or precious items. If you have a large number of valuable items in your outbuildings consider expanding your household alarm system to cover any outbuildings too.

Keep an eye on each other's properties and if you see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary please report it via 0845 458 0000 at the time.

Please be aware of some suspicious individuals who are believed to have been involved in a distraction burglary in Wybunbury at approx 18:00 on 17/05/2011.

The householder is distracted by a male who may make an offer of carrying out gardening work or make an enquiry with the householder about a lost dog/puppy which he doesn't have a lead for whilst two other males enter the property and remove items.

One of the males is described as being approx 6ft 3 with an Irish accent wearing a checked shirt. There is not a description available of the other two males.

The males are believed to drive a Black/Grey 57 plate BMW vehicle so are mobile and as such I am sending this alert to the area as a whole.

A further call at the time reported 3 males in a BMW acting suspiciously going into residents gardens and appearing to look at houses.

Please be aware of these individuals and make members aware to be on the look out for any suspicious behaviour of this nature. If you have any vulnerable neighbours please keep an eye out for them in relation to any unusual callers that they might have. If anyone does notice anything out of the ordinary or suspicious behaviour in their area please contact the police asap via 0845 458 0000 to report.

From the home watch desk

At a recent meeting I attended it was highlighted that during the month of June traditionally there can be an increase in domestic burglary in the Crewe & Nantwich area. This can often be due to sneak in burglaries which are more prevalent during warmer weather due to easier access via unlocked doors and open windows. From previous alerts you will be aware of the crime prevention advice in relation to these types of crimes.

In April 2011 43% of burglaries in a dwelling in this area were sneak in burglaries which helps to highlight how commonly this is used as a method of entry to people's homes. Many of us have excellent door and window locks available and levels of security that would help to prevent this type of incident but unfortunately despite publicity in recent years people still fall foul of this type of burglary for various reasons, particularly at this time of year. Sneak in burglaries are an ideal option for opportunist thieves as they take minimum effort on their part as they can be in and out of properties in a matter of seconds via convenient entry points. They do not need to physically break in which would raise the chances of them being spotted and increase the risk of them leaving behind something of evidential value and they do not need to carry or find anything that could assist them in carrying out these crimes.

Secondly, items such as fishing tackle and bicycles appear to have been some of the most common items removed in shed breaks in the area. Some of the thefts from sheds will also be the result of sneak in thefts where similarly to houses sheds are accidentally left insecure after use during the day and overnight. It is important to lock your shed when it is not in use. If you do have such items try to take extra precautions to protect them. If items are of particular value ensure they are insured. Consider property marking these items and taking a log of what you have for insurance and identification purposes should they be stolen. Items of value can be further secured within sheds and outbuildings by chaining them to a fixed anchor point on a floor or wall or they can be locked into a metal cage or storage box to increase the layers of security. It is worthwhile to lock up your bicycle even if it is within your shed or garden - the majority of bikes are taken from private property as opposed to public places as many people would imagine. In essence public places have greater natural surveillance and we tend to lock up our items at these sites whereas at home many of us will wheel our bikes into the garden and prop up against a wall - with less natural surveillance these can be an easy items to take for an opportunist thief as they are both valuable and provide a ready made means of escape for them.

As home watch coordinators and members you will be more than aware of the above issues as they are regularly highlighted. However, these types of crimes continue to occur throughout the area as a whole so can I ask you to reiterate this message as June approaches and also share with friends and family members.

Bogus call reminder

As nights get lighter there can be an increase in the number of people who may try and call at your doorstep. Darker nights make many people feel more vulnerable and they are more reluctant to open their door but this can become less of a concern during the summer, allowing cold callers to work later into the evenings with a better chance of someone opening their door.

It is therefore a worthwhile time to remind members that they should refrain from buying any goods and services from their doorstep. Ideally, if someone knocks at your property, take a look who it is through a spy-hole or window prior to opening the door if possible, if you don't recognise them keep your door shut. Although this may appear rude, by keeping your door closed you are protecting yourself and your property as the caller does not get the chance to start their pitch and the door creates a secure barrier between them and you. Don't worry if someone sees you checking and knock several times, remember it is your front door and your choice if you open it.

People who are trying to sell goods and services will normally do so in a couple of ways. They will offer their credentials as being part of a legitimate company and proceed to offer you goods and services, often with special on the spot deals. It is very hard during a brief door step exchange to ascertain if someone is genuine - all callers, whether genuine or not, will have a well rehearsed sales pitch and are often good at delivering this and those that are not genuine are very believable. If you require any goods and services find your own companies by taking recommendations, getting and comparing several quotes and looking for companies accredited under trade awards. This also gives you chance to think about and research which option is suitable for you as opposed to being pressured into an on the spot decision on your doorstep. They may also try and sell you goods by means of making you sympathetic towards them such as in the case of people claiming to be ex offenders trying to reform or individuals stating they have a disability and are trying to sell goods to support themselves - these individuals are not genuine but have stories designed to illicit sympathy and therefore make a sale.

Such callers can be quite mobile and can circulate around the county with examples cropping up throughout of Cheshire. Two recent good examples to be mindful of are as follows - both happening within Cheshire East area on 09/05/2011 at approx 14:45.

•In the Lear Drive area of Crewe a resident noticed 2 males knocking on doors on both sides of the street in hi-vis jackets with tanned complexions in their early 20’s. When challenged as to what they were doing they claimed that they were offering gardening services but had no ID or paperwork on them. They claimed that their van was parked around the corner out of sight.
•In the Sadler’s Close area of Holmes Chapel a male was reported as knocking on doors trying to sell paintings to residents. He passed a note to householders who opened their doors claiming to be deaf and dumb. He was reported as acting in a suspicious manner, loitering around the area which has a number of elderly residents by the caller.

If you notice anything out of the ordinary or suspicious in your area that causes you concern please contact the police directly via 0845 458 0000 to report at the time.

Update from the homewatch desk

We have seen a dramatic drop in sneak in/distraction burglaries, but we still need reports of any suspicious activity that you may be seeing in your areas. Thank you for any information that you have already passed onto us.

On another note we have had numerous reports of members of the public having bogus phone calls off unknown people stating that there is a fault with their home computer. The conversation then goes on to try and get the person on the other end of the phone to try and turn their computer on etc. Please do not disclose any of your passwords etc as calls of this nature are not always genuine.

If you have any doubts about the company that may contact you then please contact the Trading Standards. I have also attached some information about trying to reduce the number of nuisance phone calls.

How to Stop Unwanted Telephone Calls

1.) Register with TPS
Under government regulation it is illegal for UK companies to call any individual who has indicated that they don't want the calls. To do this you need to join the telephone preference service register. It takes about 28 days after registering to start working.

Website: www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
Telephone: 0800 398 893

2.) Randomly Generated Calls
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to stop all phone calls. Some calls can be the product of random number generators where companies call lots of numbers and hope to get through. If you are experiencing issues with this the best advice is to record the telephone number of the company down and report them to the regulator - Phone Pay Plus to get the number blocked.

Website: www.phonepayplus.org.uk

3.) Third Party Contacts
Our phone number can also get out into the wider world via whilst registering for websites, doing surveys, filling in competitions etc. Most companies will have a standard - if you do/don't want your information to be shared with carefully selected third parties please tick/untick this box added to anywhere that you provide your personal details. The majority ask that you tick if you want to have your details shared but some will have the opposite. As such out of habit if you only take a cursory glance you can fall foul of this and actually be giving them permission to circulate your information. It is important to carefully read these every time to ensure that you are keeping your details private.

If you are persistently receiving calls from a particular company it is perfectly acceptable to ask that they remove your contact details from their database.

4.) Silent Phone Calls
Silent calls are usually generated by automatic calling equipment in call centres. To reduce the number of silent calls received can register with the Silent Callguard Service, but you need to re-register with them every 12 months.

Website: www.silentguard.co.uk

If calls continue you can complain via Ofcom taking the following steps:
1.) After the call use '1471' to see if a number is provided
2.) If the number is withheld note the time and date and contact your telephone providers 'nuisance call department'
3.) Complain to Ofcom. Website: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/silent-calls

Tax refund email bank reminder

In the last couple of weeks I have received a large number of phishing emails into both my work and personal email in-boxes. Several purporting to be from various banks and one claiming to be from HM Revenues and Customs in relation to a tax refund.

Information has been sent out about various types of these emails in the past. However, in view of the fact that there seems to be a number of these floating around at present I thought it worthwhile to send out a general reminder email for members and circulation. Some of these emails are very basic and extremely unbelievable in their make up but others can appear to be very realistic (in terms of design and web address sent from) and someone could fall foul of one of these if caught at the right moment. As home watch members I am sure that you are very security conscious about such emails but please try and share this message with friends and family, particularly if some are less familiar with the internet or are vulnerable.

Please remind contacts that they should never respond to any email that tries to get them to provide any personal or financial details via an email or by clicking a link to another page. Various threats (your account will be shut down/suspended) and sweeteners (you are due a tax refund) will be offered to try and encourage people to provide their details in whatever way possible. Genuine financial organisations will never try and obtain your details in this manner. They will never ask for your password. If you receive an email of this nature you can be confident that it is a hoax.

Sometimes, people are concerned that an email may be genuine - if it is one of the more well designed ones. If in any doubt or you have concerns find a contact yourself for the Customer Services Department of the organisation in question (never open a link or follow what is already provided) and contact them directly to discuss the matter in person.

Many organisations have a facility on their websites to report suspicious or hoax emails. As such if anyone receives such emails they always appreciate them being reported directly via this facility so that they can investigate the origins wherever possible.

Sneak in Burglary

The local Neighbourhood Policing Inspector at Crewe, Inspector Andy Smith, has asked us to highlight the seasonal issue of sneak in burglaries and thefts as widely as possible amongst the local community due to the time of year.

Historically, lighter nights and warmer weather often leads to an increase in sneak in burglaries or thefts in various ways.

In light of the Easter break, when many of us will hopefully be enjoying some time off with our families and friends, please remind members to be mindful of their security both in their homes and when out and about. Although this can be a well publicised issue, we still have instances of people being victims of this type of crime so it is important to remind as many people as possible about this issue.

1.) Ensure that doors and windows are locked and secured at night. With many of us having windows open during the day and our doors unlocked it can be easy to retire to bed and overlook an open window (such as a downstairs bathroom etc) or unlocked door.

2.) With the warmer weather many of us will be accessing sheds and outbuildings more frequently to gain access to tools, gardening equipment and sports equipment. Again, ensure that these are properly secured overnight.

In relation to the above two points, it is worthwhile to get into the habit of doing a quick walks around your house and outbuildings just prior to going to bed. Take a couple of minutes to double check that sheds, garages, all windows and doors are secure on a nightly basis.

3.) If you leave your property for a short period during the day allow the same level of security as you would do overnight. Many people are unaware that more burglaries occur during daylight hours than overnight Therefore, don't be tempted to leave a window open 'as you are just nipping out for 10 minutes' or leave tools and equipment in the garden. Such equipment could be used to gain access to your property or a neighbour's property or may be taken by an opportunist thief.

4.) If you are preoccupied outside or upstairs ensure that you close any downstairs windows and secure the doors. It only takes a matter of seconds for an opportunist thief to walk in and take a purse, wallet, handbag or mobile phone. Most of us are creatures of habit and tend to take off these items when we come through the door, hanging bags over a banister or popping wallets , phones and keys down on a table so they are often conveniently located near to the main access points of your property meaning these items are easily accessible. Sneak in burglaries often occur during daylight hours so it is important to be mindful of these even when you are at home.

5.) Whilst out and about in your vehicle, don't be tempted to leave car windows down whilst you nip in a shop or petrol station and ensure that any valuables are put out of sight every time you leave your vehicle - even if only briefly. Many of us are conscious that a thief may take a sat nav, cd player, phone, purse etc but it is worth remembering that they can take items that may seem less appealing to us such as sunglasses, coats and clothing, a rucksack, loose change and other such items. To be ultra safe try and leave nothing on show in your vehicle when it is unoccupied.

If anyone would like any specific information in relation to sneak in burglaries, home security, vehicle security or garden security for their members please let me know what type of advice you would like from these options and in what quantity and I will send it out to you for your schemes.

Please be aware of a distraction burglary that happened in the Wistaston Road area of Willaston at approx 14:30 on 14/04/2011:

An unknown male approaches property, knocks on the door and tells elderly occupant that he is from the Water Board and needs to check the pipes in the property. The offender is let into the property and takes the resident into a ground floor bathroom at rear of property. The resident is asked to turn the cold tap on and keep their hand under it while it runs. During this time a second offender enters the property via the front door and steals cash from a drawer in the living room. Offenders make off on foot down road, unknown if transport used.

The first male is described as being white male, in his 30's, stocky build wearing a light coloured shirt, dark trousers. Male didn't have a local accent but unconfirmed what area accent was from. Described as being smartly dressed and charming in manner.

The second male was only seen from behind as he walked away and is described as wearing a dark coloured jacket and dark trousers.

Please make members aware of this incident and ask that an eye is kept on any vulnerable members in your scheme. The Water Board cover is one of the most commonly used ways of gaining entry into homes as often older people, who remember the Water Board as an organisation are targeted. Please remind members that there is no longer such an organisation and the current water companies would rarely need to knock on people's doors for the purpose of checking out things within a property. The majority of water, gas and electric companies do have a password system in place that they are keen for customers to sign up to in order to protect them from bogus callers. This allows residents to agree a predetermined password that any genuine caller from such a company would have to hand when they approached you property or could certainly obtain if required. You should be able to obtain details of this scheme from the customer services department of the relevant company.

If anyone receives a similar call at their door, has noticed any suspicious or out or the ordinary behaviour in their area or have information that might be relevant to this particular incident please contact the police asap via 0845 458 0000. If anyone has any anonymous information that they wish to submit call Cheshire Crime Stoppers via 0800 555 111.

Bt telephine Scam

Some of you may remember a BT Scam that has circulated in the past which you have received information about via home watch previously.

I have had a couple of people email me recently to make enquiries, having received warning emails about this issue from friends, family or other sources. As such, it seems that this email is circulating again and although we have not had reports falling victim of this scam in Cheshire, understandably the email about the scam causes concern for those who open it. As such, it seems an opportune time to make people aware that this is circulating again and to reiterate a general message to members to be cautious when interacting with anyone via the telephone, particularly people trying to obtain financial details from you however realistic they may appear.

I have attached a link that offers a round up of the scam in question that initially began circulating a couple of years ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8263637.stm

Smart water Property marking

Some members may be aware of Smart Water which is one of various property marking systems available that can be used in your homes and on other property. It is more advanced than things such as UV pens as each solution is unique to a single property, is very effective and difficult to remove from items and is a deterrent to would be offenders who are wary of these more advanced property marking solutions.

Smart Water have made us aware that they are currently doing a special rate for Home Watch members. If a scheme has 10 interested members they can get kits for £15 + VAT per kit (instead of the usual fee of £60). I have attached a link to the Smart Water web page for any schemes that might be interested in clubbing together to participate in this offer. This offers comprehensive information about what Smart Water is and further details about how it works.

http://www.smartwater.com/Home.aspx

If anyone is keen to participate in this offer please let me know and I can pass your details on to the regional representative for Smart Water to follow up with you in relation to this offer.

Please note that I must stress that there are also other similar property marking systems available for purchase if anyone wanted to investigate other options available to them.

Spring garden post

Please find some seasonal crime prevention advice attached for you to share with members. The majority of crime tends to be opportunist. This means that although thieves may be going out with a view to steal from somewhere, they will be unclear of their exact targets until an easy opportunity presents itself. The easy option is appealing to a thief as gaps in security allow them to gain swift access to our possessions with minimal effort on their part and reduces the chances of them getting caught/spotted or leaving behind evidence (whilst trying to break in from scratch). Crimes of this nature can increase throughout the area during upcoming months and often there is no specific pattern due to the opportunist nature of these crimes. Don't be an easy target for an opportunist thief by following this simple advice at all times.

Regards

Home Watch Desk

SPRING GARDEN SECURITY ADVICE

As temperatures start to increase and days get longer many of us take the opportunity to tidy up our gardens. Now is an excellent time to double check that your garden is secure and implement extra security measures to assist you in keeping crime free throughout the spring and summer months.

· Ensure that there are no weak points or gaps along fences and hedgerows that form the perimeter of your garden. These provide easy access points and undermine the security that you have in place.

· Try and keep wheelie bins locked up. Bins can be used in two ways to aid an opportunist thief. They can be moved to provide a convenient stepping stone over property boundaries or they can be used to carry stolen goods.

· When planting, put heavy stones in the bottom of pots or planters to make them more difficult to be carried away.

· If possible, anchor valuable garden ornaments or furniture to the ground.

· Lock tools and ladders away when you are away from your property / overnight. By leaving tools and ladders out you are providing an easy option for burglars as they can use these to gain entry to homes or outbuildings. This also means that they don’t need to carry tools with them so if they are stopped by the police there is no evidence that they are going equipped to engage in crime.

· Clever planting can enhance the security of your property as well as looking attractive. Prickly bushes and plants can be located at vulnerable areas / entry points around your property to create a spiky barrier.

· Burglars sometimes like to work undercover, therefore it is advisable to trim back any hedges, bushes or tall trees that might provide a convenient hiding spot for thieves. This also increases the natural surveillance of your property meaning, in terms of schemes like home watch that, you can keep an eye on each others houses easier and report any suspicious behaviour as it happens.

· Consider how you currently use lighting in your garden. Are there areas that are too dark and might benefit from lighting? Lights with motion sensors can be used to offer protection by covering specific areas of your garden or consider dusk till dawn lights to offer better overall lighting overnight.

· Sheds and outbuildings need to be properly secured. Many of us have a number of valuable items stored in such places and yet the security of these buildings often falls well below the security that we use on our homes. Extend your house insurance to cover any valuable items or consider having your house alarm extended to cover outbuildings. Property mark any valuable items and increase security by fixing them to the floor / wall or locking within a metal cage.

· There can be an increase in thefts from sheds and outbuildings during spring and summer as people forget to lock them when they go out in the day or overnight. This provides an easy option for thieves so make life as difficult as possible for them and ensure that you take the extra seconds to lock these buildings when not in use.

Police budget cuts

We have been asked to share the below with our key community contacts. As such, I am forwarding this out to local home watch coordinators to keep you up to date with how recent budget cuts are being managed by Cheshire Constabulary. The below article is an honest and up to date summary of the changes that are being made / are being considered whilst trying to protect services and availability to members of the public.

Regards

Home Watch Desk


PROTECTING THE FRONT LINE


The effects of the financial restraints being imposed on Cheshire Police and other police forces are receiving widespread media coverage, nationally and locally.

In the Cheshire Police area the budget has to be reduced by £35.4 million over the next four years.
The budget for the coming year has now been set by the Police Authority.

Below is an up-to-date account of what it will mean.

The Chairman of the Cheshire Police Authority, Margaret Ollerenshaw says the newly approved budget for policing Cheshire in 2011/12 is designed to prevent any damage to frontline policing.

‘Frontline’ policing includes officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and staff who are seen in the community, detectives, crime scene investigators, traffic and firearms officers and less visible aspects of policing such as officers and staff who are protecting vulnerable people and teams handling large scale incidents.

Eleven million pounds of savings have been identified by reducing costs, changing the way the Force works, looking at the equipment we buy and reviewing the estate. We will have to reduce the number of officers and staff we employ in each of the next four years, but are taking steps to prevent service reductions.

Changing shift patterns will mean more officers will be on patrol during the evenings and at weekends when anti-social behaviour occurs. The Area Support Group, which includes police dogs and officers especially trained in public order, search and critical incident techniques, is now based across the policing area and not at Headquarters. These officers will undertake day-to-day policing when their specialist skills are not required.

The Constabulary has also developed plans that will reduce senior management ranks (Inspector and above), and Police Staff equivalent, bringing a saving of more than £2million in 2011/2012.

The way call handlers deal with calls is being reviewed to improve the quality of information taken during the first call. The aim is that, whenever possible, the issue can be resolved there and then or the best deployment of policing skills be selected at the first decision point.

The Force is also creating a combined business centre, incorporating human resources, information technology, finance and estates management. This will necessitate a major restructuring and an estimated 150 police staff job cuts.

There have been various media reports suggesting that some police stations are to close.

Margaret Ollerheshaw said, “The Authority gave the go ahead for more work to be done to review the police buildings we own. We will ensure that police services will not be withdrawn from any community location without ensuring that there is something else in its place. For example, this may mean that the police share premises with partners. That may actually be better for anyone who wishes to speak to the police, council, fire and rescue service or other service provider.”

The estates strategy lists a number of proposals in relation to selling and relocating police buildings.

These are, at this stage, only proposals. Each of them will be assessed following the production of a feasibility study and business case.

The feasibility study and business case will consider a cost benefit analysis whilst ensuring that local policing services are retained in the right places to serve the communities, through co-location with partner organisations such as councils and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Co-location opportunities are being explored for police stations at Great Sankey, Risley, Frodsham, Dragonhall, Poynton, Northwich, Congleton and Widnes.

Three police houses are currently for sale. Willaston and Holmes Chapel police buildings are due to be put on the market for sale. These are police offices, which are used as a base by some officers, and not police stations. They are not open to the public.

We are committed to a local police presence in all of our 19 neighbourhood areas.

Crime and anti social behaviour has been consistently reduced in Cheshire over the past years. The Police Authority will continue to monitor Constabulary performance and will be asking the public for their views throughout the year to check the effects of the changes.

CAr park card thefts

Please be aware of the following incident that occurred at Sainsbury's in Nantwich at 13:00 on 16/03/2011:

A female was approached whilst on the supermarket car park by a male believed to be Eastern European. The male asked the lady for directions and while she was distracted cash and credit cards were stolen from her handbag inside her vehicle. The cards were subsequently used to withdraw money from her account.

Please be aware of this and be cautious and vigilant if approached by anyone, particularly at supermarkets. If anyone approaches asking for assistance of any kind be mindful where your handbag is at all times and keep it close to you, with the zip at the front of you so you can be sure that no one can gain access to the bag without you noticing. Equally, for any men, refrain from carrying your wallets in easy to access places such as in your back pocket - keep it in a zipped pocket on your jacket and again if approached be aware of where it is at all times. Be reluctant to remove your purse or wallet to give out small change to anyone who has a sob story - in reality if they had a major issue at a supermarket / shopping premises they could go in an gain assistance from the store staff. This is a way of bringing someone's wallet and purse to an easy point of access as often whilst chatting you may not put it away as securely or pop it in your pocket/on the car seat where it is more accessible.

As well as this incident, there have been a couple of other reports over the East of Cheshire where people have been distracted in similar circumstances:

At Waitrose (09/03/2011) in Sandbach, a lady was distracted by a smartly dressed, attractive female, 5ft 2",shoulder length, dark hair asking for some change stating that her car had broken down. She later realised that her purse was missing and managed to stop her cards.

At Sainsbury's in Wilmslow (16/03/2011) a lady was distracted on the car park by two females believed to be Eastern European. The lady later found bank cards missing which had been used to purchase goods in retail stores.

If anyone witnesses any suspicious or out of the ordinary behaviour please contact the police asap with as much information as possible via 0845 458 0000.

Februaury Round Up

Charity theft man sentenced

A 22 year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was sentenced for stealing 1,000 charity bags from a former employer and using them to collect clothes from doorsteps in Nantwich for his own profit. He was sentenced at South Cheshire Magistrates Court on 16th February after pleading guilty to theft from an employer. He was caught with bags of clothes by PC Paul Edmonds from Nantwich NPU following reports of a suspicious vehicle in the Stapeley area of Nantwich.

PC Edmonds seized the charity bags and contacted Cure Leukaemia who the bags belonged to and made sure that they got all of the items that the people of Stapley had generously given.

He was given a Community Order, which orders that he carries out 60 hours unpaid supervised work within the next 12 months and £85 costs.

Cheshire police go online to tackle domestic abuse

Anyone who suspects that someone close to them is suffering from domestic abuse is being urged to speak out and report it.

As part of its domestic abuse campaign, which was launched to coincide with Valentine’s Day, Cheshire Police is encouraging people who are concerned that someone close to them is being physically or verbally abused to report it online.

The new online facility, which launched Wednesday 16th February allows relatives, friends, work colleagues or neighbours to voice their concerns by logging onto www.cheshire.police.uk

Catalytic Convertor Thefts

Please be aware that there have been some thefts of Catalytic Convertors from vehicles within Cheshire East recently.

In order to remove a catalytic convertor, offenders would need to access the underneath of a vehicle. A such if anyone witnesses any suspicious behaviour in their area, particularly individuals accessing/trying to access the underside of vehicles, please report this directly to Cheshire Police via 0845 458 0000. If anyone has any further information about these thefts that they feel may be helpful please contact the police or call Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

Please be aware that I am on leave from today until Tuesday 15th March 2011. If anyone requires anything during this time, please either leave me a message and I will respond when I return or if it is of a more urgent nature please contact the main Cheshire Police call centre via 0845 458 0000.

Information Appeal - Home Watch

A Coordinator from the Wells Green area has emailed me with some information about an individual trying to sell a mattress in the Wistaston / Rope area. One of the coordinator's friends was approached at home by a male in a white van with writing on the side. The male tried to sell the resident a new mattress for £250. The resident later learnt that some other friends had been hailed by a male in a white van offering a similar deal whilst out walking their dogs.

Unfortunately, they do not have any further details and can not recall what was written on the van.

I am emailing the coordinators in Crewe / Nantwich to ask if any members have any further information about this. If anyone has been approached by someone in this manner (or are approached after receiving this email) and can provide any further details such as description, what was written on the van or a vehicle registration number please contact me directly. At number 85

2011 Census

Dear Coordinator,

Please be aware of the upcoming Census 2011. If this census is completed and returned in a reasonable time then residents will receive no further contact.

However, it is worth noting that if people fail to return their census forms then a team of census collectors are being employed to approach addresses that have not returned their completed questionnaires to ensure data is collected. It is compulsory that the census be completed so they will be following up on any missing questionnaires.

I am contacting the local home watch coordinators to ask them if they can make members aware of the upcoming census (via forwarding email or word of mouth). Please encourage members to assist any elderly or vulnerable friends/neighbours or relatives in ensuring that their census forms are completed and returned. We are keen to encourage as many people to return census questionnaires to avoid them being visited by a collector as we are conscious that understandably, many people are concerned / have been warned about opening their doors to unknown doorstep callers.

The below are some key points to share with members about the collection of Census Questionnaires:

Residents who return their completed questionnaires promptly (before 6th April) will not be contacted by the census field staff
All census staff will carry an ID card with a photo, logos (2011 census logo & Office of National Statistics logo) and hologram that they should actively show to householders. They may ask for name and number of residents, but they will never ask for specific details (like credit card details, bank account info etc).
Residents will not be asked to leave their questionnaires on the doorstep for collection
Residents can request a pre-arranged appointment with a collector, via the census helpline (on the front of their questionnaires)
Close the door if you are unsure.
Phone the census helpline if you have any queries or concerns - 0300 0201 101 or check for more information www.census.gov.uk

Irish lottery e-mail scam

Please be aware of an email that a coordinator has forwarded me recently. It purports to be from the Irish lottery and suggests that someone has won the prize due to their email address being drawn out. I anticipate that most people (particular home watch members) will see through this email and will not provide any details. However, I thought it an interesting one to share as it is a new tactic - trying to suggest that your email address could be used in a prize sweep - so hinting that anyone with an email address could in theory win without being aware that they are even entered. It also tries to obtain some different information from other emails and is asking for things such as scanned copies of your identity. Although it isn't the most smooth or believable email, it is one just to be mindful of, especially in terms of the above points.

As always, never part with your personal details to people who cold call at the door, via the telephone or via email. Treat anyone who is trying to obtain any aspect of your personal data in this manner as suspicious.

CONGRATULATION !!!
IRISH INTERNATIONAL ONLINE PROMO
22 Garden Close, Stamford,Lincs,
PE9 2YP, London United Kingdom.
Reply to: irish1928@hotmail.com

Your email just won you the Year 2011 IRISH INTERNATIONAL ONLINE PROMOTION which is the sum of 700,000.00 Great British Pounds through a computer email draw with a ticket number Tv345678U.For claims,contact;

Mr ROONEY JAMES
Email:irish1928@hotmail.com
Tel:+447014220061

For Claims, We require you fill this form and return to your claims agent immediately.

Name(In Full):...........
sex:...........
Age:........
Address:........
Phone Number (Home):.............
Mobile:.......
Office Number:..........
State:..........
Country:..........
Present Occupation:.........
Scanned Copy Of your Identity:.........

Sincerely yours,
Mrs Irene Woods
ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR

Cash Machine Scam

A fellow coordinator has forwarded me over something that he has received that has been issued by Essex Police in relation to a Cash Machine Scam.

The attached link is directly from Essex Police's website and contains a description and video footage of the scam that they are raising awareness about.

It is important to stress that having checked with a colleague in Cheshire Police's intelligence unit, there is no evidence of this scam being operated in this area at this time. However, he believes it is beneficial to share with local Home Watch coordinators in particular just to make them aware, should any members mention anything of this nature to them. The article also contains some general crime prevention tips that can be considered when using any cash machine in general.

As always, it is at your discretion as to whether you choose to pass this on to members directly. I know some coordinators have a number of elderly neighbours and try to strike a balance between what they send out from the alerts so as not to cause undue concern, whereas other coordinators prefer to send out as much as possible. Whatever suits your scheme and members is fine.

Regards

Home Watch Desk

http://www.essex.police.uk/default.aspx?page=9032

Scam Awareness Month

For your interest the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are promoting a Scam Awareness Month to run throughout February 2011. It is something that can be quite relevant to Home Watch as many of us will have received items through the post/front door etc that we believe to be scams.

If any coordinators want to know more for their interest or any schemes are interested in seeing what is involved to participate/raise awareness you can find information via the following link:

http://www.mynhw.co.uk/news-full.php?id=1465

Most wanted distraction burglaries

Crime Stoppers and the police have launched a national campaign to highlight and seek information about their 10 most wanted distraction burglars.

The attached press release includes information about the campaign and offers a link to the Crime Stoppers website where you can view the 10 most wanted list. Having looked at the list there are 2 offenders who are of interest nationally and another 2 who are listed as residing in Cheshire.



The police and crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, are today launching a list of the 10 ‘Most Wanted’ people sought in connection with distraction burglaries.
Three of last year’s 10 ‘Most Wanted’ received prison sentences, which highlights the value of the campaign. By raising the profile of the individuals, valuable information was brought forward leading to successful prosecutions.
The campaign will also warn the public to be careful about who they let into their homes especially as it approaches February, a time of year when burglaries traditionally peak. Distraction burglars trick their way in to the houses of the elderly and vulnerable, by pretending to be a type of official or asking for assistance.
Operation Liberal is a national police unit that provides a countrywide overview of distraction burglary crime and supports force’s investigations into distraction burglaries.
The 10 ‘Most Wanted’ individuals are featured on Crimestoppers Most Wanted site: www.crimestoppers-uk.org/wanted.
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Dave Cording, Director of Operations at Crimestoppers, said: “Distraction burglars target the most vulnerable members of our communities, often the elderly. It is not simply the financial loss, but the effect this type of crime has on the victim, chipping away at their independence and their peace of mind.
“Cash is stolen by using a variety of different distraction tactics. The individuals highlighted prey on older people who may be at risk and need to be brought to justice.
“If you have any information on these most wanted individuals, please contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously, or fill in an online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org, we guarantee that no one will know your identity.”
Deputy Chief Constable for the East Midlands and Association of Chief Police Officers lead for Operation Liberal, Peter Goodman, said: “Operation Liberal works with all UK police forces to target and catch those who prey on the elderly and vulnerable.
“While distraction burglary isn’t a common crime, it often has a totally devastating effect on the victims. In addition to tracing the whereabouts of the 10 ‘Most Wanted’ distraction burglars, the campaign aims to raise awareness so people can prevent themselves from being deceived by these callous individuals. Our message is: if you’re not sure who is calling, then don’t open the door.
“Members of the public can help assist by reporting suspicious behaviour to the police or by contacting Crimestoppers, who will treat your call anonymously.”
-ENDS-
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Crime Prevention Advice
A few tips to keep you safe:
• If you’re not sure who is at your door, don’t open it. Check the identity of the caller by calling the company they are purporting to be from ie. Gas, Electricity, Water and Police. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider. Do not use any telephone numbers provided by the caller, they may be bogus.
• Telephone a neighbour or friend nearby to come along and check out the caller before you open the door to them.
• Some areas in the country have Neighbourhood Watch or Nominated Neighbour Schemes you can sign up to. Check with your local police Safer Neighbourhood Team to find out if there is one in your area.
• Many utility service providers like Gas, Electricity and Water, provide password schemes or hotline numbers for customers to call, to check the identity of callers before opening the door. Speak to your utility provider.
• Don’t keep large quantities of cash at home.
• Keep doors locked and windows secure at all times. Only put the door chain on to answer the door.
• If somebody asks for your help, needs to make a telephone call, has lost a ball in your garden, needs a drink or request a pen and paper for example, refer them to a younger neighbour or assist them through a closed door. Or call a friend or neighbour to come and assist.
• If you suspect a bogus caller has visited you, even if you didn’t let them in, call the police straight away. We need to know!
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Phone Calls - Corrupted Files

Please be conscious that 2 people reported incidents yesterday in the area where they were contacted via the telephone by someone claiming that there were issues on their computer. I have also had these types of calls raised previously via the Home Watch Desk.

In one of yesterday's instances the male caller suggested that files had been corrupted on the computer and needed defragmenting and try to obtain personal details to assist in doing this. The caller did appear to have know the name of the householder but did not appear to have any other personal details.

In the second instance a female caller again suggested that computer files were corrupted and the machine may be at risk of a virus if not corrected. Again, the caller tried to get the householder to provide details and was quite persistent in trying to persuade them to provide information.

Both householders tried '1471' where no number could be obtained.

Please be conscious of this type of call. It appears to be becoming increasingly common as a way to try and get people to part with personal details and presumably money if you take up their offer to assist. In some instances the caller appears to know the householder's name - although understandably this may throw some householder's it is not an indication that this is someone more genuine calling. Personal data is a big commodity nowadays and it is very easy for companies to obtain simple contact details in various ways. Never buy any goods and services from anyone contacting you in this way. If you believe that there is a problem with your computer or are concerned about ensuring that your security is up to date/effective seek out your own advice from a reputable company, family member etc - someone whose credentials can be thoroughly checked out.

Please make members aware of this as although many people are proficient with computers some people may not be as confident or may be new to using computers - callers can be quite persuasive particularly when suggesting that there are security issues on your machine and people could easily fall foul of this.

If anyone has any major issues with these callers or obtain any further details about this company such as name, contact number etc please contact consumer direct via 08454 04 05 06 or email them directly from the 'Contact Us' section of their website.

Purse thefts

Please be aware that in the last week there have been a small amount of purse thefts reported at a very small number of schools, medical centres and at Leighton hospital within the Crewe area. In two reports, it seems that a male has entered a staff area and removed purses from a handbag. When disturbed the male has stated that he was looking for a toilet or the staff room. The aggrieved persons have later received phone calls from a male purporting to be from a reputed bank to request their pin numbers to investigate withdrawals from the accounts. Money has subsequently been stolen from the accounts.

The small number of instances that have currently been reported appear to relate to education/medical premises and it appears to be staff areas that have been affected at this time. However, as many of us do have cause to frequent schools, doctors surgeries and the hospital please be conscious of these thefts. As always, make sure that you are mindful of the security of your personal belonging whilst out and about in public places. Equally, please remember that your bank will never contact their customers to request personal details such as your pin number, account numbers, card numbers or sort codes via the telephone. If you receive any calls of this nature please refrain from providing any personal details whatsoever and report any such calls to your bank directly.

If anyone requires any advice about purse dipping or leaflets for their members on this subject please contact the home watch desk via this email or 01244 614332.