Police Briefing Wednesday 7th December 2011 South Herefordshire & Golden Valley

Police Briefing Wednesday 7th December 2011 South Herefordshire & Golden Valley

Crime Trends

Outbuildings near Holme Lacy were broken into sometime in the past month, and electric cabling was taken from farm machinery. All the electric wiring from the building itself was also stripped out, and an electric motor was also taken.

A house in Dinedor was burgled overnight Saturday 26th/Sunday 27th November, a laptop and some jewellery were stolen.

A 47 year old male has been arrested and been charged with this offence, along with several other similar offences across the county.

The same property also had 1800 litres of heating oil stolen between Wednesday 23rd and Sunday 27th November, although it is not thought to be connected to the burglary.

Overnight on Monday 28th November/ Tuesday 29th November an industrial unit on the Dene Industrial Estate, Kingstone was broken into, and a large quantity of mechanical tools and welding equipment were taken. A Mercedes 313 tipper KU51XCN belonging to the unit and an Ifor Williams trailer were also stolen, used to remove the large amount of kit that was stolen in the burglary.

In the few days before Tuesday 29th November, a shed and touring caravan were broken into on Dorstone Hill, and a woodburning stove was taken.

Between 3pm on Saturday 26th and 1pm on Sunday 27th November, a farm in Harewood End was broken into, and Jewellery was taken.

Between 10.30am on Tuesday 29th November and 2.30pm on Thursday 1st December, an industrial unit on the Dene Industrial Estate in Kingstone was broken into, and 24 aluminium racing car wheels and tyres were stolen. A Honda generator was also taken, this was found yesterday by a farmer in Madley in a field, and has been returned to the loser.

Overnight on Saturday 3rd/Sunday 4th December a white Isuzu tipper truck parked in Coldstone Cross, Kingstone had its rear window smashed.

On Monday evening (5th December) , two incidents of criminal damage were reported to us involving missiles and paint being thrown at passing vehicles on the A49 at Much Birch. The culprits were two males in a small white van, part registration CE08.

A livestock carrier that had been stolen from Tredegar was set alight and completely destroyed around 9.30pm on Monday 5th December in woodland at Cockyard.

If you can assist us with information on any of the above incidents, please get in touch with us on our new number 101, or on 0300 333 3000. Thanks.

Suspicious Vehicles

A white Mercedes Vito panel van MV5*MWJ was seen at around 2pm on Friday 2nd December in Harewood End. It had been driven onto a farm complex and the two male occupants between 20 - 30 years of age, were having a good look round.

Yesterday morning (Tuesday 6th December) a white Ford transit connect van CE08RH* was snooping around the Dene Industrial Estate in Kingstone. There were two males in the vehicle, aged 20-25 years, and were asking for scrap.

From Ringmaster

Heating Oil Theft Advice

As winter sets in, West Mercia Police is giving people advice on how they can avoid having their heating oil stolen.

With the cost of fuel remaining high, oil tanks have become a target for thieves. Last year there were 176* thefts recorded across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire where tanks were drained of oil.

Crime Risk Manager for the force PC Ian White has the following advice: "Hide your oil tank so you're not a target for thieves in the first place: if they can't see it, then they won't know it's there.

"Plant shrubs or install fences to conceal your tank from view - especially if you live close to the road. If your property is more secluded, deter thieves from entering your property by installing lockable gates and maintaining any perimeter fencing.

"Check your tank's oil levels on a regular basis. Be extra vigilant of tankers or large vehicles close to your property. Note down any registration numbers of vehicles you think look suspicious and report them to the police.

"Where possible, install security lighting that covers your tank and the immediate surrounding area. If your tank is openly accessible to all, consider moving it to an area or building where it is better protected."

West Mercia Police has produced a leaflet detailing all this advice which is being handed out by a number of oil distribution companies at the same time as they make fuel deliveries to their customers.

Further crime prevention advice can also be found on the force website: http://www.westmercia.police.uk/

Operation Festive In Hereford

On Wednesday 7 December, an operation will continue that aims to prevent crime in Hereford city centre as Christmas approaches and also provide reassurance to shoppers who are out and about in High Town.

The operation - named Operation Festive - is running on every Wednesday evening in the build-up to Christmas so that it coincides perfectly with late night Christmas shopping in Hereford City Centre.

The operation - which has been launched in partnership with Herefordshire Council and the Hereford Retail security scheme - will not only see an increase in high visibility patrols in the city centre on Wednesday evenings, but also the use of a small team of plain clothes officers out on the streets aiming to catch any individuals committing shoplifting or 'purse dipping' offences.

Speaking about Operation Festive, Sergeant Emma Freer from the Hereford City Local Policing Team said:

"We are working in partnership with the Herefordshire Council's CCTV Management Team and the Hereford Retail Security Scheme to run Operation Festive and hope that it will increase public confidence and provide additional reassurance to shoppers in the city.

"A rise in the number of people shopping inevitably leads to the possibility thieves will increase their activity but we are hopeful that this operation will act as a deterrent to criminals. Certainly the fact that we have a more visible present in the city centre should make thieves feel particularly uncomfortable.

"We are also hopeful that our plain clothes officers will be able to identify and arrest any individuals who are carrying out offences.

"In addition to the operation in the city centre itself, we are carrying out ANPR (Automatic Numberplate Recognition) operations on the main routes into and out of the city centre.

"The ANPR camera systems allows us to target travelling criminals who may be coming to our city to carry out crime by alerting us to - and allowing us to intercept - vehicles that pass the cameras that may have been involved in criminal activity in the past.

"I am very hopeful that Operation Festive will help ensure that people using Hereford city centre will be as safe as they can be in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

"However, I would like to remind people that they can call West Mercia Police if they see anything suspicious or have concerns about the behaviour of any individuals in the city centre.

"Anyone who would like to report anything to us is asked to call on 101 - our new non emergency phone number - or 0300 333 3000. Alternatively, in an emergency, always remember to call 999."

Rotherwas Businesses please note

As you may have read in my last bulletin, the Local Policing Teams at South Wye police station will now be covering the Rotherwas Industrial Estate and Thorne Business Park. CSO Kevin Powell has moved to South Wye and will be responsible for the estate, and will be sending out crime bulletins to each business that signs up to receive them. I will stop including Rotherwas crimes on my bulletins, and will stop sending my bulletins to businesses on the estate, unless they ask to remain on the distribution list.

Thanks for your time in reading this, and please keep the calls coming in!

Fiona p.p.

Rural Watch Briefing - Bromyard Police Station - 15/12/2011

Good evening folks,

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is warning motorists in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire to be prepared for potentially hazardous driving conditions tomorrow as heavy rain turning to snow is forecast for the Midlands region in the early hours of Friday (16th) morning.

For those of you lucky enough to be going away for your Christmas Holidays, please ensure that your property is secure, including any outbuildings. Leave a light on or purchase a timer switch for the light to come on at specific times. Ask a neighbour or family member to drop in and collect/move any mail on show and draw curtains if needed. Don't leave any expensive items on show, nor any wrapped Christmas presents that you may have left waiting for Father Christmas to collect!

Incidents

A sliver Nissan Pick up truck was stolen from a farm on Bringsty Common. An investigation was launched and the vehicle was placed on our automatic number plate recognition cameras. The vehicle was spotted the next day by an eagle eyed member of Ledbury Neighbourhood Watch (a big thank you!). The scenes of crimes officers have attended the vehicle and the incident is still under investigation.

An old Washing machine was stolen from a property in Bodenham. The machine was left in the front garden of a property and is believed to have been stolen in daylight hours. Please be vigilant in the Bodenham area whilst you are out and about on your travels. If you see vehicles touting for scrap, please take the registration number and report them straight away to us on 0300 333 3000 or the new non emergency number 101.

A property owner in the Newton area, near Leominster reports a loss of diesel from his tank. A total of 2300litres was stolen, with a value of approx £1650.00. The lock to the tank was cut and a vehicle was used in the theft, but nothing was seen or heard by the property owner. A reminder to all, please be mindful of how much heating oil/ diesel you have and keep an eye on how much you are using so that any anomalies can be picked up at the earliest opportunity.

Two suspicious males were seen in the Bodenham area by a vigilant Rural watch Member (thank you!). The males were in a vehicle with the start of the registration being OV51 ---. An officer carried out a search of the area, but they had already moved on. If you think a vehicle or person is acting suspiciously, then please report it to us on 101, we rely on you all to be the eyes and ears of our communities.

A suspicious vehicle was seen in a very rural area of Whitbourne. It was dark, so the person reporting was unable to get a registration or vehicle make. Officers were dispatched, but could find no trace of the vehicle. Please be vigilant.

Ifor Williams Trailers

Recently across Herefordshire Rural areas, there has been a significant increase in the theft of trailers, specifically Ifor Williams. If you have a trailer, please lock it away out of sight, make sure you have the serial numbers, mark it with a property marker such as smartwater, or write your postcode on it in various places, if you have wheel clamps, use them. Don't make it easy for thieves.

Smartwater Signs

We have recently had a batch of Smartwater signs delivered. The signs read, 'Thieves beware Smartwater is in this area' and can be placed at the entrance to properties, drives or as a collective at the entrance to a village. They have gone up in price since the last batch (hasn't everything!). If you would like further information regarding these signs, please email me back and I can forward you the details.

Right that’s it for now folks, remember don't make it easy for thieves, keep it locked.

Kind regards

Steph

Cso Steph Annette 6440

Bromyard Police Station

0300 333 3000 ext 61220

07970602354

stephanie.annette@westmercia.pnn.police.uk