Aldridge Crime Watch

Incidents of Note
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
on MON 01-OCT-07 18:00 to 19:00 in WHETSTONE LANE. U/K Offenders Have Approached Secure Unattended M/V A Black Vw Polo Smashed Front Passenger Window By U/K Means Offenders Have Stolen Handbag From Under Front Passenger Seat And Made Good Their Escape In U/K Direction

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
on TUE 02-OCT-07 19:00 to WED 03-OCT-07 07:45 in ERDINGTON ROAD. Offender/S Unknown Approached Secure Unattended Silver Vauxhall Vectra Saloon Parked On Ips Own Drive, Removed Front And Rear Number Plates By Removing Screws And Stealing Same.

Attempt Distraction Burglary - Willenhall
On 02/10/07 an attempt distraction burglary occurred in Millford Avenue, Willenhall whereby two males had entered the address under the guise that they were from the water board. The elderly female resident allowed one of them entry whilst the other waited at the end of the drive. A concerned neighbour confronted the males who told her that they were painters and decorators before walking off. Nothing was taken from the address. The males are white with a tanned complexion, 5 "6" - 5 "8" tall, 17-20 yrs, slim build, cropped, textured, thick black hair, Irish accents, wearing cream jumpers with white shirts underneath and jeans. The male that entered the house had a curl in the front of his hair and appeared to be the older of the two. The male who appeared to be the lookout had freckles on his face. Be on the look out as they’ll probably try their luck elsewhere.

Suspicious Activity
A 60 year old male, stout build, driving a red car was selling bogus alarm boxes to OAPs in Stanley Place, Rushall, charging between £20-30. He is selling them as empty boxes as a deterrent. The male states that he has ID but does not produce it.

Crime watch Report week ending Friday 12th October 2007

Incidents of Note
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE on 08-OCT-07 20:00 to TUE 09-OCT-07 07:00 at HIGH RIDGE CLOSE. Offenders U/K Have Gone To Secure Unattended Rover 200 And Stolen Front And Rear Number Plates

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE on MON 08-OCT-07 20:00 to TUE 09-OCT-07 09:30 at KNIGHTS HILL. Offenders U/K Have Gone To Secure Audi A3 Smashed F/N/S Window Entered And Stole Property From The Glove Box Made Good Escape

Feeling the Difference survey

MEL researchers commence fieldwork for the Feeling the Difference Survey on 15th October. They will be conducting interviews door to door, asking residents about their perception of the police and reassurance issues. The interviewers will be carrying an MEL identification badge and have a letter of authorisation from West Midlands Police. Fieldwork is due to be completed by 11th November. Members of the public who are cautious about the risk of distraction burglary/bogus callers should contact the police to verify that the Feeling the Difference survey is genuine.

Fireworks
This time of year complaints about fireworks begin to rise. This year police and trading standards officers will be visiting all fireworks retailers to advise them about selling to persons under 18 and to ensure that the proper signs, etc are displayed. If you notice any retailers selling to children or any anti-social behaviour regarding fireworks please report this to myself or your neighbourhood team.

It is an offence to set off fireworks in any public place, such as the street or park (except for licensed displays). Regulation 7 of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 prohibits the use of a firework (apart from gun caps, throwdowns etc.) after 11pm at night except for permitted fireworks nights which are:

(a) beginning at 11 pm on the first day of the Chinese New Year and ending at 1 am the following day;

(b) beginning at 11 pm and ending at midnight on 5th November;

(d) beginning at 11 pm on 31st December and ending at 1 am the following day. Events run by the local authority or during national celebrations are not covered by the regulations.

Vehicle Observation
A Red Box van M reg, was seen acting sus with the occupants looking into houses in Walmer Meadow, Aldridge. One of the 3 male occupants was white, approx. 20yrs with short red hair. Vehicle and occupants left when they saw a resident appear. Sorry, no more details.

Crime watch Report week ending Friday 26 October 2007

Darker Nights
Don’t forget – the clocks go back one hour this weekend! During the darker evenings make sure you leave a light on when you go out or use a timer switch to operate a light or radio tuned to a talk show. If you are still at work when it gets dark use a timer to bring a light on at dusk – this is the time when burglars are on the prowl looking for empty properties.

We still have a number of free timer switches – let me know if you would like a supply to distribute to your neighbours.

Phone Scam Chain E-mail
There is currently a chain e-mail circulating, warning of a postal scam where a card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on a premium rate number and that you would billed £15 for the phone call. I can confirm this is an old message – the telephone line was in fact closed down in December 2005 and the company involved were fined £10,000. Please ignore these chain e-mails and do not forward them on – place them where they rightly deserve – in the junk bin! More information on this case can be found on the PhonepayPlus website or directly by clicking the following link Information on postal scam chain email Many hoax e-mails are doing the rounds and will often refer to a ‘reliable source’ such as Royal Mail, Trading Standards, the police, etc in order to give the hoax some validity. If you receive an e-mail ‘warning’ that appears dubious, especially if you are urged to pass it on, please check out the reliability of the warning before sending it on. A good site for this is www.snopes.com, alternatively try one of the regulators such as PhonepayPlus, OFCOM, etc. Several hoaxes have been doing the rounds for many years yet still manage to induce concern.

Halloween
Don’t forget that I have ‘sorry no trick or treat’ flyers available to send by e-mail or, in limited numbers, printed. You can also download an excellent poster from the NWInfo site (www.nwinfo.co.uk/news/?id=707), though I really recommend the ‘Neighbourhood Witch’ poster from neighbourhoodwatch.net.

Several people have recently forwarded me the following e-mail:

Subject: Postal Scam

"Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam: A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service)suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number). DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call. If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at www.icstis.org.uk "

I have checked on this at the ICSTIS website (it's now known as Phonepayplus.org.uk) and found the following:

"This is what we know about the number you entered (09066611911).

We have the following information about this number. This is a Parcel Delivery Service. ICSTIS removed access to this number in December 2005. Recipients received cards in the post suggesting a parcel was unable to be delivered and the premium rate number should be called . This service costs £1.50 per minute (Plus any phone network surcharges - please check with your phone company for full details). This service has been adjudicated upon.

We also have contact details for the company that provides this service. If you have any queries about it, please get in touch with them to find out more.

Studio Telecom studiotelecom@gmail.com 1 Mapp Street Belize Belize City Central America"

In other words this warning, though genuine, is now out of date.

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