2009 MESSAGES Issued 27/11/09 It has recently been reported that about 10 young males were in the area of Long Stratton, Newton Flotman and Tasburgh, with a lone individual in Poringland, selling household goods and saying that they work for an organisation called 'Keep Britain Working'. This is an organisation that encourages youth employment. There have been a number of recent incidents across the UK of individuals selling door to door and claiming to be ex- offenders working for this organisation. The individual in Poringland was very rude and pushy. Please make your members aware of the incidents because people such as these, selling from door to door, may not be what they appear. Issued 27/11/09 Police are appealing for information regarding a burglary at All Saints Church, Chedgrave between 1000 and 1945 on Monday 9 Nov. Silver items, some dating back 500 years, were stolen from a safe. These include: A silver chalice and paten A silver chalice dated c1567 with the inscription 'For the town of Chetgrave' A silver paten dated c1568 with the inscription 'For the town of Hadlei 1568' A silver chalice dated c1568 with the inscription 'The cuppe ptenying to Hardla' A silver flagon dated 1822 with an inscription on the base which reads 'Presented by Dame Mary Beauchamp Proctor the Parish Church of Chedgrave Christmas 1823' A silver wafer box A silver home communion set A baptism shell Any information should be given to PC Buchanan at Loddon Police Station on 0845 456 4567 or annonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Issued 5/11/09 Yesterday, the 4th Nov, an elderly resident in Long Stratton received a telephone call purporting to be from the local council telling him that a revaluation was being undertaken of council tax payments over the preceding 16 years and that he was due a refund. They attempted to have him confirm his bank card details but he did not do so. He described the person who spoke to him as male with a very strong Welsh accent. They also said that documents would be sent to him through the post. These might well ask, again, for personal details. This is not the way councils approach residents. Please pass the message onto you members so they are aware of this new scam. Issued 14/10/2009 I have sent you a poster, as an attachment if you are on e mail, that residents can display asking those involved in 'Trick or Treat' not to visit their home. May I ask you, as co-ordinator for your scheme, to assess your membership and, if you consider there are some who might benefit, copy the poster and pass it on to those particular households? Those of you who do not receive Home Watch messages by e mail, free copies of the poster may be obtained from the Safer Neighbourhood Team at your local police station. Copies of the poster may also be downloaded from the Safer Norfolk website at www.safernorfok.co.uk a week before Halloween night. (Webmaster's note - the poster can be found on the website's Homewatch page) Issued 28/7/09 Recognising the vital role that Home Watch co-ordinators and other residents' leaders play in their communities, the Home Office has just produced a pack-up under the 'Justice Seen, Justice Done' umbrella. Within this is a booklet entitled 'A Guide for Neighbourhood and Home Watch and Residents' Leaders'. For those of you with e mail I have attached a copy of the booklet for you to down-load. Please forward this message to your members for their information. Copies may be obtained by e mail from homeoffice@prolog.uk.com or by calling 0870 241 4680 and quoting JSJD/NW/DOC. Issued 30/6/09 There have recently been incidents in the county of rogue traders touting for driveway work. We would advise householders not to give these individuals work of any sort. They have picked up the odd job here and there, mostly around Norwich. One householder was relieved that, after the work was carried out, the Police and Trading Standards turned up at the address; he cancelled the cheque that had been made out. These individuals are connected with some fairly nasty characters and as long as they are around Norfolk there is the potential for an upsurge in distraction burglaries and the targetting of the more vulnerable in the community. The less work they get the sooner we will be rid of them. Please stay alert and ensure your members remain alert to the potential problems associated with giving these people work of any kind. Thank you. Issued 18/6/09 There have been instances recently, in a number of locations in South Norfolk, where individuals have called at addresses offering fish for sale. In one incident in Diss an elderly resident handed over £300 for fish that was not what she had asked for and that appeared not to be of good quality. The fish is often offered at inflated prices. A number of individuals have been involved, including a female. They have been described as having northern accents and one was said to be white, slim build with short spiky hair. He was about 5'7" tall and wore a blue shirt and light coloured jeans and drove a white van. Norfolk Trading Standards ask that residents never agree to have work done, or buy goods from, someone who calls unannounced or approaches them in the street. Anyone experiencing problems with traders, or needing further advice, can call the National Consumer Helpline on 0845 404 506. Issued 9/6/09 This is to inform you all of a revised 'tag' system for callers to the Norfolk Police switchboard. Previously, calls were 'tagged' as being from 'Home Watch' members only. This has now changed and the call 'tag' has been re-named 'Watch Scheme'. Please inform your members that should they 'phone in, they should state that they are a member of a 'Watch Scheme'. This will not only include Home Watch but also Shop Watch, Sheltered Housing, Forecourt Watch, School Watch and Horse Watch or any other Scheme to which you might belong. Issued 30/4/09 In February an incident occurred near king's Dam, Gillingham near the Suffolk border at Beccles when a 15 year old female was approached by a man who tried to take hold of her arm. A small red vehicle was involved. Despite extensive enquiries the individual has not yet been identified. There has been a further incident in Carlton Colville, Suffolk on 24 April involving a small, red vehicle. The occupant is described as: Male, white, aged in his mid-fifties, between 5'7" and 6' tall, chubby build with short brown hair with grey streaks. He was wearing a threequarter length leather jacket and a scarf which had pictures of skulls on it. The purpose of this information is to ask you to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. If you have any information relating to this or other incidents please notify the police immediately on 0845 456 4567. In an emergency dial 999. Alternatively you can contact crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 Isued 26/3/09 This is a message regarding bogus callers. On Wednesday 25 March, 2 men called at an address in Thetford and cleaned out the gutters and did some work on the roof. These individuals demanded £4000 for the work and required payment there and then. The bank notified the Police after questioning the amount of money the victim, a pensioner, wished to withdraw. They were in a black van towing a trailer and wore dark clothes. One of the men was older than the other with the younger described as 5'6" with dark hair wearing what was possibly a navy blue jacket. Please let your members know of this incident and, whilst it took place in Thetford, these people could appear anywhere in Norfolk. Please be on your guard. A press release has been issued. Issued 24/3/09 I sent a message to the South Norfolk Home Watch co-ordinators some time ago regarding rogue fish sellers. Well, they appear to be operating in Norfolk again. These people sell poor quality fish at inflated prices and often use intimidating tactics against elderly and vulnerable people. One recent incident in Broadland involved such tactics on an 87 year old female who was going to be charged £524 for a quantity of frozen fish. On this occasion the fish was refused and no money changed hands. These particular individuals were driving a white van. Should you be the subject of such an approach, or see such individuals operating in your area, contact the police on 0845 456 4567 and try to obtain the vehicle index number(s). Issued 16/2/09 There has recently been a very slight increase in the number of thefts involving heating and diesel oil from both domestic and commercial sites. Please make your scheme members aware of this and let them know that alarm systems are available from me at Diss Police Station that will help protect your supplies from the unwanted attention of thieves. These alarms are sold 'at cost' for £20. Additionally, and to help in the protection of both sheds and domestic garages, Keypad Alarms, which are both PIR and magnetic contact activated, are available from your local Safer Neighbourhood Teams.