The neighbourhood police officers are anxious to learn if residents have witnessed any recent incidents and if they are able to provide any information or identify offenders. Information on our Local Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Information can be phoned to 101 or anonymously to CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111.
Parish
Council Surgery – 12th November 2024.
Following the recent spate of burglaries and car thefts from the village PCSO Jen Shraga representing the Thames Valley Police and Eve Chason from Bucks Council’s Community Safety Team were asked to attend the Parish Council monthly surgery and provided the following advice and information:-
Car Theft
It had been noted that a number of prestigious 4x4 cars had been stolen and it is thought this theft is by Organised Crime Group’s (OCG) rather than opportunist theft. These crimes are being investigated by the Priority Crime Team. The thieves boost the car signal from outside the property so it is important to protect keyless cars. ‘Defender’ signal blocking bags (from Solon Security) were given out by the Police to be used for keys for keyless cars. Recently the Police had tracked stolen cars through ANPR and these had been taken straight to ports to be shipped out of the country or to a ‘Chop Shop’ to be broken up for spares. As the thieves had been removing and changing the number plates so that the cars could not be tracked on ANPR the Police provided number plate security kits which include anti-tamper screws and caps for protecting your vehicle registration plate from being removed. It was noted that some car manufacturers were recalling their vehicles to upgrade their security systems. Steering wheel locks were recommended.
Car theft usually happens in the early hours of the morning when the keys are in the house and the resident is asleep. Break-ins are seasonal and often in the day time or early evening. If you witness a crime in progress call 999. The Police are now also using the App ‘What Three Words’ to locate a crime.
Response Times
Concern was raised by residents about Police response times taking too long after they would be alerted about a crime in progress from the alarm system.
In April Buckinghamshire was made one Local Command Unit (operationally active now), with police stations in: Amersham, Aylesbury, High Wycombe. This would mean that there would be a dedicated number of shift officers at any one time. Crime is graded in three levels with a response time depending on the severity of the crime. A new Sergeant for our area, Matt Cummings, is starting later this month. Sergeant Cummings is known to Seer Green as he was our PCSO a number of years ago. Several other Officers are joining this new team who will make contact with the Parish Council and may attend future Parish Council Surgeries.
Personal Safety
There are two good Personal Safety App’s for your phone. Eve recommended setting these up even for a dog walk so that if you are not home by a certain time it will record where you are and alert your nominated contacts.
‘Get Your Coat’ - provides intelligent travel planning, reminders and support. https://getyourcoat.app/
‘HollieGuard’ - is a personal alarm, deterrent and evidence catch. Every 5 seconds the platform will update your precise location based on your speed and movement activity to identify where you are once an alert has been raised. https://hollieguard.com/
[The Clerk has copy of the leaflets for these App’s]
Other items that were handed out by the Community Safety Team where bells to attached to purses and chains that attached your purse to your bag as purses had recently been removed from unzipped handbags in local supermarkets.
House Safety
Recommendations for house safety included:-
1. Leave alternating lights on – preferably on time switches – not just the hall light. Also a radio is a deterrent.
2. Close your curtains or blinds.
3. Don't leave any ladders out - or if you do padlock/chain them up so they cannot be used to access your property.
4. Make sure all your gates, doors and windows are locked. A 10” gap is large enough for someone to climb in.
5. Crunchy driveways and defensive planting (spiky plants) do help.
6. Don’t leave bins out to climb on to access a gate/flat roof.
7. Use passive infrared sensors, a PIR light is activated once movement is detected, a great deterrent for thieves as well as providing illumination for pathways.
8. They recommend a ‘Ring’ type system although it was noted that it would be better if it was hardwired so that the signal cannot be blocked.
9. Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings. Their website https://www.securedbydesign.com/ provides a recognised standard for all security products that can deter and reduce crime and includes a database of accredited products to use.
10. The Police recommend using https://www.soldsecure.com/ for protecting your sheds/bicycles/cars/vans etc. as it covers different levels of security protection (Gold/Silver/Bronze) and recommends the most secure product for the item you want to protect.
11. Sliding doors should have the 5 star security rating.
12. Apple Airtags are useful for locating items such as keys/bags.
13. The Police gave out property marking kits which included a UV pen, all weather warning labels. They recommend that you mark items such as IPad, laptops and Mobiles. TV’s are not being stolen as they are too large.
14. There are now forensic ways of marking valuables such as jewellery and the Police recommended:- https://www.selectadna.co.uk/ and https://shop.smartwater.com/
15. Have a bolted down safe.
16. Use Stop Cold Calling sticker pack available from Bucks Trading Standards.
Documents provided were:-
1. Secure your home – Home Security Guide
2. Avoiding Scams – Ways to protect yourself
3. The Little Book of Big Scams
4. Rural Crime
5. Crime Prevention and reduction Advice Pack
6. Information on nuisance phone calls and The Little Booklet of Phone Scams
A copy of these paper documents are with the Clerk.