Recipero News & Comment

Thames Valley Police are continuing to encourage residents to protect their property and register valuables on Immobilise.com, the UK National Property Register.

The website is a free database, which is used by all police forces across the UK to help them return stolen property to rightful owners.

Register your personal property at www.immobilise.com so that, if your valuables get lost or stolen and police recover it, you’ll get it back. It could also help police officers to get the burglar or robber convicted.

It takes a few minutes to complete the registration, allowing you to create a free, private and secure portfolio of all your personal property.

Inspector Sean Hodgson, Force Crime Reduction Manager, said:

We are continuing to urge residents to register their property, it only takes a few minutes to register and if your property is stolen and recovered there is a greater chance of it being returned.

Becoming a victim of crime is an incredibly upsetting experience for people, especially if personal possessions such as cameras or mobile phones are stolen with irreplaceable photos of loved ones and phone numbers of family and friends.

We are asking residents to help us and help themselves by registering all their valuables on the Immobilise database. People can register any item with a serial number.

Police officers may then be able to return any items they find to their rightful owner. It may also enable officers to secure a successful prosecution.

Thames Valley Police is currently running an initiative specifically tackling burglary, called Operation Breaker. This Forcewide campaign received a £143,000 funding boost from the Home Office on 28 December as the national ‘Operation Vigilance campaign gets underway. Operation Vigilance aims to tackle and prevent burglary and personal robbery.

To visit the Thames Valley Police website please go to: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

Police in Bristol expect 1,000 homes to be burgled in the city in the next three months.

Bristol’s priority crime team want to reduce that number and prevent your home being one of those thousand, and to help they are launching a Spring burglary campaign.

Richard Kelvey, Detective Chief Inspector on the burglary team, said:

We know from previous statistics that there are likely to be 1,000 homes burgled in Bristol in the next three months.

We want to do everything we can to reduce that number and we are working hard but we need the public to be aware of how to make themselves and their homes less vulnerable to burglary.

Surprisingly, around 300 of all those burglaries expected to take place, will happen because someone forgets to lock a back door or leaves a window open. We know it is easily done when you are rushing to get out of the door for work or to get the kids to school – making the property insecure and giving thieves easy access.

Another method for burglars is smashing a small window or glass panel in a front or back door in order to put a hand through and unlock it – which is why keys should never be left in back doors or on nearby surfaces.

People are also advised to keep hard copy photos, receipts and descriptive records of their property as well registering it on national property database Immobilise so that it can be identified in the event it is stolen.

Councillor Gary Hopkins, Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for the Environment and Community Safety, said:

Although burglary rates are going down steadily we want to ensure everyone knows the simple precautions to take to reduce their chance of being burgled.

Avon & Somerset Police have some good tips to keep your home safe:

• Lock it or lose it – always make sure you secure windows and doors before leaving your home, using ALL locks, including deadlocks and bolts on windows and doors.
• If you have an alarm system ALWAYS set it before going out even if it’s only for a few minutes.
• Don’t advertise your home to thieves – never leave valuable items on display in windows.
• Never leave packaging for expensive items out in the recycling box all week: either put it out on the morning it’s due to be collected or take it to the tip.
• If you have a side or back lane on your house make sure it is gated and well lit, so as to not give easy access to your property.
• Use a switch timer and leave a radio when you go out.

To read the source article in full please go to: Avon and Somerset Police

Were you lucky enough to receive a new mobile phone, MP3 player, Sat Nav, bike or other valuables this Christmas? If so, Merseyside Police is urging you to make them less attractive to would be thieves by immobilising them.

Merseyside Police have adopted the Immobilise system – a property registering scheme which aims to make life as difficult as possible for thieves. The aim of the scheme is to encourage members of the public to register with the Immobilise website (www.immobilise.com), a simple process which takes just a few minutes.

The website allows users to register their personal possessions on a secure database free of charge. If any lost or stolen items are recovered by police, officers can retrieve the owner’s details from the website. They can be returned to the owner with, in the case of theft, a better prospect of a successful prosecution.

The Immobilise website is linked to the National Mobile Property Register, a national police database of registered property ownership and stolen property records.

Chief Inspector Stuart Ellison comments:

Being a victim of crime is awful at anytime, but the impact can often be greater at Christmas, particularly if gifts are stolen. Registering items on the site only takes a few minutes and it may help you become reunited with your property if it is stolen or lost.

The NMPR is searched thousands of times a day by forces across the UK and it is used routinely by Merseyside Police.

Merseyside Police advise taking the following precautions with items such as mobile phones and MP3 players:

• Be aware of your surroundings, and conceal items if you feel uneasy.
• Never leave your property unattended, keep it on you, not near you.
• Be particularly vigilant whilst travelling home from school or college and when leaving railway stations or other public transport locations.
• Finally, register your property for free at www.immobilise.com

Basically, you can register anything with a serial number – simply log onto www.immobilise.com. Then if any item of registered property is stolen, report it to the Police and, in the case of a mobile phone, for example, give police your IMEI number, inform your service provider and tell them to block both the SIM and handset. You should then update your online Immobilise account.

To read the Merseyside Police news article in full please go to: www.merseyside.police.uk

The Lancashire Telegraph has reported that police are urging residents to take extra steps in protecting their homes against New Year’s Eve burglars.

Residents are being asked to register their valuable Christmas presents online to help prevent thieves who target empty homes.

The national database immobilise.com is free and available to all UK police forces who use it to return lost and stolen possessions to their rightful owners.

Almost any item with a serial number recovered by police can be returned to the owner if registered on the database.

Users can also add photographs and certificates of ownership to their Immobilise account and once registered, can update their account with new possessions and take off items they no longer own Bury’s crime reduction advisor, Gaynor Mason, said:

Burglars expect people to be more relaxed and less cautious during the holiday season and take advantage of homes being unoccupied as people see in the new year with friends and family.

Residents can play their part by following the advice given to make sure they do not play host to any unwelcome visitors at this time of year.

Advice includes: shutting and locking all doors and windows; switching on burglar alarms; and using lights, radios and timer switches which can make homes look occupied while people are out celebrating.

Also keep valuables out of sight and dispose of boxes that contained valuables by taking them to the tip.

Those who are going away over the holidays are advised to ask a trusted neighbour to open and draw curtains, park their car on your drive and keep an eye on your home.

To read the the source article in full please go to: www.thisislancashire.co.uk

Police in Avon and Somerset yesterday (Thursday December 17) held their latest “Relentless” day, focussing on the prevention of theft and burglary.

There have been 26 Operation Relentless “days of action” since its launch in June 2005, which has resulted in more than 2150 arrests.

“Operation Relentless on Property” has targeted thieves and those who handle stolen goods in addition to highlighting crime prevention initiatives to the public to foil burglars and other criminals.

As part of the day of action, police and partner agencies engaged in a range of activities across Somerset. A warrant was carried out in the Taunton area leading to the arrest of a man for handling stolen goods. Vulnerable Vehicle Checks were carried out across the area, inspecting vehicles and identifying those with items of value left on display. The owners of the cars have been sent a letter reminding them to keep items such as phones, MP3s and Satellite Navigation Systems out of sight.

Officers also visited several second hand goods retailers with Trading Standards to ensure that they were complying with regulations and not trading in stolen items. Six arrests were made during the course of the morning. Five men were arrested for theft and another man was arrested for handling stolen goods. Four have been given bail pending further enquiries.

Officers from the district’s CID department also managed to reunite 250 items of detained property with their rightful owners this week.

Detective Inspector Alan West said:

When police receive items of property that have been recovered from thefts and burglaries, officers try to trace the owners of the items to return their possessions to them. If electrical items are registered on Immobilise and other items such as jewellery or antiques are property marked with the owners address or postcode, this process can be straightforward.

However, unmarked or unregistered items can languish in the Detained Property Department unclaimed for long periods and some items can never be linked to an owner. I would really encourage the public to either register their items on Immobilise or mark them with a UV pen or other property marking device so we can return them to you if the worst were to happen. Marking your items can also sometimes act as a deterrent to would be criminals.

Neighbourhood officers and PCSOs were also in Taunton town centre this morning registering people’s property, such as mobile phones, cameras and mp3 players, on the Immobilise website and carrying out bike and property marking. The Deputy Chief Constable, Rob Beckley, joined them in giving festive advice on how to beat the burglars and assisted with a bicycle property marking session. The team will be in the town centre again on January 13 and 21 offering these services for those who had new bikes or electronic equipment for Christmas.

In Bridgwater, officers held a property marking session at Bridgwater College for the students to register mobile phones and laptops on the Immobilise website and officers from Burnham-on-Sea visited King Alfred School in Highbridge and Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar to take property marking kits to mark and record mobile phones and MP3 players. Other property marking sessions also took place in Wellington Square in Minehead and the Town Hall in Dulverton.

DCC Beckley said:

We really want people to have a wonderful Christmas and New Year but we ask them to take some sensible measures to ensure that their festive period isn’t marred by becoming a victim of opportunistic thieves. One-in-four burglaries occur after the householder failed to secure their home and the burglar entered the property via an open door or window!

I encourage people to think about how their house looks when they go out – don’t make it obvious that there is nobody home, leave a light on and the radio playing and most importantly – make sure you lock all doors and windows, even if you are only popping out for a short period of time.

Inspector Nick Greenhalgh from the Community Safety team at Taunton Police Station said people can help protect themselves from opportunistic thieves by employing these simple measures:

• Ensure windows and doors are shut and locked when you are out
• Lock sheds and garages
• Don’t leave car keys left in an outside porch or within reach of letter boxes
• Shoppers are advised not to leave presents in view on car seats. They should be taken home immediately and not left in the vehicle.
• Christmas presents – wrapped or unwrapped – should not be left in view in the home.
• Don’t leave boxes from new TVs or laptops on display outside your home, take them to the tip.
• Register your property on www.immobilise.com
• Mark your property – kits are available from your local police teams.

Further information regarding home security and crime prevention can be obtained from your local Safer Stronger Neighbourhood team. You can contact them by calling 0845 456 7000 or you can log on to our website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk and select the Crime Prevention heading.

To read the source article in full please go to: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=18923&t=1&lid=5

The Cambs 24 website has reported that advice is being issued to Christmas shoppers in Huntingdonshire to help safeguard their presents from thieves.

Each year gifts are taken from vehicles or from under the Christmas tree in people’s homes. Chief Inspector Russell Waterston from Cambridgeshire police said:

There are often easy pickings for criminals this time of year.

People are in high spirits and are often transporting and storing lots of desirable goods.

But the same precautions should be taken at Christmas time as every other time of the year.

We don’t want to see expensive gifts disappearing from under the Christmas tree before the festivities begin.

Homeowners are being some simple advice:

• Close the curtains once it gets dark outside, especially if the lights are on inside and not keep presents on show.
• Presents should be removed overnight from vehicles.
• Empty boxes, which could advertise the Christmas goodies inside the house, should not be left outside on view.
• Once Christmas gifts are unwrapped, they can be registered for free at www.immobilise.com, which allows stolen goods to be identified and returned to the owner.

INFORMATION: Any suspicious behaviour should be reported to Cambridgeshire police on 0345 4564564.

To view the source article please go to: www.cambs24.co.uk

The Wincanton neighbourhood policing team has been out delivering festive message to its residents

More than 450 homes were visited by the team who spoke to residents about what steps to take to take for a crime-free Christmas. People at home were reminded not to tempt thieves by keeping presents out of sight, making sure their house is secure and that empty houses looked occupied by leaving a television or radio on and using timer switches on lights.

The day of activity, on Wednesday 9 December, was undertaken in partnership with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service who spoke to residents about fire prevention this winter. Residents were asked to ensure smoke alarms were fitted and working, reminded not to overload power sockets and advised to check their Christmas tree lights before putting them up.

Where there was no answer at houses an advice leaflet was posted through its door.

The event was organised by Police Constable Sara Stephenson, the beat manager for Bruton. Speaking afterwards, Sara said:

Christmas is a special time for people to relax and enjoy spending time with family and friends. Becoming a victim of crime at Christmas can spoil the festive period so we have been out reminding people how to avoid being targeted this year. The message was well received by the residents we spoke to and I am confident most will act on the advice we gave.

Top tips for staying safe:

• Lock up and set the alarm in the evening as well as when you go out
• Seem in when you’re out by setting a timer switch to turn the lights on at dusk
• Post code your valuables and register them for free at www.immobilise.com – it could help convict a burglar and return your property
• Keep your keys and handbag or wallet hidden safely out of sight
• Don’t advertise your property to thieves: hide Christmas presents and don’t put boxes out for rubbish collection, bag them first
• Join or set up Neighbourhood Watch
• Call police immediately if you see anything you think is suspicious
• Make sure ladders and tools are secured otherwise a thief could use them to break into your home.

To view the source article please go to: Avon and Somerset Police Website

The Times recently published an interesting article that is of particular relevance to the Immobilise National Property Register. Richard Ford, a Home Correspondent for the times reported that the latest recorded crime figures support the theory that the in a recession property crimes such as burglary and personal theft increase while violent offences fall.

Keith Bristow, chief constable of Warwickshire, said:

Crime has traditionally increased following periods of economic recession and the three per cent rise in domestic burglary compared to the same period last year is a reminder that we all must remain vigilant.

The Times article contains several interesting facts and statistics and can be found at:

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6885455.ece

Police across Taunton and Wellington will be engaged with their partners in various activities under the “Not in My Neighbourhood Week” banner this week to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

Not In My Neighbourhood week is a national home office scheme, now in its third year, which encourages people to learn more about work being done to tackle crime and other problems in their area and is a great opportunity for local agencies, the Police and other partners to show-case the work they do to make communities safer and improve their quality of life.

A range of initiatives will happen over the course of the week such as operations to tackle anti social behaviour, dangerous driving, and drugs to more light-hearted events such as crime reduction bingo for elderly residents.

Chief Constable Colin Port said:

Not in My Neighbourhood Week is a great opportunity to proactively work with people to find out what their main concerns are and show the general public that we are tackling the priorities they have identified.

Also launched this week as part of the “Not in My Neighbourhood” activities, Police will add some sparkle and shine to the streets of Somerset West with the start of “Operation Glitter”, their winter-long “Cycle Safe” campaign.

The scheme is being run by staff at Taunton and Wellington Police Stations between November 2009 and February 2010 in partnership with Ralph Coleman Cycles, Halfords, Bicycle Chain, Kings Cycles and Ian’s Cycle Centre.

During the campaign the police will work with cyclists and the public to help promote safe cycling with an aim to reduce the amount of serious road traffic collisions, which happen because cyclists are not properly lit and to reduce cycle thefts at a time when many people receive new bikes for Christmas.

Cyclists found without lights during the official hours of darkness, face being given a fixed penalty notice. However, if lights are then bought, the receipt and the notice can be taken to a police station to have the ticket written off.

Officers will also provide information on how to protect your bike including how to register it on a national police website www.immobilise.com.

Sergeant Anthony Crowter says:

Operation Glitter is a great opportunity to reinforce how important it is to have bicycle lights during the hours of darkness and wear the correct health safety clothing.

This an educational drive to remind people of the legal requirement to use bike lights, we will be delaying a prosecution by requiring people we stop to produce their new lights with a receipt within 7 days. I would rather someone bought a set of lights than have to pay a £30 fine.

This story was orginally published on the Avon & Somerset Police website: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/

With autumn now upon us and the nights drawing in, Sussex Police are encouraging residents to leave a light on this winter.

Leaving your home during hours of darkness, without putting a light on or drawing the curtains, is an open invitation to the opportunist criminal that there is no-one at home.

This simple message is one of the key themes of this year’s “Operation Twilight” campaign – which offers valuable advice on how to go about ensuring burglars are left in the dark during the winter months.

Dennis Donovan, Force Crime Prevention Officer from the Community Safety Branch said:

It sounds simple advice, but when it is dark outside people don’t always think to draw their curtains or leave a light on if they are going to be out.

To the opportunist burglar, it is almost an invite. A house that is in darkness is the easiest target as no-one is likely to be home. It doesn’t take long for a burglar to get inside and steal property, particularly things that are easy to sell such as televisions, videos, computers, jewellery and antiques.

Unfortunately, every year sees a spate of early evening burglaries associated with the clocks going back and Sussex Police will be distributing Operation Twilight flyers throughout the Force area.

Between January 1st and the end of July 2006 the number of burglaries in Sussex had reduced by 21%, meaning 1,388 fewer victims in real terms. This is the biggest year-on-year percentage reduction for more than a decade and Sussex Police want to ensure this success continues.

In addition to regististering property on the Immobilise Property Register, the Sussex Police website also provides a good checklist of actions to consider to make your home more secure this winter. To view them please go to the Sussex Police website where the source news story can be read in full:

http://www.sussex.police.uk/operations/op_twilight.asp