Category Archives: Crime

Crime, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, Police

Police urge residents to keep doors and windows secured

Following a number of burglaries in Suffolk, police are urging residents to keep their properties secure at all times.

All of the homes that were targeted by the thieves in the Stowmarket and Stowupland area had left a window or a door open or unlocked resulting in items including mobile phones, digital cameras, mp3 players, laptops, wallets and games consoles have been stolen, worth a combined total of over £4,000.

Detective Sergeant Ann Naylor, of Suffolk police, said:

It may be tempting to leave windows and doors open whether overnight or during the day in the summer – but this is an invitation to enter your property for a burglar, who will take advantage of the easy access.

Whether you are inside or outside in the garden, keep doors and windows secure so only you can get in and out.

Most of the items taken are small and easily portable – however they are traceable if you take the right steps to safeguard your property. Security mark items and take photos of any valuables, these pictures could help trace them in the event that they are stolen.

You can also register with the free national property database Immobilise at www.immobilise.com. This national system is used by most police forces, including Suffolk – all you need to do is enter the serial number of your phone, computer, MP3 player, bike or anything else with such a code, and update the system if it is lost or stolen.

If the police seize stolen property, or an item is found, officers can search the database to find out who the item belongs to, and your property will be returned. You can also use the system to find out if a second-hand item you want to buy is stolen.

To read the source article please go to: EADT Online

Crime, Immobilise, Police

Hundreds arrested in mass burglary crackdown

BurglarRochdale Online has reported that over 100 people have been arrested as part of a massive police crackdown on burglaries.

Officers carried out 110 raids, in search of stolen property and other evidence linking the occupants to criminal activity.

Operation Storm, which is aimed at targeting burglars by Greater Manchester Police resulted in 140 arrests being made between 20-24 July.

A team of highly qualified and experienced senior police officers and staff hand-picked to manage Operation Storm will continue to tackle burglary into the New Year.

Though the new high-impact initiative is intelligence and enforcement led police have also stepped up awareness raising activity aimed at making residents aware of how they can significantly decrease their chances of falling victim to this distressing crime.

Over the weekend officers were based at the entrances of almost 90 major supermarkets in the region during all opening hours.

They gave shoppers information on how they can provide police with the vital information they need to bring criminals to justice.

Officers also visited hundreds of homes as part of the week of action to give crime reduction advice and literature to householders and encourage them to register their valuables on the free, easy to use Immobilise.com property database.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson who heads up the Operation Storm initiative said:

The results of this week of action shows that Greater Manchester Police is taking the fight against burglary to the offender.

Residents can be assured that this is only the first of a whole range of enforcement activities that will be brought to bear on burglars in the coming months. Offenders will be left with no place to shelter from the wrath of this Storm.

People can help us bang up burglars by providing information on crime and criminal activity either to us directly on 0161 872 5050 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

To read the source article in full please go to: Rochdale Online

Crime, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, Police

Immobilise plays key part in reducing crime at Glastonbury music festival

As thousands of festival goers leave Worthy Farm behind, Avon and Somerset Police are reflecting on a successful Glastonbury.

AvonSomersetPolice_GlastonburyOverall crime rates at the festival have fallen significantly in comparison to 2008 when mobile phone crime and thefts from tents rose dramatically.

In total 445 crimes (including drug offences) have been recorded by police at this time compared to 483 at the same time the previous year.

174 of those incidents were drug related in comparison to 166 last year. Theft from tents is this year down by nearly 30 per cent from 244 to 179 reported instances at the same time in 2008.

Specific Challenges for the force this year included reducing the number of thefts from tents and reducing mobile phone crime as well as for the first time working in conjunction with Glastonbury Festival Security to patrol campsites.

Chief Superintendent Kay Wozniak said:

The figures for Glastonbury 2009 highlight that the policing operation has been a tremendous success.

A great deal of planning goes into the Festival to make sure that it is a safe place to be for all festival goers. We always work closely with our partner agents to improve the operation year on year.

Last year’s figures demonstrated that thefts from tents and mobile phone crime were the two issues that affected festival goers the most. This year the figure has been reduced significantly in both instances. Giving out crime prevention advice and using initiatives, such as the Immobilise scheme, has played a significant part in bringing these numbers down.

Not only has the police operation been a success, all our officers have been well received on site. Hundreds of festival goers have commented on how professional and friendly our

2010 even safer.

To read the source article in full please goto: Avon & Somerset Police

Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Police, Report My Loss

Police advise that defensive planting can deter thieves

Police in Avon and Somerset are helping residents combat crime by encouraging them to take up gardening! Gardens are often the first line of defence against crime as two-thirds of burglars gain entry to homes via the back of the property. There advice although aimed at local residents, is just as relevant wherever you live whether that be in town or county.

The summer months also see an increase in thefts from gardens and sheds as people bring out their garden furniture and equipment as the weather improves.

The value of property stored in gardens, sheds and garages is often much more than people realise and can soon add up. Power tools, plants, containers, hand tools, sports equipment, cycles and toys are among those items most frequently taken by garden thieves.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary suggest that using defensive planting and prickly bushes to enhance the security of boundaries, around drainpipes or beneath ground floor windows, making forced entry more difficult and less attractive to would be burglars, is a simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly crime prevention favourite.

Marking power tools with postcodes and house numbers is also effective. These details can then be placed on www.immobilise.com which can be used by members of the public and businesses to register their valued possessions or company assets. Alternatively, permanently mark them by scratching or painting this will also reduce their value to the thief.

Crime Reduction Officer Tony Alderman from Taunton said:

People can take very simple but effective crime reduction measures, which can have a dramatic effect on their property’s overall security.

Clever planting, padlocks on gates and sheds and motion sensor lights are inexpensive and effective. Garden tools are often used to assist the burglar breaking into a property – ladders, are particularly helpful to thieves for example, so keep them locked away.

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

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Police

Bristol cyclists to benefit from police advice in National Bike Week

Bristol Police and the Safer Bristol Partnership are gearing up for National Bike Week from June 13 to 21 by organising a series of roadshows in the city to raise awareness of cycling security and to give advice on preventing bike theft.

AvonSomersetPolice_bikes1Avon and Somerset Police, in conjunction with Safer Bristol, will be at a number of locations in Bristol throughout National Bike Week (June 13 to 21) dishing out tips and advice, giving away copies of the ‘Spokes’ bike security leaflet, helping people register their bikes on the Immobilise Database and carrying out electronic tagging on bikes.

Bristol Police Constable Frank Simonds, who is involved in the roadshows, said:

Bristol is the UK’s first Cycling City, with many fantastic opportunities to get out and ride.

Our aim is to ensure the roads and cycle paths are a safe and secure place to be a cyclist, be it for leisure or commuting.

Emily Smith, Community Safety Officer with the Safer Bristol Partnership, added:

These events are proving really popular with cyclists helping them to keep their bikes and themselves safe. We have worked hard as a partnership to make the cycle paths in Bristol safe places to ride and we know how much people enjoy riding on them.

Police and community safety officers will be on hand to answer questions, distribute further advice and the ‘the Spokes’ leaflets as well as carry out electronic tagging of bikes on:

* June 17 from 7.30am to 9.30am at Bristol’s Bike & Walk Breakfast – College Green

* June 19 from 10am to 4pm at Stoke Road on Durdham Downs.

* June 21 from 9am to 6pm – Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride – Millennium Square

To cap off National Bike Week a team of PCSOs and Police Officers will also be mounting their bikes to take part in Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride, including PC Andy Stamp, who will be aboard a unicycle.

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

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Police

Drive to halt rise in Cambridge cycle crime

Cambridge News Online has reported that there has been a massive increase in cycle theft since last year. The increase has prompted police to launch a new ‘Lock it or Lose it’ campaign.

The force has teamed up with Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cycling City, Cambridge Cycling Campaign and the city’s CCTV operators to target cycle thieves and encourage cyclists to do more to protect their bikes.

The crime reduction partnership is pooling its resources to spread two simple messages:

  1. Lock your bike up properly, to a fixed object, using a good-quality lock
  2. Register your bike for free at immobilise.com the National Property Register

Sgt Gordon Morgenthaler said:

We are working together to publicise the ‘Lock it or Lose it’ message. Prevention is the ultimate aim, but we also want people to register their bikes on immobilise.com

It is a free national property register that means if your bike is recovered anywhere in the country we can get it back to you. It’s free and easy to use.

Starting with National Bike Week, which runs from June 13 to 21, there will be various events all over the country and Cambridge Police will be at locations around the city registering cycles and giving advice to the public.

Liz Bisset, director of community services at Cambridge City Council, said:

We need the public’s help to reduce bike crime.

Locking your bike securely is such a simple thing to do and hugely reduces the likelihood of a bike being stolen.

We want to get that message out loud and clear to all cyclists in the city.

To read the source article in full please go to: Cambridge News Online

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Police

Surge in city cycle thefts

The Norwich Evening News has reported that the Norwich has seen a surge in bike crime after 50 bikes were stolen in just a few weeks.

Although summer is traditionally a period which sees a rise in bike thefts, officers across Norwich have said the numbers are a sharp increase and want to warn cyclist to take more care.

Increased patrols have been carried out and nine people have been arrested so far, but officers are warning other bike owners to increase their cycle security.

Inspector Marie James, from the Mile Cross Safer Neighbourhood Team, said although some of the thefts are opportunist, there have been reports of people breaking into sheds and garages to steal the bikes.

She said:

It is a seasonal problem and now the nicer weather is here people are using bikes more.

People need to ensure their sheds are locked and secured as people have been going into sheds looking for bikes – there has been an emerging trend.

Many Safer Neighbourhood Teams are offering cyclists the chance to security mark bikes, and officers advise buying a good quality lock, using a lock to secure the bike-stand, wheel rim and frame together and suggest never leaving the vehicles unattended.

Police teams are also encouraging owners of precious or expensive items to register them on the Immobilise website.

To read the source article in full please go to: The Norwich Evening News

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police

Merseyside Police crack down on mobile phone and bike theft

The Formby Times has reported that Merseyside Police have been cracking down on youths who steal mobile phones and bikes.

Laura Jones of the Formby Times noted that since May 1 the operation has led to 44 arrests, 11 of those for robbery resulting in five people charged and six bailed.

Police officers have made 462 stop searches and 91 stop checks, while also checking up on 568 “vulnerable premises”.

During the operation 74 mobile phones have been checked against the Immobilise National Property Register which can help reunite victims of robbery with their phones.

The operation has already seen a decrease in crime in the targeted areas.

Along with more patrols and increased intelligence gathering the Police have been working with Secondary School pupils.

Chief Inspector Stuart Ellison said:

With the summer holidays coming arriving soon I want to give out a very strong but clear message, that the Police are cracking down on crime and disorder throughout Sefton and if you or have the intention of committing crime you be caught, arrested and prosecuted.

To read the source article in full please go to: Formby Times Online

CheckMEND, Crime, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, Police

Immobilise helps reduce mobile phone thefts

stolenmobilephonesThe Northamptionshire Evening Telegraph has reported that mobile phone theft rates have been steadily decreasing throughout the county thanks to forensic property marking schemes, encouraging people to use the security features on their phones and advising people to register their phones on www.immobilise.com.

However Crime prevention officer Paul Golley said people weren’t doing enough to protect themselves from thieves and against robbery:

We’d urge people not to show off their mobile phones or leave them unattended in public places like pubs and restaurants. People are advised not to use them while walking in public places as you are more prone to robbery.

We’d remind motorists not to leave phones in their cars and people should switch their phones to vibrate if they think their phone might bring them unwanted attention.

The number of mobile phone thefts in north Northamptonshire stood at 1,482 for the period 2006 to 2007. In the following year they dropped to 1,446 and the latest annual figure was 1,291.

To read the source article in full please go to: The Northamptionshire Evening Telegraph

Crime, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, Police

Greater Manchester Police issue sat nav warning

Greater Manchester Police have issued a warning to sat nav owners to help them avoid becoming the victim of crime.

Residents have been advised that a few simple steps can help keep their belongings safe from the thieves;

Crime Reduction Advisor, Jackie Bell said:

In many of these cases a satellite navigation system has been taken. Thieves are breaking into the cars to search the glove box and see whether any items of value have been left.

Leaving sat nav cradles and sucker marks on display is the biggest giveaway that there is something of value in the vehicle.

Our advice is simple, by removing any trace of the sat nav system such as the cradle and sucker marks from the window and by removing valuables or personal items from the vehicle you are less likely to become a victim of vehicle crime.

Drivers should also park their vehicle in a locked garage where possible or leave it in a well-lit area as close to their home as possible. Using a steering lock and securing alloy wheels with locking nuts are also good deterrents.

Other crime prevention tips include marking valuables with your postcode and vehicle registration number, and writing down the make, model and serial number of any items likely to tempt thieves. Drivers are also encouraged to register their valuable items on the Immobilise website (www.immobilise.com).

To report crime call police on 0161 872 5050 or for more information visit www.gmp.police.uk.

To read the source article in full please go to: Greater Manchester Police