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

CheckMEND, Immobilise, Recipero

Starting an internet-based business (businesswings.co.uk)

Recipero has grown out of an idea conceived several years ago, the article referred to below, written by businesswings.co.uk explains well how Recipero’s founder gained inspiration for the fast moving business that it has now become.

Many founders of fast-growing businesses set out with the most modest of intentions.

For example, Pierre Omidyar originally set up eBay as a vehicle for his wife to trade collectables called Pez candy dispensers. Omidyar had no inkling of what the site would become.

Adrian Portlock, whose Gloucestershire-based company Recipero has built an online database comprising the serial numbers of 100 million stolen goods, agrees that this is “often the way with businesses. If you see an opportunity based on providing a solution, that’s normally a good basis for a start-up.”

If you see an opportunity based on providing a solution, that’s normally a good basis for a start-up
One only has to look at some of the ridiculed inventions on Dragon’s Den to see the perils of trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist (what problem could have give rise to the ironing board that doubled as a piece of lounge furniture?).

Adrian, 50, set up his database, Check Mend, after an irksome experience highlighted a need for such a resource.

“I lost a phone on the Tube in London,” he recalls. “And when I went to the lost-property office they said ‘can you identify the phone?’ So I said ‘a Nokia 6310i.’ And they said ‘well, we’ve only had 35 of those today.’

“Then they wanted an IMEI number, the serial number of the phone. After much messing about my network gave it to me and I managed to get my phone back.

Eureka moment
“It then occurred to me that there was a market for keeping those details somewhere central, so if that if people lost any gizmos they could log in and find them more easily.

“So that’s how it started and it did really well.”

To read the rest of the story please go to:
www.businesswings.co.uk/articles/Starting-an-internet-based-business

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

Immobilise, Mobile Phones, Police, Report My Loss, Students

Stay Crime-Free at Glastonbury Fesitval

‘Register your phone with Immobilise’ is the message from police to revellers headed to Glastonbury Festival next week.

With the gates to Glastonbury Festival opening in just a matter of days around 177,000 people will be travelling to Pilton, many of them with mobile phones, digital cameras, iPods and cash in their pockets.

And while the majority of these people will have little more to worry about than what band to watch previous year’s experience suggests that a small number may become victims of crime.

While crime remains low at Glastonbury Festival, there was a rise in thefts from tents last year – particularly in the first two days of the event – and mobile phones proved to be a particular target.

As a result police are this year urging Glastonbury-goers to register their mobile phones and other essential valuables on the Immobilise Database, before heading to the event, so if they are lost or stolen they can more easily be returned to their owners.

The best advice for not getting your stuff stolen while you are at the festival is not to take it with you – but if you do have to take it – make sure its stored securely and wherever possible make use of the festival’s free property lock-ups available throughout the site.

Police will be at the festival, both in uniform and undercover, on horseback, cycles, and on foot to deter any potential criminals but there are also lots of simple things which you can do to keep yourself as safe as possible and reduce the chances of becoming a victim of crime.

Sergeant Kerry Williams said:

Crime at Glastonbury Festival is low and the crimes that do happen can be easily prevented. We’re urging people to plan carefully ahead of this year’s festival and leave any unnecessary valuables at home. However if they do need to take the items with them make sure they are registered on the Immobilise Database and are stored securely by making use of the free property lock-ups.

I would also urge people not to leave anything valuable unattended in their tents and I’d recommend marking their property, which can both deter thieves and help to show who the rightful owner is.

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

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

CheckMEND, Recipero

Carphone Warehouse expands its use of CheckMEND

Carphone Warehouse Website

As of the 8th June The Carphone Warehouse have extended their trade-in scheme to include iPods and GPS equipment. Every item is checked in real-time on Recipero’s CheckMEND due diligence service.

The system has been integrated with Carphone Warehouse’s EPOS systems in over 800 UK stores, their website, and direct sales channels, allowing them to ensure only ‘bona fide’ customers can benefit from their trade-in offers.

With nearly 50 billion items of serial numbered goods recorded CheckMEND is the world’s largest database of stolen goods, making it an obvious partner for Carphone Warehouse.

For more information please visit the following links:

www.carphonewarehouse.com

www.checkmend.com

www.recipero.com/cpw_expand_checkmend_use

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