As from today CheckMEND will be checking millions of records supplied by finance providers.
This means that if we have a record that the item you are searching has a current finance agreement outstanding on it we will let you know.
We hope this will be a useful addition to the service as many of you have told us this is a major issue and concern for you as you don’t want to buy items where there is outstanding finance.
As part of the launch of Mayor Boris Johnson’s YOU Matter (Youth Organisations in Uniform) programme, the Mayor has become a member of the Immobilise National Property Register with the aid of the Merton Volunteer Police Cadets.
Volunteer Police Cadets demonstrated Merton Police’s latest crime fighting kit, a laptop and scanner provided by the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU), which uploads mobile phone IMEI numbers to the secure crime prevention web site at immobilise.com.
I would say to any young person, come on and give it a go!
Using the Mayor’s own phone, the Cadets explained how police use the unique IMEI number to identify stolen mobile phones and arrest offenders, whilst registering his handset on the free property protection database.
In plans outlined by the Mayor today, thousands of youngsters will have the opportunity to join uniformed groups like the Volunteer Police Cadets, Guides, Scouts and Armed Forces Cadets. The £1.3 million programme, being run by the Safer London Foundation, will help young people develop vital skills and instil discipline and responsibility in young people, particularly those who are or at risk of being excluded from education, training or employment.
The initiative is part of Team London, the Mayor’s strategy to harness volunteers to deliver key projects to improve the quality of life and opportunities of Londoners.
Speaking at the Merton Sea Cadets Centre for the launch, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:
Uniformed groups are a fantastic way for youngsters to get involved in a myriad of activities, which will help equip them with the skills they need to succeed in life. It’s a modern tragedy that so many of our young people are struggling to get a foothold in the jobs market and are drifting into crime. By instilling self reliance, discipline and a sense of competition, young people can aspire to a better future.
For more information and to read the source article please visit: The MET Police Website
As Christmas approaches, Lincolnshire Police are urging people to log their expensive gifts and precious belongings on Immobilise.com, the world’s largest free register of ownership details.
Any item can be registered on Immobilise from small pieces of jewellery to plasma screen TVs and it is especially popular with people wishing to register mobile phones and bicycles. The system records serial numbers and also allows the user to upload a photo and description.
The database is linked directly to police systems, enabling officers to trace the owners of recovered property and to also identify the item as being stolen if found in the possession of a suspected thief. This ability to link suspects to a crime via the database means that Immobilise acts as a major deterrent to criminals.
Detective Sergeant Richard Myszczyszyn, from Skegness CID, said:
Burglars and thieves know that there will be rich pickings to be had in the post Christmas period and the use of the Immobilise database is a valuable addition to your crime prevention precautions. You can register as many items as you like, and then if they are lost or stolen you simply log back on to register them as such. The police can check any property they recover, whether that be from raids, routine checks on second-hand dealers or items brought into custody and, if they find anything that is listed as stolen, not only will you get your belongings back, but the thieves can be brought to justice.
DS Myszczyszyn ended by saying:
We want to send a clear message to those potential thieves that anything logged on Immobilise is too hot to handle. By registering your property and marking it as such, Lincolnshire residents can take steps to ensure they are much less likely to become a victim of crime.
To read the source article please go to www.lincs.police.uk
Herts Police are reminding the public to keep their mobile phones secure and registered on www.immobilise.com.
Earlier in the month, the county saw a number of thefts of mobile phones from cafes, restaurants and bars where people were distracted by an offender who then took their phone.
Whilst these incidents have reduced, there are still a number of mobile phone thefts across Hertfordshire and police are reminding the public of three key things to keep in mind:
Unfortunately some people are tempted to report their mobile as stolen when they know they have lost it instead – false reporting is a crime. This is an offence and, where there is evidence, police will prosecute. Prior to reporting your mobile as stolen to police, you will be asked to make a declaration that you understand the consequences of making a false claim.
Posters with the numbers of mobile phone operators are now displayed in most station receptions and are available on the police website – search for ‘mobile phone security’.
If you report your phone as stolen to the police, officers need the serial number, known as the IMEI number, of your handset to be able to fully investigate the offence.
The IMEI is a unique 15 digit number assigned to the handset at the point of manufacture. It will be placed on a national database to which all UK police have access. If you don’t have IMEI number to hand, it will be on the box the phone came in or you can obtain it from your network operator. The best way is to register it for free on www.immobilise.com, that way you have an online record of number and police can return it to you if it gets lost or stolen.
You must also ask your operator for the handset and SIM card to be blocked so they don’t work any more.
For more information and to view the source article please visit www.herts.police.uk
Police are gearing up for T4 on the Beach next month, which is returning to Weston-super-Mare for the ninth year running.
Almost 50,000 people are expected to flock to the seaside town on Sunday 10 July to enjoy live music from a star-studded line up which includes chart toppers Jessie J, N-Dubz and Chipmunk.
But along with the fun and excitement, local police are working hard to ensure the weekend is safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.
Superintendent Richard Cadden said:
Once again this year we have worked closely with the organisers of T4 on the Beach so that we are able to provide a safe environment for everyone. In previous years the event has proved really successful and passed off with only a handful of minor incidents. There will be additional police officers on duty over the whole weekend to ensure that people can feel safe and be safe whether enjoying T4, having a day out in the town or going about their daily business.
In the weeks leading up to the event police are urging people to think about what they can do to have a safe and incident free weekend. Last year the majority of incidents reported to the police involved lost or stolen mobile phones. This year police are urging people to register their property free of charge on Immobilise, www.immobilise.com. In the event that you lose your phone, you can use the facility to tell the police, insurance companies and the second hand trade – greatly improving the chances of recovering your property and capturing thieves.
Supt Cadden added:
This summer promises to be a busy one in Weston, especially with the new Grand Pier attracting many more visitors to the town and we look forward to welcoming back T4 on the Beach again this year.
For further information, including crime prevention and general safety messages, visit our website at www.policeatT4.co.uk.
To read the source article please go to: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
As the clock counts down to this year’s Glastonbury Festival, Avon and Somerset Police are offering festival-goers crime prevention and personal safety advice.
Glastonbury Festival, one of Europe’s largest music and arts festivals, takes place between June 22 and June 26, 2011. With more than 175,000 people heading to Worthy Farm in rural Somerset, the policing operation to help people stay safe at the festival is the largest in Avon and Somerset Police’s calendar.
Crime at the festival remains low and last year around 99.7% of people were not victims of crime. Police are reminding those people attending the festival about the things they can do to have a fun and crime-free festival.
Inspector Chris Morgan, who will be working at the festival, said:
Glastonbury is less than a month away now and I know the excitement is building for everyone lucky enough to get a ticket. People have paid a lot of money to come and we do not want anyone to have their experience ruined by becoming a victim of crime.
There are some easy things people can do which will help them have a great festival. The safety tips are quick and inexpensive but can make a real difference. The key thing to remember is to bring with you only what you need and keep anything valuable in the free property lock-ups on the site.
Festival-goers are advised to:
Festival-goers can stay up to date with news, photos and crime prevention advice online, on social media and through text messages both before and during the festival:
Follow them online at www.glastonburypolice.org
Follow us on Twitter @PoliceatGlasto for regular tweets
Sign up to receive text messages by texting Glasto to 81819
Sergeant Shirley Eden from the Operational Planning team will be taking part in a special webchat. People will be able to log on and ask about crime prevention and what it is like to plan for an enormous event such as the Glastonbury Festival. The webchat takes place between 6.30pm and 8pm on Wednesday June 8, 2011 at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
For more information and to read the source article please go to: Avon & Somerset Police
Harrogate police are urging residents to ‘lock it or lose it’ after a recent increase in the number of burglaries and car break-ins.
Officers believe that the rise can be combated with the help of the community who can help reduce further offences by taking preventative security measures.
Although the district has enjoyed falling figures in crimes such as robbery, sexual offences and thefts from outbuildings, burglary and theft from vehicles remains an issue which officers are keen to stamp out.
Sergeant Geoff Crocker, of Harrogate Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:
Harrogate is one of the safest towns in the safest county in the country, however some people’s complacency over crime prevention is making life easy for criminals.
We have to act now to ensure that offenders don’t have it their own way. Make life difficult for them, most thieves are opportunistic – if they see an unsecured door or window they will be in.
What they don’t like is a challenge, it is vital that people take the proper security measures to ensure that their houses or cars are as difficult as possible to get into.
Over half of burglaries occur at properties that have been left insecure and these offences could have easily been prevented by closing windows and locking doors.
Sgt Crocker also pointed out that burglaries where offenders force entry to a property are almost exclusively committed at homes which don’t have burglar alarms fitted. He added:
While investigating a recent burglary, I noticed that the offenders had climbed over several garden fences of neighbouring properties to get to the house. All the surrounding properties had burglar alarms, the house that was burgled did not.
Laptops, jewellery and car keys were stolen from the house and Sgt Crocker is urging residents to consider the loss of possessions and inconvenience against the cost of having adequate security measures installed.
Thefts from unattended vehicles have also gone up in Harrogate, mainly because many people are still leaving their cars unlocked.
Laptops, iPhones, Blackberrys and wallets have all been stolen from insecure vehicles recently, in thefts that could have been easily prevented by locking the door and removing valuable items from view. Sgt Crocker said:
The lack of security awareness shown by some motorists is staggering, the vast majority of thefts from vehicles have come as a result of the car being left unlocked.
Thieves are simply walking along the road or up driveways looking for vehicles that have been left insecure.
We really need to get the message across: lock your car, remove all valuable property and leave nothing on view.
Police are urging the residents of Harrogate to work with them to make life tough for criminals and help reduce the number of burglaries and thefts occurring in the town.
Local Safer Neighbourhood officers are always happy to give crime prevention advice and everyone can do their bit to ensure their homes and cars are secure.
Sgt Crocker added:
We need to ensure firstly that thieves aren’t getting an easy steal and secondly that they have an increased risk of getting caught.
The first part of this has to come from the community by observing basic security procedures including using locks that they already have.
The second part is down to the police, to relentlessly pursue criminals, put them before the courts and continue to reduce crime in Harrogate District.
Sgt Crocker has offered his top 10 crime prevention tips to residents wishing to guard against burglary and theft:
To visit North Yorkshire Police’s Website go to: http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6736
The Guardian News paper has reported that Police officers have been given a faster method of checking whether a mobile phone has been stolen, with a new link between the National Mobile PropertyRegister (NMPR) and the Police National Computer (PNC).
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has integrated the NMPR into the PNC. This will make it possible for officers on the beat to access the NMPR directly through their handheld devices.
Detective chief superintendent Mick McNally of the Metropolitan Police Territorial Policing Command said:
For the first time frontline officers can now obtain instantaneous results of searches on suspected stolen mobile phones.
The figures of 50,000 plus stolen phones a year being located and identified throughout the UK will further increase with this new Police National Computer facility. It sends a clear message to phone thieves that police and partners can identify stolen mobile phones in the hands of the thief or another individual.
The NPIA developed the integration with the help of Recipero the providers of the NMPR and Immobilise services which specialise in online compliance and due diligence software.
To read the source article please go to: Guardian News paper
To visit the NMPR (police) go to: http://thenmpr.com
To visit Immobilise (public) go to: www.immobilise.com
For more information about Recipero please go to: www.recipero.com
South Yorkshire Police have recovered a stolen mobile phone after it was registered on the national UK database, Immobilise.
The phone was flagged up as stolen after it was attempted to be sold to an Internet mobile company.
The police were informed and received the details of the seller, who was identified as a woman from Dunsville. She was interviewed by police and admitted to finding the phone in the area that it was reported as being stolen. She received a caution, as this was her first offence. The phone was recovered and handed back to the owner.
Police are hoping this result will encourage more people to register their belongings with Immobilise. It is the UK’s national property register, which allows people to create secure and private portfolios online for their personal property.
It is not just phones that can be registered any belongings that have a serial number including electrical items such as televisions and cameras can all be registered.
Chief Inspector Neil Thomas said:
We hope this result will encourage more people to register their belongings on the Immobilise database. We work with local businesses that are able to check if any items have been stolen if they are registered on Immobilise, making it harder for opportunistic thieves to sell stolen property. I would encourage everybody to register their property as soon as possible.
To make it easier for people to register their property, South Yorkshire Police have launched a campaign ‘If you love it, log it’ to find out more about the campaign and to register your property for FREE visit www.southyorks.police.uk
To read the source article please go to: http://southyorks.police.uk/news/30032011/5165/registered-mobile-phone-recovered-police
Police in south Manchester are urging residents to register their items on immobilise.
The police seize hundreds of items each year and many of them cannot be returned, as police do not know where they have come from.
Immobilise.com is a free database whereby residents can register valuable items and record information such as serial numbers and distinguishing marks. All police forces have access to the site and when an item is seized or handed in, officers can check the database and find out who it belongs to.
Inspector Paul Kinrade from the South Manchester Division of Greater Manchester Police said:
Our property store is crammed full of bikes, garden tools, computers, jewellery and clothing but unfortunately a lot of this is never returned to its owners as we are not able to identify where it has come from.
Obviously we hope that residents never have to go through the experience of getting broken into but registering your valuables on immobilise only takes a couple of minutes and it could spell the difference between getting your stolen items back or never seeing them again.
To avoid the chances of being broken into, please remember to shut and lock all of your windows and doors. It sounds really obvious but unfortunately a third of burglaries happen because homes are left insecure.
You can also help to deter burglars by leaving lights on and keeping valuables out of view.
To read the source article please go to: www.gmp.police.uk