HILLSIDE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: Archived Newsletter 27th July 2002

Contents: (click on a topic to jump to it)

Damage to cars parked in our street/speeding

Theft of a van
A watch-member’s red “Rascal” van was stolen from outside his house at the top end of our area. Thieves first stole the petrol cap, had a key made from it, then returned to nick the van. Did anyone see anybody near a red van acting suspiciously? If so please let the Police or myself know as soon as possible.

Plant Pot Thefts
There has been a spate of plant pots being stolen from watch-member’s front gardens – at least three houses have been targeted – one 4 times! The thieves are believed to be two teenagers (described as slim, black and wearing tracksuits) who strike early in the morning and between them carry the pots, complete with soil and foliage, off into Welham Road over Rectory Lane and into the estate towards Church Lane. This week they even struck during the daytime. Please keep your eyes peeled and call the Police if you see them up to their tricks. I would advise those of you with decorative pots or hanging baskets to secure them if you can or place them in your back garden! Please remember it's vital to report all crimes - no matter how small - to the Police in order that they get a true picture of what's happening in our area. If they don't know we're having things stolen, they won't divert resorces to tackle it.

Damage to cars / speeding along our road
Recently considerable damage was caused to a watch member’s car while it was parked on the street. Looks like a passing vehicle hit it and carried on without stopping. I know of 3 other cars which have been damaged while parked on Crowborough Road. There seem to be three problems: One is that people use our road to avoid either the humps on Rectory Lane or the awful traffic lights at Amen Corner, increasing the traffic on this residential street. Two is that the road is too narrow for two cars to easily pass when our cars are parked either side. Three is that the speed of through-traffic is around 30 miles per hour – for the safety of pedestrians, residents and children, the limit on this sort of street should surely be 20 (like in parts of Tooting Graveney). Today I witnessed two vans in a standoff – they couldn’t pass each other so the drivers simply stopped and turned off their engines – neither willing to give way. We're petitioning for the Council to take action to introduce measures to prevent this happening. Email us if you live in our street and wish to support any measures to reduce traffic or speed in the road.

Street Party
Well we didn’t have a street party (only 2 volunteers to help, and I’m not superman!) but we will see if we can all meet in December - as is now traditional!

CRIME REPORTS AND NEWS FROM THE POLICE
Here’s a taster of some of the recent local incidents – full reports are available on the newsflash page.

Balham and Tooting Crime Bulletin - 19th July 2002:

ROBBERY (Mugging)
The robbery picture slightly improved this week with only three crimes reported since the 15th July. All of these happened in the Tooting area.

BURGLARY
A total of 17 burglaries have been recorded in Balham and Tooting since Monday 15th July 2002. Six of these took place in non-residential buildings.

Walkers...Four of these were 'walk-in' crimes. At this time of the year, with the onset of hotter weather, it is a great temptation to open all the windows and go and sit in the rear garden. Thieves are well aware of this and when considering premises to burgle look out especially for open sash-type windows. Whenever residents are outside of the house, they should either shut the windows or fit a stop to restrict opening to no more than 4 inches. These devices are not expensive, are obtainable from any good locksmith or hardware superstore, and can be fitted by any competent do-it-yourselfer.

...slippers... Thieves specialising in slipping the 'Yale' locks on front doors struck again on two occasions this week. In both premises no mortice locks were fitted to the door to provide extra protection.

...and climbers... Some burglars climb to gain access and open upstairs windows can be a tempting target. This was the case one night this week, when a lady occupier was rudely awakened by someone trying to climb through her open bedroom window.

1. Make sure the doors and frames are strong and in good condition. Doors should be made of solid core construction - 44mm thick.

2. Fit an automatic deadlock a third of the way down the door. This locks automatically when the door is closed, but when locked externally with a key, cannot be opened from the inside.

3. Fit a five-lever deadlock about a third of the way up the door. One kite-marked to at least BS3621 should satisfy most insurance requirements.

4. Glass panels on or around the door are especially vulnerable. Consider replacing standard glass with laminated glass or fitting additional internal screens to prevent locks from being released after glass has been broken.

5. Fit hinge bolts to help stop the door being pulled off its hinges.

6. Fit a steel strip, (a London bar), on the side of the frame receiving the tongue of the lock to strengthen it.

7. Visible burglar alarms make burglars think twice. There are many systems on the market, ranging from cheaper DIY alarms to more sophisticated alarms costing hundreds of pounds.

8. Easily installable 'wire-free' alarms are now available whereby sensors fitted around the house transmit radio detection signals to a control system. These systems usually take 3-4 hours to fit. Wired alarms are cheaper but take longer - around a day - to install.

Never install an alarm without seeking prior guidance from a Police Crime Prevention Officer. In Wandsworth they can be contacted by telephoning 020 8871 0803. Get specialist advice and a number of quotes.

Consult your insurance company for companies they recommend before deciding which best suits your needs. The system should meet BS4737 (professionally installed) or BS6707 (DIY). Remember, a badly fitted alarm can create problems in itself. Don't install a DIY system unless you have the electrical knowledge and practical skill to do so.

Advice on all aspects of crime prevention can be obtained from:

1) Wandsworth Crime Prevention Centre, 17 Arndale Walk, Wandsworth Shopping Centre (formerly the Arndale Centre), London SW18, (telephone 020 8871 0803), open to callers between 9am and 5pm Mondays to Saturdays.

2) Putney Crime Prevention Shop, next to the Odeon Cinema in Putney High Street, (telephone 020 8785 8874). The shop is open to the public between 10am and 5-30pm, Mondays to Saturdays.WHO TO CONTACT IF YOU CAN HELP?

If you can help solve any of the crimes mentioned above, or can assist to identify the person(s) responsible, P.S. Victoria Machin in the Divisional Intelligence Unit would like to hear from you. Her telephone number is 020 8247 8863, or you can contact her by e-mail at victoria.machin@met.police.uk

Alternatively pass your information to CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111. You do not have to give your name or address and you may be eligible for a reward if the information given leads to the arrest and conviction of an offender.
Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under ‘crime bulletins’ on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

POLICE CONTACT DETAILS:

In an emergency (ONLY when you require an officer immediately) – 999
To speak to local police when NOT an emergency – 020 8672 9922
P.C. Bob Davies – Ward Officer for our street – 020 8247 8010
CRIMESTOPPERS – to pass on information about any crime - anonymously if you wish - 0800 555 111 – you may receive a reward.

NEXT NEWSLETTER:
In the autumn as the nights start getting darker…. have you fitted an automatic light on the front of your house this summer ready for the winter? They’re a great security measure and are really handy for helping find your door keys!

Best Wishes
Andy
Watch Coordinator.