These
items can be E-mailed to you as soon as we get them - just send
an E-mail to hillside@andysteele.com
with "newsflash subscribe" as the subject and we'll forward
all future crime report messages to you.
Item
added 29th
August 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Reports Not Available:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
19th August: I am afraid that I am unable to bring
you a crime briefing this week, due to a little difficulty concerning
information sharing and data protection issues.
We are hoping to resolve the situation and will keep you informed,
but it is likely that the briefings will not be resumed for some
time.
26th
August: I'm afraid I am stilll unable to bring you the
crime briefings this week. We are still attempting to fix the problem
and will let you know as soon as it has been sorted out. Thank you
to everyone who has offered to help in the matter, but I think it
has to be resolved internally.
Please be aware that some people have been telephoned by a company,
offering to fit a burglar alarm to your house for as little as £1.
THIS IS A SCAM, AND YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS OF YOURSELF
OR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO THEM.
Trading
Standards have issued a warning about a company calling in the SW11
and SW17 areas, claiming to be collecting clothes for charity for
distribution in the thirld world. The company has already been struck
off at Companies House for non-compliance but have started up again
under a different name. The charity number they give is false.
If you have any suspicions at all :-
1) check the charity number shown with the Charities Commission
(08453000 218 or www.charitycommission.gov.uk
- or ask Trading Standards
2) do they claim to be a registered company? This can be checked
at Companies House:- http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
3) Is the charity actually named - many give ambiguous wordings
e.g.“families in need”
4) Does the leaflet give an address or phone number; if there are
no details be wary.
You will be pleased to hear that the police arrested two men in
the early hours of 14th August on suspicion of attempting a burglary
using a curtain pole to reach through the letterbox of a house and
retrieve items from inside. This is becoming quite a common method
in all areas. They usually pick up keys that have been left near
the front door, using a fishing rod or curtain pole, and then use
the keys to enter the house and steal or to steal a car from outside.
Please ensure that you do not leave anything, particularly keys,
within reach of your front door.
There are three appeals this week for witnesses to assaults. If
you can help, please call the numbers shown.
Balham Assault Appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault in Balham Hill
SW12 on Sunday 22nd August 2010 at 3:30pm .
The female victim in her early 30s received serious facial injuries.
A male has been arrested and is currently on bail.
If you have any information that could help police with their enquiries,
please call TDC James Vinnicombe, CSU Wandsworth on 020 8247 5412
Battersea Assault Appeal
Wandsworth police are appealing to people who may have
witnessed a serious assault near to Queenstown Road Railway Station
on 15th August 2010 at about 3am. It is believed that approx 6 males,
described as between the ages of 19 and 20, of mixed ethnicity,
assaulted the male victim in what appears to be motiveless attack.
If
you have any information that could help police with their enquiries,
please call Wandsworth Police on 0300 123 1212 or, to remain anonymous,
call Crime Stoppers
on 0800 555 111
Garratt Lane Assault Appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault to come
forward. On Saturday 7th August 2010 at approx. 2am a female victim,
aged 25, was dragged into the doorway of a house on Garratt Lane
by the junction of Gambole Road and sexually assaulted .She had
walked past the Halifax on Tooting High Street, junction Garratt
Lane when the male suspect approached her and put his arm around
her. She brushed him off and went to sit at the bus stop.
The
suspect approached her again and put his arm around her. She again
told him to leave her alone and walked away up Garratt Lane.
The suspect then grabbed hold of her and dragged her towards a house
on Garratt Lane.
Two
passers-by came to the assistance of the victim. One chased the
suspect whilst the other walked the victim home.
Were you in the area around the time of the incident? Did you witness
this offence?
Did you help the victim following the incident?
If so, please contact the DC Lyndsay Barnett on 020 8247 8703 or,
to remain anonymous, Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Item
added 16th
August 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 12th Aug 2010:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area.
You
will have noticed that many of the deception burglaries
suffered in Wandsworth involve someone posing as a representative
of a water company. If you have any doubt at all about the caller's
identity, Check the caller’s identification card
-Does the card photo show the person at the door?
-Is the card out of date?
-Has the card been tampered with?
-Does it show Thames Water’s logo?
If you are unsure, don’t open your door, and give Thames Water
a call on 0845 641 0069.
Thames Water have a password scheme to ensure that the caller is
genuine- he or she will quote a password previously registered by
you. They can also make special arrangements if you are hard of
hearing, blind or have mobility problems. Call 0845 641 0068 to
register you password or make other arrangements.
For some time now, owing to a world increase in metal prices, there
have been a number of thefts of cast iron gully/drain covers
from the street. Besides costing a considerable amount to replace,
a missing drain cover can cause severe accidents and can also seriously
damage a vehicle driving over the unprotected hole. If you see anyone
tampering with a drain cover and are not sure that they are genuine,
please inform the council, on 0208 871 6000 or call the police.
Cemetery Robbery Appeal
Police at Wandsworth are investigating a violent robbery that occurred
in Streatham Cemetery, Garratt Lane, SW17 at 12 noon on 11th August
2010.
The
72 year old victim had been attending to the grave of her late parents
before washing her hands alone in the cemetery wash room. The suspect
burst into the wash room, pushed the victim in the chest and grabbed
her bag before making good his escape. She suffered a broken arm
and bruising to the head and remained in hospital overnight.
The
suspect was seen to run off towards the rear of the cemetery and
the Aboyne Estate. It is believed he had been loitering for some
time in the cemetery before the attack.
He
is described as white, aged 18-21 between 5'6 and 5'10, slim build,
with fair hair. He was wearing a white T shirt and grey jogging
bottoms and had a distinctive dirty white scarf over his face. The
stolen property was a green canvas shopping bag.
DS Steve Davidsen said
‘This was a cowardly attack on a defenceless pensioner
in the cemetery where she should feel safe and be allowed to mourn
her parents in peace. I would urge anyone that had been in the vicinity
of the cemetery yesterday morning or on the Aboyne Estate to try
and remember if they saw this suspect either before or after the
attack.’
If you have any information please call Wandsworth Robbery Squad
on 0207 247 8770 or call Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Click
to get the 12th Aug crime report (115k)
Item
added 8th
August 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 5th Aug 2010:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area.
Just
a reminder that the £20 note with a picture of Elgar have
been withdrawn from circulation. If you have any in your possession
your high street bank will probably exchange them for a period,
although they are not obliged to do so. However, the Bank of England
will always take them. If you know anybody who might be keeping
quantities of them, please let them know. Please warn them that
nobody will ever call to inspect their notes; in the past there
have been incidents where someone posing as a police officer or
bank official has called to inspect the notes and has confiscated
them. These people are thieves
Rogue
Traders Operating in Wandsworth.
Residents are being reminded not to agree to have work done to their
house by any traders calling uninvited to their home.
In the last few days, a number of homes in Wandsworth have been
visited by a company offering to survey the exterior of your house
for free. The caller - often a female, also states that she is working
with the Council or Social Services and leaves a card entitling
the customer to the free survey. A couple of days later the homeowner
receives a telephone call and an appointment is made for the surveyor
to call.
On examining the house walls, the surveyor indicates that they are
in a bad condition - structural damage, wet rot and dry rot have
all been mentioned and advises that the walls should be coated in
a protective covering at an extortionate cost. The homeowner then
feels pressured in to signing the contract when told their home
is in a bad state of repair.
Residents should be aware of any uninvited traders calling at their
homes, offering “free” surveys and are advised that
they should not agree to work being carried out on their homes by
traders who cold call.
Trading Standards would always advise any person considering having
work done on their homes, to obtain three quotations from three
different traders and check that they cover the work to be done.
Also, it is advisable to use recommendations from family or friends
or to check for a reputable trader through www.trustmark.org.uk
or telephone 01344 630804.
Any trader calling at your home must give you the right to cancel
a contract signed at your home and tell you how to do this. Once
signed, you have a 7 day “cooling off” period in which
to change your mind and cancel the contract.
If any homeowner has been visited by any trader offering a free
survey, they are advised to contact Wandsworth Trading Standards
on 0208 871 7720 or Wandsworth Community Safety on 0208 871 6603
or speak to a solicitor.
Click
to get the 5th Aug crime report (114k)
Item
added 1st
August 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 29th July 2010:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area.
Council
tax phone scam alert:
Trading standards officers in Wandsworth are issuing a fresh warning
to residents that fraudsters are using a sophisticated council tax
scam to try and steal from them.
Con-artists
are using the promise of council tax rebates to obtain residents'
bank details and other sensitive personal information. Armed with
this important data, the fraudsters are then able to empty their
victim's bank accounts.
Their
latest tactic is to telephone householders and masquerade as council
tax officials. They are either told they have paid too much and
are entitled to a rebate, or that they have not paid enough and
need to top up their payments.
In
both scenarios, the caller asks for bank account details and other
information such as date of birth and becomes quite insistent if
refused.
The
scam has been reported to trading standards in Wandsworth and is
also believed to be happening in other parts of the country.
Now
trading standards officers are urging people to be on their guard
against the confidence tricksters and to also report any similar
incidents.
Anyone
receiving this kind of telephone call is strongly advised not to
disclose any personal information and to report the matter to trading
standards on (020) 8871 7720 or by emailing tradingstandards@wandsworth.gov.uk
Anyone
who wishes to check their council tax account details can call (020)
8871 8081 or email counciltax@wandsworth.gov.uk
You will see from the crime briefings that many of the items stolen
in street robberies are mobile phones. If you lose
your mobile phone or have it stolen, the best way for the police
to identify it is from the IMEI number. This is
a unique number which can be found by keying in *#06#
on your mobile phone. The 17 digit number that this produces should
be recorded and kept somewhere safe, just in case. It can also be
recorded at www.immobilise.com
which is a free website where you can register details of any valuable
items you may own, including phones and computers. The police will
check the database when they find property they believe to be stolen,
and should then be able to return it to the rightful owner. As a
direct result of Immobilise there are over 250
cases a week where property is returned or information collected
that assists the police in investigating criminal activity involving
stolen goods.
Click
to get the 29th July crime report (111k)
Item
added 25th
July 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 15th & 22nd July
2010:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Trading
Standards have warned us about someone calling themselves Stephen
Williams from A OK Software Testing Services.
A local resident received an email from above claiming his business
partner and the partner's wife were ill and listed their ailments.
He also stated that the Benefits Agency had messed up their claim
and they had had to sell their possessions to survive. He was requesting
help to replace their TV, DVD, computer etc. He said they had two
children who needed help and he gave address in Gloucester which
is being checked out. This is a scam.
It has come to our attention that there has been a slight increase
in cold calling and doorstep sellers in your area.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind all our Co-ordinators
and Watch members not to buy or sell anything on the doorstep.
If
you require any work or improvements on your property or garden
please use reputable companies and get more than one quote. Please
also be aware that for any work being carried out over a value of
£35 cancellation rights must be given in writing.
Please
remember that doorstep selling / Cold calling can be a way of gaining
entry to your home and carrying out Distraction Burglary offences
- Please be wary of any unexpected callers at your front door and
keep the door closed if you are unsure of who it is. Please use
a spy hole or window to verify who the caller is without opening
the door. A genuine visitor will never mind waiting while you check
who they are.
If
you have any further concerns or questions please do not hesitate
to contact us on 020 8871 8919 or contact Wandsworth’s
Trading Standards on 020 8871 7720 for more advice.
Witness appeal
On
Wednesday 23rd June 2010, at approximately 12:05pm, the victim,
a 13 year old boy, was at the 280 bus stop on Tooting High Street
when he was approached by a man who began talking to him and they
boarded the same bus.
During the journey, the suspect placed his hand on the knee of the
victim.
The
victim got off of the bus at Figges Marsh in Mitcham and the man
followed him. As the victim went to walk away, the suspect touched
the victim’s private area and asked “is it big?”.
He said that he wanted to become friends with the victim and told
him he would wait for him while he attended his appointment. He
later ran off after the victim had called a relative for help.
The
suspect is an Asian male, approximately 30 years old, 6ft, proportionate
build, wearing a blue and white light shirt and smart trousers.
He speaks with a strong accent, believed to be Sri Lankan.
If
you recognise the suspect or have any information concerning him,
please contact T/DC Michelle Lamb, Wandsworth CID on 0208 247 8736,
or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers on 0800555111
Over the last few months, Wandsworth Common Safer Neighbourhood
Team have been working hard around their theft from motor vehicle
priority.
The
ward has seen a recent increase in the number of thefts where no
damage has been recorded to the vehicles. During the months of March
and April, Ward officers carried out research and discovered that
a large number of parked vehicles were inadvertently being left
unlocked.
On
6th July using Wandsworth Council CCTV and utilising plain clothes
officers on unmarked bikes, Wandsworth Common SNT ran a pro active
operation. This resulted in a male being arrested after he was seen
trying a number of car door handles in the hope of discovering unlocked
vehicles.
The
operation was repeated on the 7th July where another male was arrested
for exactly the same offence on an adjacent road. The Operation
confirmed suspicions of how entry was being gained to vehicles.
Sergeant
Jerry Ostrowski of Wandsworth Common SNT said: "Listening to
residents concerns prompted us to carry out our own research. This
resulted in an excellent pro active operation where 2 males were
arrested and a large amount of intelligence gathered. These males
were blatantly caught trying car door handles and looking into vehicles
in the hope of finding unopened ones that they could steal from.
We can now move on to the next stage of this problem solving process
which will be highlighting the importance of vehicle security to
residents."
We have had warnings about two potential scams, neither
of which were fallen for.
1. A lady received a call purporting to be from a company acting
on behalf of BT, offering her reduced line rental and free evening
and weekend calls. They confirmed her name and address and then
asked her for her bank details, which she refused.
2. A resident received a handwritten note through the door, telling
her that a parcel would be delivered to her address in error and
asking her to call a number so that the writer could collect it.
When Royal Mail called with the parcel she showed the driver the
note, and was told that a similar incident had happened several
times before. Apparently, the parcel contained a mobile phone which
would be collected by the note-writer, and subsequent bills for
the cost of the phone and calls would be sent to the person who
took delivery of the note. The lady refused delivery of the parcel
and told the note-writer so when he called sometime later.
Both ladies showed great presence of mind in refusing to be conned,
but it is very easy to be caught by tricks like this if you don't
keep your wits about you.
Click
to get the 15th July crime report (111k)
Click
to get the 2nd July crime report (113k)
Item
added 13th
July 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 8th July 2010:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area.
Please
be aware of a scam operating locally. One of our co-ordinators was
approached in the Lavender Hill area by a white male in his late
50s, 5ft 8-10ins, who asked her for £2 to extend his parking
meter payment. She was more than a little surprised to be approached
again, in the same area, two weeks later, with the same story!
Click
to get the 8th July crime report (118k)
Item
added 13th
July 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Reports 8th July 2010:
Sadly,
the 24th June report has news of a burglary just down the hill from
our watch area in Crowborough Road, and I'm told by neighbours there
has been a second. Please do let Police or Crimestoppers know if
you saw anything which could help them track down the culprits.
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area, and a poster for
the annual Tooting Mela on 26th June.
Click
to get the 17th June crime report (115k)
Item
added 24th
June 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Reports 17th & 24th
June 2010:
Sadly,
the 24th June report has news of a burglary just down the hill from
our watch area in Crowborough Road, and I'm told by neighbours there
has been a second. Please do let Police or Crimestoppers know if
you saw anything which could help them track down the culprits.
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area.
Click
to get the 17th June crime report (115k)
Click
to get the 24th June crime report (110k)
In
Other News:
The £20 note with a portrait of Sir Edward Elgar on
the reverse is due to be withdrawn on 30th June, although
most banks, building societies and the Post Office will still accept
them for some months afterwards. The Bank of England will always
accept them, but will require ID if the amount is over £1000.
If you know of anybody who might be keeping £20 notes at home,
could you please inform them about this.
Witness
Appeal
Police
are investigating a series of offences (4) which have taken place
on Tooting Bec Common between 1000-1230 in the
morning on week days.
Women have been walking/jogging through the common near the Lido
when they have been approached by a young teenage black male and
have had their property snatched/stolen from them or have been sexually
touched.
The
incidents have had a sexual element as one woman was touched on
her breast and crotch and the suspect has also exposed himself.
Police
suspect he has been sitting on a bench and then selecting a woman
to approach.
Police
are seeking any witnesses to the incident and asking women to be
vigilant in the area and ideally not to commute through the area
alone and to follow crime prevention advice such as not have expensive
items of electrical goods/mobile phones on display, carry a personal
attack alarm and contact police immediately if you become victim
of crime or you believe you sight the suspect.
Suspect
has been described as : Male, black, teenage, 1m 70-80cm tall, wearing
casual clothing or possibly in green uniform and tie.
If
you have any information that could help police with their enquiries,
please call Wandsworth CID on 0208 247 8860, Or to remain anonymous,
call Crime Stoppers
on 0800 555 111
Local Personal Safety Advice
Tackling and preventing crimes of violence and sexual assaults is
a priority for the Metropolitan Police Service. If you are a victim
of violent crime it is very important that you report this to the
police immediately, using the 999 telephone number. This will give
the police the best opportunity to arrest the suspect. What may
seem a minor crime may in fact signal further more serious offences.
You should report your concerns.
Here
is some advice to reduce the risks to you:
-
Think ahead and plan your journey, avoiding deserted areas.
- Try
to avoid walking alone at night, and keep to well-lit main roads
where possible. You should try to avoid short cuts like alleyways,
waste ground and wooded, bushy areas.
- Walk
or travel with others and look after your friends.
-
Stay alert: be aware of what's going on around you.
- It
is always worth letting someone know where you are going, the
route you intend to take and when you expect to return.
- If
you agree to meet someone via the internet, arrange to meet in
a safe public space.
- Consider
investing in a mobile phone.
- Consider
investing in a personal attack alarm or contact your local Safer
Neighbourhood Team who may have some limited free supply.
-
Try to avoid wearing headphones - your ability to hear traffic,
strangers or potential trouble is severely restricted.
If
you do not wish to report the incident directly to the police you
may report it via Crime
Stoppers 0800 555 111 or to Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625.
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted and again you do not
wish to report this to the police directly, you can report it to
The Havens, specialist centres in London for people who have been
raped or sexually assaulted. They have three centres: Camberwell:
020 3299 1599, Paddington: 020 3312 1101, Whitechapel: 020 7247
4787.
Witness
Appeal: Attempted Distraction Burglary
On Thursday 10th June 2010, at approximately 4:30pm a 94 year old
female was at home at Stoford Close SW19 when her intercom buzzer
sounded.
A
male stated that he was from the gas company and therefore needed
to read her meter as she had paid too much on her previous bills.
The victim let him in where he again stated that he needed to read
her gas meter and that he had checked the flat upstairs for a similar
thing. He then stated that he needed to check the kitchen area and
also mentioned something about checking the lights in the premises.
The victim was concerned at this stage as to the identity/authenticity
of the male and therefore asked him for identification. He produced
from his pocket a card that he waved in front of her before quickly
putting it back in his pocket. The victim asked him to leave which
he did. The gas company was called, no-one had been sent to the
address.
The suspect is described as a white male, aged about 20-25 years,
6ft -6ft 2inches in height. He was of slim build and had black short
curly hair. He was clean shaven and was wearing a navy blue boiler
suit.
Police are appealing to members of the public to remain vigilant
and to contact DC Jon MCPHEE of Wandsworth Priority Crime Unit on
0208 247 8770 if they have any information that could lead to the
apprehension of the suspect. Alternatively Crimestoppers
can be called on 0800 555 111.
Door
to Door Selling: Trading Standards Complaint
Trading
Standards have received a complaint about a smartly dressed man
claiming to be from the Organisation for Homeless and Unemployed
people, PO Box 2457, Woodford Green, IG8 1EE. He tried to sell the
complainant dusters and similar items, which she said were overpriced.
This was at about 9.45pm, and she felt threatened because of the
lateness of the hour and the fact that he was quite persistent,
claiming that his job would be in jeopardy if she did not buy anything
Initial checks show that they have been around the Merton area,
the PO Box address is false and there is no such postcode.There
are possible offences under the Consumer Protection Regulations
and Trading Standards would appreciate a call if these people come
to you. Their phone number is 08454 04 05 06 or, out of hours, please
contact your local police Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Item
added 13th
June 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Reports 10th June 2010:
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area, and a poster for
the annual Tooting Mela on 26th June.
Click
to get the 10th June crime report (64k)
Tooting
Mela Poster (945k)
Trading Standards have asked us to warn you about
a number of people offering gardening services and tree surgery
around the borough. They will usually cold-call and the work they
do is often exorbitantly priced and of poor quality. If you want
this sort of work done, it is best to go by recommendation from
a friend or neighbour or perhaps consult a reputable garden centre.
Tree surgery in particular can be very expensive for you if carried
out by unqualified and uninsured chainsaw operators, as considerable
damage can be caused to your own or neighbouring property. Please
do not sign contracts with these people unless you are completely
sure about them.
During Wandsworth Hate Crime Awareness week (14 - 18 June)
there will be events held across the borough and people are being
encouraged, whether they’re victims of a crime or witnesses
to an incident, to report it.
Chief
Inspector Tim Harding from Wandsworth police said; ‘We want
to get the message out to members of the community that we want
people who are experiencing domestic violence and hate crime to
report offences, no matter how minor they think they are. The police
are committed to taking positive action wherever possible against
the people who commit this type of crime.’
If
you have been hurt, called names or had your property damaged because
of your race, faith, disability, sexuality, gender or age you can
report it 24 hours a day on 999 (in an emergency) or on 0300 123
1212, or you can report at a police station. Wandsworth Borough
Police and Wandsworth Local Authority have jointly secured the services
of Stop Hate UK Helpline.
Stop
Hate UK are an independent charity who provide emotional
and practical support for anyone who has experienced hate crime.
You can report hate crime to Stop Hate UK 24 hours a day. Everything
you tell them is kept confidential and you have the option to remain
anonymous. They can be contacted by phone, email, text, post and
online. Stop Hate UK can speak to victims in their preferred language
if required Telephone: 0800 138 1625 Website: www.stophateuk.org
There
will be a night of comedy and awareness on Thu 17th June at the
Comedy Club Clapham - poster/details below.
Hate
Crime Awareness Week Poster (233k)
Message
from Keeley Tye PS 89WW
Met Police Furzedown Safer Neighbourhood Team :
Please find attached a leaflet relating to the Furzedown
Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) Public Meeting, which is
taking place on Wednesday 16th June 2010 at 7.30pm at The
Furzedown Project, Moyser Road SW16.
Please
feel free to invite any Neighbours, Colleagues etc living or working
in Furzedown who may be keen to meet the local Policing Team, raise
any issues of concern or learn about some of the initiatives currently
underway in the local area.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
If
you have any issues or concerns that you would like to discuss prior
to the meeting, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Keeley
Tye PS 89WW
Furzedown Safer Neighbourhood Team
Wandsworth Borough
Tooting Police Station, 251 Mitcham Road, London SW17 9JQ
Tel 020 8247 8171
Mobile 07920 233 937
Email keeley.tye@met.police.uk
Click
to get the Furzedown Meeting Poster/Invite (255k)
Item
added 3rd
June 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Reports 27th May & 3rd
June 2010:
It's another bumper 2 week posting this week, with apologies for
being unable to post last week.
Click
to get the 27th May crime report (128k)
Click
to get the 3rd June crime report (112k)
Item
added 16th
May 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Reports 6th an 13th May
2010
and the Furzedown Safer Neighbourhoods Team May bulletin:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included). It's a bumper 2 week posting
this week, with apologies for being unable to post last week. Also
below is the May Safer Neighbourhoods Team bulletin.
Click
to get the 6th May crime report (117k)
Click
to get the 13th May crime report (118k)
Click
to get the May SNT bulletin (562k)
Item
added 2nd
May 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 29th April 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Click
to get the 29th April crime report (116k)
Item
added 25th
April 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 22nd April 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Click
to get the 22nd April crime report (118k)
Item
added 17th
April 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 15th April 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Wandsworth Police have linked three separate sexual assaults on
females in the Cavendish Road and Bedford Hill area.
The
assaults occurred on Monday 1st March, Monday 5th & Sunday 11th
April 2010 between 6pm and 8pm.
The
suspect for these offences has been described as a black male of
dark complexion, between the age of 15 - 18 years old, 5'7"
- 5'9" tall, average build with chubby cheeks.
He
has approached three women on separate occasions and sexually assaulted
them whilst in the street. On each occasion he has run off towards
the Balham area.
Were
you in the area around the time of these offences? Did you see anyone
matching the description acting suspiciously?
Police
are appealing to members of the public to contact Wandsworth
CID or the Balham Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0208 247 8893 or 0208
247 8021 if they have any information that could lead to
the apprehension of the suspect. Alternatively Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Click
to get the 15th April crime report (112k)
Item
added 11th
April 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 7th April 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
The
Furzedown Safer Neighbourhoods Bulletin for April has also been
received, and can be downloaded below.
Sadly
there has been another burglary reported in Crowborough Road. Again,
intruders entered the garden & shed first. With the weather
warmer, please always lock windows and doors properly, front and
back.
Click
to get the 7th April crime report (112k)
Click
to get the April Furzedown Safer Neighbourhoods Team Bulletin (561k)
Item
added 4th
April 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 1st April 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area.
We have had warnings from Trading Standards concerning two firms
operating in across London. The first is SAS Fire and Safety,
who will offer to supply and fit fire alarms and burglar alarms
free or at very low cost, which they say is linked to the Fire Brigade,
Police and other services. As part of the process they will sign
you up to a maintenance agreement and a credit agreement at an exorbitant
price. Trading Standards advise that you do not buy such items at
the door, especially if they are cold-calling. If you want a burglar
or fire alarm, please ensure that they are members of one of the
supervisory bodies, either the National Approval Council for Security
Systems or the Security Systems and Alarm Inspectioons Board. There
is further advice at the Metropolitan Police web site at : www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/alarms.htm
The other company is called Anduraguard. This is
a wall coating company whose representative will call on you and
may stay for up to 5 (yes, five!) hours before signing you up to
spend up to £30,000 pounds for wall coating. Again, please
do not sign up to anything like this without careful consideration.
There have been a number of instances of people, especially the
elderly, being caught out by this sort of con trick, and handing
over very large sums of money to these people, sometimes being taken
to the bank by the tricksters in order to take out the money. If
you are aware of anyone in your Watch that you suspect might be
vulnerable to this type of thing, please warn them. Don't forget,
it is a criminal offence in most cases for the company not to offer
you a seven day cooling-off period after signing a contract. If
you have any suspicions that you or your neighbours may have fallen
victim to this scam, please contact the police or Trading Standards
officers at the council.
Click
to get the 1st April crime report (120k)
Item
added 28th
Mar 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 25th March 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area, together with the
newsletter from the London Neighbourhood Watch Association.
We have had information from the police that an EDF meter reader
has had her photo identity card and portable meter recording machine
stolen. Please carefully check the identity of anyone wanting to
get into your premises, before letting them in.
There have been a number of incidents reported recently where residents
have arrived home to find sticky tape over the keyholes on their
front doors. It is possible that this is a delaying tactic used
by thieves to keep you at the front door before they attack and
steal your keys or bag, so please be very wary if you find tape
on the lock when you arrive home.
Leaflets are being distributed, apparently from a charity, requesting
that unwanted medecines be left out in a plastic bag for collection,
to be used later in third world countries. The flyer is bright yellow
with black writing. This is not believed to be a legitimate agency
and there are serious concerns about leaving any sort of drugs where
children may be able to get at them. If you have any drugs, prescription
or otherwise, that are surplus to requirements, your local pharmacy
will usually take them off your hands and dispose of them safely.
An email is circulating to the effect that the person sending it,
or a friend, has been contacted by someone claiming to be from the
fraud department of your credit card company. The supposed fraud
department ask if you have bought an item, and when you tell them
that you have not, they say that it is somebody using your card
details fraudulently. They then ask various questions in an effort
to get details of your card, in particular the 3 figure number on
the reverse. Whilst the email itself has been circulating for a
number of years and is untrue, some of the advice in it is valid.
Your credit card company will never ask for any details from your
card, and anybody asking for this information is almost certainly
acting fraudulently.
Click
to get the 25th March crime report (120k)
Click
to get the London Neighbourhood Watch Association Newsletter (59k)
Item
added 21st
Mar 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 18th March 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Sadly,
a home within our watch suffered a burglary on 11th March during
the daytime or evening. The burglars apparently broke into the garden
shed to remove tools which they then used to break into the back
of the house. They left via the front door having found keys inside
the house.
The
house is in the middle of our watch area, odd number side, so burglars
would have had to cross 5 or 6 gardens to get into that back garden.
As they left via the front door with some large items, it's possible
you may have noticed them. Did
you see anything? If so, please get in touch with us, or the local
police or to remain anonymous, call Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111
Please
ensure you always secure tools out of site in locked sheds, and
that your door and window security is up to date - see the security
advice pages of this site or the Metropolitan
Police pages or the Home
Office pages for more information. Do not leave keys in the
house while you're out, and take tnem with you when you go to bed
- this will make it much more difficult for burglars to open doors
to remove items if they do get in.
Click
to get the 18th March crime report (116k)
Item
added 14th
Mar 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 11th March 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Robbery
witness appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses to a Robbery which occurred on
Saturday 27th Feb 2010 at around 7:30pm in Church Lane near to the
junction with Eswyn Road, Tooting SW17.
The
victim, a 17 year old female was walking along Church Lane when
she was approached from behind.
The
2 suspects are described as black males, approx 18-20 years old,
6 feet tall, with short dark hair. One suspect was wearing a black
jacket, black hooded top, blue jeans, grey beanie hat and black
trainers and the other was wearing a black hooded top.
Did
you see anything? If you have any information that could help police
with their enquiries, please call T/DC Pearce, Robbery Squad,
Wandsworth on 020 8247 8871 or to remain anonymous, call
Crime Stoppers
on 0800 555 111
Protect
Yourself From Burglars
Wandsworth Police would like to remind you of a few simple steps
you can take to protect yourself and your home:
-
Unless you are in the same room do not leave windows and doors
open or unlocked, particularly if you are on the ground or first
floor.
- Do
not leave valuables including Car keys on display or within easy
reach near windows and doors even if they are closed and locked.
- Lock
away ladders, garden tools and other items that burglars could
use to force an entry.
- Senior
citizens especially should ensure that any strangers knocking
at the door saying they are workmen show correct identification.
Residents can also check with the local council whether any maintenance
work is being carried out in their area.
- A
simple test of home security is - if you can get into your home
without keys - so can a burglar.
More
detailed advice on crime prevention can be obtained by contacting
your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team
Click
to get the 11th March crime report (120k)
Item
added 6th
Mar 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 4th March 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Please
also find attached the Furzedown Safer Neighbourhoods Team Community
Bulletin for March.
Click
to get the 25th Feb crime report (120k)
Click
to get the March SNT Community Bulletin (120k)
Item
added 28th
Feb 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 25th Feb 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Click
to get the 25th Feb crime report (120k)
Item
added 20th
Feb 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 17th Feb 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
There is now an on-line site for reporting fraud or for finding
out information and resources to help in preventing fraud. It has
been set up with backing from the Home Office and the National Fraud
Authority and can be found at www.actionfraud.org.uk
, or you can telephone 0300 1232040.
Don't
forget that some other non-urgent crimes can also be reported on-line
at https://online.met.police.uk/
Click
to get the 17th Feb crime report (120k)
Item
added 14th
Feb 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 11th Feb 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
We have had a report from another part of London about a crime against
the elderly, and while we have not yet had this happen here, it
is as well to be aware. The resident of a flat in sheltered housing
had a knock at the door from a man who told her that his friend
was stuck in the lift and the assistance bell in the lift wasn't
working. He asked her to call the warden, via her pull-cord, and
followed her into the flat, went straight to her kitchen and stole
money that she had hidden there. This is a bit worrying, as he had
obviously been let into the block by another resident, and also
seemed to know where she kept her money. Please warn any vulnerable
people you know, so that they are aware of this method.
A
reminder that the "Scamnesty" bins are still in place
at all Wandsworth libraries, Randall Close Day Centre, the Town
Hall, Adult Social Services in Putney Bridge Road and Shopmobility
in Garratt Lane. Drop in any letters or emails that you suspect
to be scams, so that others can be made aware of them and action
taken against them where possible.
Earlier
this week I received a plastic bag through the door, from an outfit
claiming to be a childrens' charity and quoting a charity number,
asking for donations. It looked a bit odd, so I checked with the
Charity Commissioners web site www.charity-commission.gov.uk,
and found that the charity they claimed to be working for had been
removed from the register some years earlier, so I informed my local
Trading Standards officers. Quite often these people do not directly
claim to be working for a charity, but imply it; the charity usually
gets nothing from them.
Useful contact details.
To ensure that you do not receive nuisance phone calls from traders,
register with the :-
Telephone Preference Service
DAM House, 70 Margaret House, London, W1W 8SS
0845 070 0707
www.tpsonline.org.uk
To ensure that you do not receive junk mail from traders, register
with the :-
Mailing
Preference Service
DAM House, 70 Margaret House, London, W1W 8SS
0845 703 4599
www.mpsonline.org.uk
Wandsworth Trading Standards Service
78 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, SW18 4DJ
020 8871 7720
www.wandsworth.gov.uk
Consumer Direct
0845 04 05 06
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
or
to report a scam online:-
https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx
Click
to get the 11th Feb crime report (107k)
Item
added 7th
Feb 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 4th Feb 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
I
have also attached the latest Furzedown Community Bulletin for February.
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Co-ordinators
are invited to a public consultation meeting to be held on 17th
February, details attached (Face The Public attachment below). Please
reply to Andrew Jolly if you wish to attend - details in the file
available below.
The
Police at Wandsworth need your help in locating the man in the picture
(attached), Mr Gao Long YU, who has been wanted on a recall to Wandsworth
prison since Tuesday 8th September 2009 for failing to attend his
probation appointments.
Mr
YU was initially convicted for using false documents and was sentenced
to 12 months in prison and subject to a deportation order on his
release. He has not been seen since his release from prison on Wednesday
2nd September 2009.
He
is described as male, of Chinese origin, 5 ft, 8 inches in height
and approximately 34 years old.
If
you have any information that could help police with their enquiries,
please contact PS Sally Pattison of Wandsworth Police on 020 8247
8723 / 8748 or e-mail sally.pattison@met.police.uk
Or to remain anonymous, call Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault which occurred
on Monday 1st February 2010 at 6.20pm in Southfields Passage,SW18.
A
group of four sixteen year olds (3 boys and 1 girl) were assaulted
and robbed in Southfields Passage. The suspects are three 18-19
year old boys wearing dark or grey hooded tops, armed with two long,
wooden poles and a glass bottle which were used to assault the victims
causing injuries that needed hospital treatment.
Police
are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the suspects involved
prior to, or after, the incident and anyone who may have witnessed
the incident.
If
you have any information that could help police with their enquiries,
please call T/DC Adam BELL, Robbery Investigation Team on 020 8247
8770, or to remain anonymous, call Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Click
to get the 4th Feb crime report (106k)
Click
to get the Face The Public invitation (56k)
Click
to get the Furzedown Bulletin for Febuary (560k)
Item
added 30th
Jan 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 27th Jan 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here
is the latest crime briefing for your area.
I have also attached details of the Scamnesty campaign which will
be running throughout February, across the country, together with
contact addresses.
Assault
witness appeal
Police were called shortly after 6.30pm on Thursday 21st January
2010 to reports of a 48 year old female who had been assaulted and
her car stolen from Surrey Lane, near the Prince of Wales Pub, SW11.
Officers
attended and spoke to the victim, who was suffering from swelling
and grazing to the hand following the assault. Her car, a blue BMW
Z4 was seen driving off down Surrey Lane.
Enquiries
into the incident by Wandsworth CID are ongoing and there have been
no arrests at this time. Police are appealing for witnesses to the
incident. The first suspect is described as a black male, 20’s,
6’00 tall, of skinny build. He was wearing a dark parka jacket,
possibly with a fur trim on the hood. The hood was up.
The second male is described as a black male, wearing a dark hoody
and slightly shorter than the first suspect.
If
you were in the area of The Prince of Wales Pub, or the surrounding
roads, between 6.30pm and 6.35pm and may have seen this incident,
noticed anyone matching this description or someone acting suspiciously
please contact Wandsworth
Police Priority Crime Unit on 0208 247 8874 or
to remain anonymous, call Crime
Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Click
to get the 27th Jan crime report (109k)
Click
to get the Scamnesty leaflet (61k)
Item
added 23rd
Jan 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 22nd Jan 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Whilst the burglaries numbers are not too high, several of them
could have been prevented by the use of decent locks on doors and
windows. If you have window locks, by which I mean key-operated
locks, not just a simple catch that can be released without the
use of a key, please make sure you use them EVERY TIME you leave
home. They should be fitted to all windows that could be accessible
to a thief, whether at ground level or reachable by climbing a drainpipe
or wall. Similarly, both front and back doors should be fitted with
suitable locks and you should ensure that your door frames are strong
enough to withstand an attack. A common method of entry is to break
a small pane of glass in a door and reach through to release the
latch. If the door were fitted with a LOCKED mortice lock, this
type of entry could be prevented. Frames can be fitted with strengthening
bars and plates, obtainable from locksmiths.
Blocks of flats, and houses converted to flats, are vulnerable to
thieves who manage to get past the communal front door, as many
people do not secure the door of their flat as well as they should.
Treat it as if it were the door of a house and fit it with the appropriate
locks, which should be used each time you leave.
I do not give details of motor vehicle crimes in the briefings,
but there are quite a lot each month. For instance, in December
2009 there were 51 thefts of vehicles and 174 thefts from vehicles
in the borough. The following advice from the police should help
you to prevent some of these.
VEHICLE SECURITY
• Lock the doors, windows, boot and sun-roof every time you
leave your car - however briefly. Always remove the keys even if
the car is parked in a drive or garage. Do not leave them within
reach of the front door of your house.
•
If your vehicle is fitted with an alarm or immobiliser - use it
- if you do not have an alarm or immobiliser consider having one
fitted.
•
If you have a steering wheel lock or other security devices - use
them.
•
Don’t leave valuables or other possessions on display - the
thief won’t know if its worthless or the bag is empty until
after he has broken in. Don’t leave driving documents and
personal correspondence in the vehicle.
•
Mobile phones - very high on the list of items stolen from cars
- always take them with you.
•
If your stereo system is removable - always remove it.
•
SatNav systems. The sticker on the windscreen indicates that you
have one so do not leave it in the glove box etc - always take it
with you.
Assault witness appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault which occurred
on Wednesday 20th January 2010 between 7pm and 7:30pm in Danebury
Avenue SW15.
The
victim, a female aged 32 years old was dragged by her hair and then
punched repeatedly in the face. She received facial injuries and
required hospital treatment.
The suspect who made off on foot along Danebury Avenue prior to
police arrival is described as a white man aged 30 years old, 5ft
10 inches, large build, wearing a grey top and dark coloured trousers.
Did
you see him ? If you have any information that could help police
with their enquiries, please call T/DC James Vinnicombe, Wandsworth
Community Safety Unit on 0208 247 5418 Or to remain anonymous, call
Crime Stoppers
on 0800 555 111
Click
to get the 22nd Jan crime report (109k)
Item
added 16th
Jan 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 14th Jan 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Click
to get the 14th Jan crime report (116k)
Item
added 8th
Jan 2010
FROM EMAIL FROM WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Including Tooting & Balham Crime Report 7th Jan 2010:
The
file attached below has reports on burglary and street crime (note
that car crimes are not included).
Message
from Steve Selby,
Community Safety Division, Wandsworth Council:
Here is the latest crime briefing for your area. Please note that
there are details from two weeks, and we are not going through a
mini crime wave!
Click
the logo to get the 7th Jan crime report (116k)
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