Item added 8th September
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Tooting & Balham Briefing 7th September:

STREET CRIME:

First the good news. There are no street crimes of note to report today. Night duty officers will be continuing their patrols in areas of high incidence of street crime, particularly around the underground stations.



BURGLARY:

Distinctive suspect

On Thursday 5th September 2001 between 8.30am and 9.05am a woman became suspicious of a man who followed as she walked her dog. Returning home to Dornton Road, SW12 she discovered that she had been burgled.

Subsequent local enquiries revealed that the same suspect had been seen acting suspiciously by three other people, to the extent that he was seen looking through the victims' letter box.

The suspect is described as a white man aged about 30 years of slim build. He was about 5'10" tall with a completely shaven head and was wearing a washed faded denim jacket and trousers. Witnesses have stated that he looked like Richard O'Brien – the host of the television programme The Crystal Maze.



SNEAKY THEIVES:

On Thursday, 5th September 2001 at about 4.30pm a group of five people entered the ‘Food and Wine shop, Bank Building, Mitcham Lane, SW16. While the men in the group kept the shopkeeper occupied, the females entered a storeroom at the rear of the shop and stole a large quantity of cash.

The suspects are all described as being dark skinned Europeans of 'gipsy' appearance. The three women were all aged about 28 years, the first man was about 35 and the second around 39 years old.



PARTICULAR ATTENTION:

Officers on the late shift (between 3pm and 11pm) will be paying particular attention to the area between Balham High Road and Tooting Bec Common SW12 and to the area around Blackshaw Road SW17 following recent increases in the numbers of burglaries.



VEHICLE CRIME:

The following vehicles have been confirmed as lost or stolen since 10am on Thursday, 6th September 2001.

1) R 295 EGK is the registration number of a green Piaggio scooter taken from Harberson Road SW12 between 3pm on Sunday, 2nd September 2001and 9am on Monday, 3rd September 2001.

2) A blue Piaggio scooter was stolen from Tantallon Road SW12 between 8pm on Tuesday, 4th September 2001 and 8am on Wedensday, 5th September 2001. The registration number is W 266 EGH.

3) Church Lane SW17 between 6.30am and 8.30am on Monday, 3rd September was the scene of the theft of a red Suzuki GSXR motorcycle, registation number Y 185 UGF.

4) A green VW Golf, registration number N 534 WNV, was taken from Boundaries Road, SW17 between 0830 on Thursday, 30th August 2001 and 1pm on Sunday, 2nd September 2001.

5) Between 11am and 1030pm on Sunday, 2nd September 2001 a black Aprilia motorcycle, registration number V 57 GBY was stolen from Airedale Road SW12.


If you find any of these vehicles parked and unattended, please notify the Police on 8672 9922. Remember that the vehicles may have been recovered and returned to their original owner.

PLEASE NOTE: SHOULD you see any of these vehicles being ridden or driven DO NOT approach it under any circumstances, but call the Police by dialling 999.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Item added 8th September
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Warning About Bogus Caller:

A clever bogus caller working Wimbledon – will he try Tooting next?

The following message was forwarded to the Watchlink Unit by PC Mark Roberts, the Beat Officer from Durnsford Ward, Merton Division. It is a timely warning of the dangers posed by bogus callers and the increasingly sophisticated stories they use in their efforts to dupe their victims.

On Tuesday 28th August 2001 at about 1pm two elderly ladies were conned out of £700 by a man posing as a representative from 'TEXCOTE' - a firm that treats exterior walls. He was asked for identification but was able to avoid producing any by using his knowledge of his intended victims and their home and by claiming to be there to examine the work done previously by Texcote. He examined the house and said that to repair a crack would cost £1500 but that he would be prepared accept a deposit of £1200.

The victims protested that the work was still under guarantee but he stated that cracks were not covered and that they should pay him for the repairs. One of the victims then went by bus to the building society in Wandsworth and withdrew £700 in cash. The suspect met her at the bus stop in Durnsford Road, near the junction with Pitt Crescent, took the money and, surprise, surprise, has not been seen since!

This crime was not reported to Police until September 4th and enquiries have revealed that Texcote have records of several similar incidents during the past year. I wonder if Texcote are now warning their customers about the scam being carried out in their name?

The suspect is described as a white man, about 30 years of age, who is 5'8" tall and of athletic build.. He has thick, wavy, light brown hair with long sideburns and has a London accent. He was wearing a royal blue check shirt, navy blue trousers & black shoes.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Item added 3rd September
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Tooting & Balham Briefing 31st August:

STREET CRIME:
At 11.45am on Friday 24th August 2001, two black men, both about 20 years old and one of them bare-chested, snatched a handbag from a 76 year old lady in Rosenheath Road SW11. They made off in a green BMW car.

During the offence the victim fell to the ground and suffered a broken hip. She also suffers from a heart complaint and the police are relieved that they are not investigating a much more serious incident.


Over the next few days patrolling Police officers will be concentrating their efforts against street robbers in the areas around Tooting and Balham tube stations.



BURGLARY
Bogus callers are back! The final score this bulletin: Villains 1, Residents 1.

Three white men posing as gas board workers gained access to the home of an elderly man in Glenburnie Road, SW17 at 1pm on Saturday, 25th August 2001. All three suspects are described as about 5’8” tall, about 25 years old and wearing blue trousers (that could have been overalls).

Having stolen his pension book these hardened criminals left in a hurry when the victim waved his walking stick at them!


A bogus plumber met his match when he tried to gain entry to the home of a 70 year old lady living in Smallwood Road, SW17 at 5.25pm on Wednesday 29th August 2001. The suspect claimed that he was fitting a washing machine next door and needed to turn her water off. As he pushed past his intended victim she told him she knew he was lying about the neighbours and he fled, empty handed.

The suspect is described as a white man of medium build, aged about 22 years, 5’8” tall with scruffy short dark brown hair. He was wearing a blue long sleevd shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.



HOUSE BURGLED - CAR STOLEN
Sometime between 18th and 27th August 2001 a house in Credenhill Street, SW17 was burgled. When the victim returned from holiday he discovered that the thieves had taken his car keys and driven away his red Ford Ka, registration number 34 – GV – HZ (Foreign plate).



VEHICLE CRIME

The following vehicles have all been confirmed as lost or stolen since 10am on Thursday, 30th August 2001.

1) A Manet Corrado moped, registration number N 746 HLY, taken from Leacroft Avenue, SW12 between 4pm and 6.30pm on 29th August 2001.

2) TJI 4389 is a grey Renault Clio stolen from Elmbourne Road, SW17 sometime between 11.40pm on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August 2001 and noon on Wednesday 29th August 2001.

3) A red Ford Orion, registration D281 HMC, was stolen from Leverson Street SW16 between 11.30pm on Monday 27th August 2001 and 6am the following morning.

4) Between 8.30pm on Saturday 25th August 2001 and 7.30am on Tuesday 28th August 2001 a red Ford Fiesta, registration number K 840 TKE was taken from Manchuria Road SW11.

If you find any of these cars parked and unattended, please notify the Police on 8672 9922. Remember that the owners may have had their vehicles returned to them, so contact the police to deal with the situation.

SHOULD you see any of these vehicles being driven DO NOT approach it under any circumstances, but call the Police on 999.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Item added 29th August
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Tooting & Balham Briefing 28th August:

STREET CRIME
Good News! Tooting robbers arrested:
On Tuesday, 21st August 2001 at 5.15pm, two young white males, aged 16 and 18 years, were arrested near to Copeland House, Garratt Lane, SW17 for robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm (ABH) and witness intimidation.

Apparently they attacked their victim with a baseball bat and stole his mobile phone.


More Tooting robbers detained:
At 9.30pm on the same day, 21st August, patrolling police officers came upon two suspects in the process of robbing their victim. The suspects, two 16 year-old black males, ran off when the police appeared on the scene in Garratt Lane SW17. They were chased and detained but having had his mobile phone returned the victim decided that he did not wish to substantiate allegation.



Robbers sought
Two people were robbed at knife - point in Eswyn Road, SW17 on Monday, 20th August 2001 at about 2.45pm by the two suspects described below.

1. A black man, about 6'0" tall, aged about 19 years wearing a grey vest top, dark trousers and dark trainers.

2. A black youth approximately 5'6" tall, aged about 16 who was wearing a dark grey/black baseball cap and grey vest top.

They made good their escape in a black VW Golf, registration number F 491 TCF. Surprise, surprise - the car's current owner has failed to notify the DVLC that he has acquired it.

If you find this car parked and unattended, please notify the Police on 020 8672 9922. PLEASE NOTE: SHOULD you see the car being driven DO NOT approach it under any circumstances, but call the Police by dialling 999.


VEHICLE CRIME
Vehicles confirmed as lost or stolen since 11am on 24th August 2001.

One from Balham..........
A white Ford Transit van, registration number G220 XLC, taken from Chestnut
Grove, Balham, SW12, between 4-30pm and 6-45pm on Wednesday 22nd August
2001.

.....and one from Tooting
Taken from Lessingham Avenue, Tooting, SW17 at about 1.40pm on Thursday,
23rd August was a black Gilera 'Runner' scooter, registration number T 613
KGN.

If you find either of these cars parked and unattended, please notify the Police on 8672 9922. PLEASE NOTE: SHOULD you see EITHER car being driven DO NOT approach it under any circumstances, but call the Police by dialling 999.



THE POLICE ARE WATCHING
Police are paying special attention to the following areas in an effort to deal with specific problems that have been highlighted by their analysis. Concerted efforts are being made between 7am and 11pm to prevent or detect cases of violent 'car-jacking' of high value motor cars, particularly Porsche's and MG sports cars in Balham.

Between 11pm and 3pm patrols on Nightingale Ward will be looking out for burglars who are active in the area, particularly in Hendham Road and Beechcroft Road. In connection with these offences they are trying to identify a white man, 5'10" tall, aged in his late 20's to early 30's, was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap, blue lightweight bomber jacket, dark t-shirt and jeans.

They will also be looking into motor vehicle crimes in the Boundaries Road area of Balham, SW12 following an unexplained increase in the number of reports during the past month.



Remember all the good advice you have been given about preventing both burglary and vehicle crime. Do your bit to reduce the opportunities for these criminals. If you see anything suspicious in these or any other areas, don't hesitate, go to a telephone immediately and dial 999 to summon the Police.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Item added 29th August
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Warning about "fishing" for keys:

A popular method being used by offenders at present is to 'fish' through the letterboxes to steal keys left on a table or hook in the hallway. To access them burglars are using long garden canes fitted with a powerful magnet or hook attached to the end.

The keys have then been used either to enter the house to commit burglary, or steal the family car parked outside, or both.

Since 1st June 2001, twenty-nine crimes of this type have been reported in the Borough. Areas targeted so far have been:

Chatto Road
Hendrick Avenue
Rosenau Road
West Hill
Luttrell Avenue
Eglantine Road
Tonsley Avenue
Elizabeth Court, Moring Road
Wandsworth Common area
Erpingham Road

In fifteen of the cases cars have been stolen. With the exception of two, all offences have taken place at night when the family are asleep.

This type of crime is easily prevented by fitting letterbox restrictors and deflectors. Most important of all - don't leave keys on a table or other place which can be accessed it his manner.

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

If you see anyone acting suspiciously always remember time is of the essence. Call the police immediately using the 999 system, describe exactly what is taking place, write down the description of any suspects and keep it in a safe place. This can be invaluable at a later stage.

Item added 28th August
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Tooting & Balham Briefing 23rd August:

STREET CRIME
Were you in Nightingale Lane at about 10-20pm on Monday 20th August 2001? If you were, did you notice a thinly built white man, aged about 35, wearing a dark thigh-length hooded coat, with either a baseball cap or beany hat, dark sunglasses, (Roy Orbison style)? The man had a pointed nose and crooked teeth. He ran out of an off-licence then jumped into an old 5 series BMW car parked in Blanfield Road and drove off.

If you did you may have seen a robber fleeing from the scene of a failed crime. Just moments before he had entered the premises and pointed a gun-shaped object at the assistants and demanded the give him cash. The assistants called his bluff and he left the shop empty-handed.

It is believed the index number of the vehicle was something like 8366 WEB.

This is the second time in a week staff at these premises have frightened would be robbers away. On Thursday 16th August 2001, two black men entered and one jumped over the counter but was chased off before being able to steal anything. They were seen to get into a red estate car, with a registration number believed to be L184 GGM. Sergeant Hagley would appreciate any help you can give to identify these men or the whereabouts of the vehicle.



BURGLARY
On 17th August 2001 at 5-45am a 5'10" tall white man in his late-20's to mid-30's, was seen to walk up the driveway of a house in Hendham Road SW17, and try to remove one of the sash windows. Fortunately for the occupants he was disturbed and ran off towards
Beechcroft Road. The suspect was wearing a blue baseball cap, blue light weight bomber jacket, dark T-shirt and blue jeans, he also had some stubble on his chin.



GOOD NEWS
A big pat on the back for the Police this week. On Tuesday night at 1-45am they disturbed three suspects trying to break into an electrical retailers shop in Balham High Road SW12 whilst they were using a car jack to force open the security bars at the rear.

All three have been charged and have been bailed to appear at South Western Magistrates Court on Friday 24th August 2001.


VEHICLE CRIME
The following vehicles stolen from the Balham and Tooting areas were still outstanding at 1pm on Thursday 23rd August 2001.

Date Stolen: Between Saturday 18th and Monday 20th August 2001
Time: Between 2pm and 8am
Location: Cavendish Road SW12
Vehicle Make & Type: Silver Peugeot 'Speedflight' motor cycle
Index no.: R 516 TLX

Date Stolen: Monday 20th August 2001
Time: 11-48pm
Location: Mitcham Road SW17
Vehicle Make & Type: Red Honda moped
Index no.: V 681 CVV

Date Stolen: Between Friday 17th and Saturday 18th August 2001
Time: Between 10am and 8-30am
Location: Rectory Lane SW17
Vehicle Make & Type: Red Piaggio Typhoon Scooter
Index no.: Y 653 TGH

Date stolen: Between Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th August 2001
Time: Between 11-59pm and 5-50am
Location: Moyser Road. SW16.
Vehicle Make & Type: Red Honda Beat Motor Cycle
Index no.: H 69 BGJ

Please remember:
The owners may have had their vehicles returned to them. Always contact the police to deal with the situation. If the vehicle is parked and unattended ring the Wandsworth Police Control Room, telephone 020 8672 9922.

If you see someone with the vehicle, DO NOT INTERVENE - call 999 IMMEDIATELY



INDECENT EXPOSURE
On 19th August 2001, at 5-30am, two 28 year old female victims were walking along Longley Road SW17 the road when they saw a man sitting on the bonnet of a vehicle exposing himself to them.

The suspect is described as a male of Mediterranean appearance who spoke with a soft London accent. He was slightly built, 5'8" tall, aged about 30 years, and wore a white sports jacket and dark trousers.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Item added 16th August
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Tooting & Balham Briefing 16th August:

STREET CRIME
Street robbery continues to cause concern in the Tooting and Balham areas, particularly those on lone white females walking home late at night from local railway stations. Another unwelcome crime involves the attempted 'carjacking' of two sports cars.

Let's start this week the bulletin this week with the attacks on lone women.



On Sunday 12th August 2001, at 11-30pm, a lady was followed by her attacker from Balham Station. As she entered Yukon Road she was hit on the head from behind and again, several times until she was forced to release her bag. As a result of the attack the unfortunate victim suffered head injuries.

The police would like your help to discover who the identity of the Afro-Caribbean man aged about 30, 6 feet tall, wearing a dark blue long sleeved top, who was responsible for this particularly vicious crime.


The second of these occurred at about 12-40am on Monday 13th August 2001, in Garratt Terrace, London SW17. On this occasion the lady had left Tooting Broadway Underground Station and had entered the side road from Garratt Lane when she was pushed into a wall from behind and her bag stolen. Two black men both aged about 20, are being sought in connection with the attack. One was 6 feet in height, wearing dark clothing and a leather jacket and the other was 5'7" tall.

Were you anywhere in the vicinity of Bedford Hill at 2-10pm on Tuesday 14th August 2001? At about that time another lady was attacked by a black male aged about 28. The man struck her on the back knocking her over. After snatching her mobile phone and sunglasses he ran away, disappearing into the Rydevale Estate.

At the time of the crime the assailant was dressed in baggy beige trousers, light trainers, and either no top or a brown string vest.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Two particularly upsetting crimes occurred in the SW12 area on Thursday 9th August 2001. Both involved women who had just parked their cars. The first is particularly upsetting because a threat was made by the attackers to harm a baby if the keys to the were not handed over.

The incident occurred in Ramsden Road SW12 at 11-45am. Two black males, both just over 6' tall, and aged about 25 years approached the woman who was threatened with a knife. She handed over her keys but the thieves were unable to start the Porsche. Fortunately the day was saved by neighbours who observed the commotion, scared the thugs off and called the Police.


Some hours later, at 9-20pm another female was dragged from her MGF Sports Car in Balham Grove as she parked to unload shopping. She was dragged from the vehicle, thrown to the ground, and kicked repeatedly in the face causing the poor woman to suffer facial injuries. The two assailants, both black, aged about 19 years, only desisted when a passer-by intervened. They grabbed the radio facia and made good their escape. Both were wearing wore dark loose clothing and one wore a burgundy coloured baseball cap.

In view of the nature of these crimes the police are particularly anxious to apprehend these criminals.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

At 12.20am on Thursday 9th August 2001 near the junction of Aboyne Road and Garratt Lane SW17 a man suffered facial injuries the rucksack he was carrying was stolen after he was attacked by a black male, who kicked and punched his victim and his stole his rucksack. The attacker is believed to have been about 20 years old was wearing dark clothing, as well as a black baseball cap.

Police have been tasked to patrol in these areas to try to prevent a repetition of these types of crime.



If you are at all concerned about personal security, and often walk home alone late at night, it is advisable to invest in a personal alarm. These only cost £5 and can be purchased at the Crime Prevention Centre, located at 17 Arndale Walk, Wandsworth Shopping Centre, London SW15, (telephone 020 8871 0803). Staff will also be happy to advise on any other aspect of crime prevention between 9am and 5pm Monday to Saturday.

Alternatively alarms can be obtained from the Putney Crime Shop, next to the Odeon Cinema in Putney High Street. It is open to callers between 10am and 5.30pm and can be contacted on 020 8785 8874.



BURGLARY

On Monday 13th August 2001 at 11-05pm, an attentive neighbour in Brookview Road SW16 observed two suspicious looking men in a nearby garden after hearing the sound of smashing glass. They are described as being about 20 years old, wearing dark coloured jeans and light trainers, with a khaki top and he was seen to be carrying a back-pack. (To carry the loot away?). His partner in crime was wearing white clothing and a baseball cap.

Homes were broken into in these roads during the past week:

BALHAM
Shipka Road, Ritherden Road, Ramsden Road, Kenilford Road, Rossiter Road, and Oakmead Road.

TOOTING
Beechcroft Road, Elmfield Road, Ribblesdale Road, Lethworth Street, Crockerton Road, and Wiseton Road SW17



MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME

Below are the registration numbers of outstanding stolen vehicles in the Balham and Tooting areas, showing the time and date they were stolen.

Date Friday 10th August 2001
Time Between 11am and 5-30pm
Location Lessingham Ave. SW17
Make & Type Black Renault 11
Registration No B672WYF

Date Not known
Time Not known
Location Lessingham Ave. SW17
Make & Type Blue Alpha Romeo
Registration No CBY753Y

Date Friday 10th August 2001
Time Not known
Location Nightingale Sq. SW12
Make & Type Blue Saab 900
Registration No R827FUD

Date Sunday 12th August 2001
Time Between 12 noon and 11pm
Location Endelsham Rd SW12
Make & Type Black BMW 650cc Motor Cycle
Registration No N641RNV

Date 9-10/8
Time 2200-1800
Location Thrale Rd SW16
Make & Type White Transit Van
Registration No M561SNM

Date 8/8
Time 1900-2000
Location Louisville Rd SW17
Make & Type Red Gilera Scooter
Registration No X239EGP

Date 2-3/8
Time 2000-0130
Location Nightinghale Lane
Make & Type Green Peugeot 806
Registration No R595LEL

Date 2/8
Time 0700-0800
Location Edencourt Road SW16
Make & Type White Ford Transit
Registration No L216OAK

Date 2/8
Time 1530-1850
Location Rectory Lane SW17
Make & Type Silver Mondeo
Registration No R880SWB


Please remember: The owners may have had their vehicles returned to them.

Always contact the police to deal with the situation. If the vehicle is parked and unattended ring the Wandsworth Police Control Room, telephone 020 8672 9922

If you see someone with the vehicle, DO NOT INTERVENE - call 999 IMMEDIATELY