Item added 12th April
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Balham & Tooting Crime Update - April 6th:

Street Crime: Sixteen offences have been reported so far this week compared to 19 last week. Detectives are keen to hear from people who may have witnessed the following incidents. On Monday, April 2 at 9.30pm a man was attacked and robbed of a briefcase by two suspects who made their escape in the victim's X-reg silver Volkswagen Golf. The incident occurred in Wontner Road Balham, as the victim was locking his car. He was approached from behind by the two men, punched and kicked and then forced to hand over his car keys and briefcase. Both suspects are described as black males, aged about 20 and both wore dark clothing.

Officers are also linking two robberies which occurred within ten minutes of each other in Elmfield Road, Balham, near the junction with Cloudsdale Road, on Thursday, April 5. The first occurred at 11.45pm when a woman was approached from behind by a man who tried to snatch her handbag but failed. Around ten minutes later another woman was pushed to the ground by a man who snatched her bag and ran off. The suspect in the first incident is described as black, five feet nine inches tall, wearing a dark blue hooded jogging top and dark trousers. In the second robbery the suspect is described is black, aged about 20, five feet ten inches tall wearing a light coloured jacket.

Burglaries: Sixteen offences have been reported so far this week, compared to 20 last week.

Vehicle Crime: Twelve offences reported so far this week - the same number as last week. The public are being urged to keep an eye out for five stolen vehicles which have not yet been found. These are A green Ford Fiesta Finesse - registration K843 SHG - stolen sometime between 7.30pm on Sunday, April 1 and 8.30am on Monday April 2, from Parkhill Court, Beeches Road, Tooting. A silver Vauxhall Nova - registration H769 XGJ - stolen sometime between 4.50pm on Tuesday, April 3 and 7.30am on Wednesday, April 4, from Pendle Road, Tooting. A green Honda Civic Vti - registration X32 LGF - stolen sometime between 9am and 5.30pm on Wednesday, April 4, from Elite Motors in Garratt Lane, Tooting. A green Vauxhall Frontera - registration P73 CAD - stolen sometime between 8pm on Saturday, March 31, and 9am on Monday, April 1 from Ritherdon Road, Balham. A blue Volkswagon Golf - registration H115 DCD - stolen sometime between 1am and 9am on Thursday, April 5, from Southview Close Tooting.

Stranger Danger: Parents are also being reminded to warn their children about the dangers of being approached by strangers, following an incident in Welham Road, Tooting, on Tuesday, April 3. A 14-year-old schoolgirl was walking to school when she was accosted by a man driving a car. He drew up alongside her and shouted at her to get in the car. She ignored him and continued walking. The man then drove off. He is described as white, aged between 45 and 50-years-old, of slim build, with a bald or shaven head wearing round framed glasses. He was wearing a dark coloured tie and light blue shirt and drove a J-reg silver/grey hatchback, with dark coloured seats which may have been a Ford.

Item added 28th March
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
'Bogus Callers':
People are being urgently reminded to confirm the identity of anyone calling at their home who asks to be let in. This is particularly important for elderly residents who are habitually targeted by bogus water board, electricity company, gas board and council officials. Everyone working for the council or the public utilities carries identification and will be happy to prove their identity. Never let any person into your home unless you have contacted the company concerned and confirmed the person on your doorstep is a legitimate employee. Do not feel embarrassed to ask them to pass their ID card through the letterbox so you can check it. Ensure you keep the council and the water board's telephone numbers near your phone as well as numbers for your gas and electricity suppliers. Do not ask the caller at the door for the phone number - if they are bogus they could give you a false one to call. Never leave the front door open while you check the caller's identity - inform them you are contacting their company and ask them to wait outside whilst you check. Legitimate callers will expect you to undertake these checks and will not be offended. If you are not satisfied with the authenticity of a caller DO NOT LET THEM IN! Canvassers and census collators have been instructed not to request entry into a person's home - If one does, you should keep the door firmly closed and immediately contact the police. Remember always keep your front door security chain on! Doorstep conmen and women are extremely plausible and will use any story to get past your front door - so be vigilant and be on your guard. Remember If in doubt, keep them out.

Item added 8th April
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Protect Your Car:
One of the most expensive purchases made by the average family (other than the house) is the car, yet amazingly people don't always ensure the vehicle is adequately protected against theft. Some people give an open invitation to the thief by leaving the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked or even leaving the engine running whilst absent from the vehicle 'for a short while'. Car crime is considered a serious problem by the Police and one which we they are always trying to combat. You can make their task easier if you follow some advice :-

WHEN YOU LEAVE IT, LOCK IT
A thief is at his most vulnerable when he is trying to break into a car.
FIT A SECURITY DEVICE
One that cuts out the ignition or the fuel or better still, fit an alarm.
REMOVE OR CONCEAL VALUABLES
If you carry valuables in the car, lock them in the boot. Try and conceal that expensive stereo system.
HAVE THE WINDOWS ETCHED
The registration number etched into the windows will make it both expensive and difficult for the thief to change the identity of your car.
REMOVE DRIVING DOCUMENTS
Don't leave your registration document, driving licence or insurance documents in the vehicle. They can provide the thief with visible 'proof' of ownership.

If you were to become the victim of a car thief, how well do you know your own car?. Do you know the Vehicle Identification Number?. Can you supply details of the radio/cassette serial number or of any of the accessories you may have fitted?. Can you remember any dents or scratches, obvious signs of repair or perhaps the fitting of a new bumper or wing?. These are the clues that will help you identify your vehicle if an attempt has been made to change its appearance. Try to deliberately mark your car in some way, a card tucked into the door panel or roof lining or a deep scratch or paint mark inside the vehicle out of sight which only you know about.

Item added 28th March
TAKEN FROM E-MAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Operation Cube Launch:
On Tuesday 2nd April 2001 the Metropolitan Police in Wandsworth will be starting an intensive policing operation to crack down on crime in four 'hotspot' areas in the Borough. Codenamed 'Operation Cube', the initiative will be centred on countering robbery, burglary and vehicle crime.

The objective is to reduce the high levels of crime, and to increase the number of prosecutions resulting from arrests in the targeted areas.

Analysis of reported crime has identified the Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Tooting Broadway and St George's Hospital areas as requiring special attention. During the operation policing resources will be concentrated in the vicinity of these locations, with local officers being assisted by additional manpower drafted in from other areas.

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Item added 28th March
FROM HILLSIDE'S WATCH CO-ORDINATOR:
National Census during April and May:
At the Neighbourhood Watch Seminar in November, co-ordinators were asked to make watch members aware that the National Census 2001 would be taking place during April and May. Census volunteers will be calling at every household to deliver a form and explain how to complete it - they need to make personal contact with you. The volunteers will be carrying an ID card and a bright yellow bag. If you're out when they come, they will leave a card explaining that they missed you, and will try again. If they repeatedly miss you, they will eventually push the form through your letterbox. This year the forms may be posted back, but if you don't return yours, the volunteer will call back to collect it or offer further advice on filling it in as necessary. Please co-operate with the volunteers on this important project, while remaining on your guard for bogus callers. NOTE THAT THE CENSUS VOLUNTEERS DO NOT NEED TO COME INTO YOUR HOUSE. If in doubt about whether any caller is genuine, don't let them in and call the police immediately giving a description of the person. I hope to be able to add a picture of what the ID cards will look like to this message.

Item added 28th March
FROM HILLSIDE'S WATCH CO-ORDINATOR:
Our Watch Commended in this year's Wandsworth Watch Awards:
In a ceremony held in the Civic Suite at Wandsworth Town Hall on Monday 26th March, our watch was one of three which were commended for their activities in the last year. SEE THE HOMEPAGE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Item added 9th March
TAKEN FROM MET. POLICE APPEALS PAGE:
Attack & Robbery in Tooting Bec Road:
Police are concerned to track down a man who attacked and robbed a woman in Tooting Bec Road, London SW17, on the evening of 22 November 2000. Aspects of the incident have led officers to believe that the man could be particularly dangerous. An E-fit (shown left) has been released in an effort to obtain more information. The woman victim of the robbery was walking alone in Tooting Bec Road at about 9.15pm when the attacker dragged her onto a grassed area of footpath. He demanded money and hit her on the head with a bottle. After getting some cash from her he fled towards Franciscan Road.
The suspect is white, male, aged about 25 years. He is stocky and about 5ft 6ins tall. He had short brown hair and he was wearing a blue denim jacket, blue jeans and a blue jumper.
Anyone who may be able to provide more information is asked to call Det Constable Evans on 020 8247 8717. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

For a larger version of this E-fit, and to see other appeals, visit the Metropolitan Police Appeals Page http://www.met.police.uk/appeals/appeals.htm.

Item added 1st March
TAKEN FROM EMAIL FROM P.C. Bob Davies (Tooting Police):
Update on prosecution of graffiti artist:
The local graffiti artist I arrested on 26th October 2000, has finally been dealt with. He admitted to 21 offences when he was interviewed. He was charged with 6 of these offences, and Police asked for the other 15 to be "taken into consideration". His first appearance at Balham Juvenile Court was on 1st November 2000. He appeared on a further 7 occassions until finally on 20th Feb 2001 he pleaded guilty to 3 of the charges. The other offences were discontinued, probably because the sentence would not have been any greater had we gone for a trial, and he was convicted of all the offences. His final punishment was:- Action Plan Order for 3 months, under the supervision of the Youth Offending Team, AND a reparation Element of 12Hours. This kind of sentence is very new, and in the experimental stages I think.
I have spoken to a member of the Youth Offending Team and we are currently looking at ways of this 15year old boy doing this reparation work. They currently have a programme going where offenders are painting long corridors at St Georges Hospital, and also collecting rubbish in Battersea Park. This boy may do something like confront the victim and apologise, or write to the victims and apologise. He may also paint some of the graffiti off the walls on Furzedown Ward where the offences took place. We are still looking into this.
Bob.