Item added 13th April 2002
FROM LETTER FROM TOOTING CRIME PREVENTION PANEL:
Crime Prevention Exhibition in Tooting:

On Saturday 27th April, Tooting Crime Prevention Panel will be holding a Crime Prevention Exhibition in Tooting Market.

Anyone can go along and receive guidance on burglary prevention and see exhibits demonstrating a variety of locks and bolts for doors and windows. There will be literature advising on crime prevention measures and professional and technical expertise (free of commercial bias) necessary to answer questions. They can also provide information on the Panel's free lock fitting scheme.

It's free and well worth popping in to see if your security arrangements are up to scratch.

Item added 13th April 2002
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Drug Awareness Sessions - book now! :

Ever wanted to learn why people take illegal drugs, how to recognise them, how to spot drug dealing and how to report drug incidents? Well now's your chance.

The Wandswoth Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association is running seminars on 'drug awareness' where you can learn a great deal about the world of illegal drug use and what can be done.

Information will be given in simple and understandable terms and there will be an open forum at each seminar to ask questions and raise any issues about you local area.

The seminars are free and run from 10am to 3pm. registration is from 9.30am and tea, coffee and a light lunch will be provided. Places must be pre-booked by 16th April! But there are three identical seminars, and you can attend whichever you choose:

Saturday27th April 2002 - Gateway Community Centre, 51 Oldridge Road, Balham SW12.

Saturday 11th May 2002 - Town Hall Council Chamber - Wandsworth High Street, Putney SW15

Saturday 25th May 2002 - All Saints Church, 100 Prince of Wales Drive, SW11.

To book please contact Caroline Twiss on 020 8789 0704.

Item added 12th April 2002
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Warm weather warning!:

Let the fresh air in but keep the burglar out. Spring is in the air but with the seasonal change in weather comes a problem. Police are already visiting homes that have been burgled because a window or door was left open and a burglar seized the opportunity.

Police during the month of March launched 'Operation Diminish' to reduce burglary in the borough. Through the use of various tactics to disrupt the burglar they achieved an 8% reduction on the March 2001 figures. We intend to keep reducing this crime but need residents help during the warm months ahead.

Statistics show us that during the spring and summer we experience an increase in walk-in burglaries: burglaries that can be prevented. No windows are broken or doors forced. Silent entry assists the burglar to commit crime undetected by occupiers or neighbours.

Play your part in reducing burglary by thinking much more about crime prevention. The harder you make it for the burglar the better.

* Whenever you leave your house unattended, even if it is only for a couple of minutes, ensure all windows and doors are shut and locked and the keys are kept out of view.
* At night time shut and lock all downstairs windows and doors.
* Ensure that a climbing burglar cannot access all windows left open for ventilation. Any window located near a drainpipe or flat roof should not be left open.
* All sash windows should be fitted with a pair of key operated sash stops to permit a maximum opening of 100mm.
* Once fitted in these positions do not remove them.
* Check that beadings are securely fastened, not simply pinned.
* Consider reinforcing your glass with security film or replace with laminated glass.
* Do not rely on the central sash catch alone this will not be strong enough to prevent the window being forced.
* When windows are left open do not leave anything of value within sight and reach, especially wallets, keys or mobile phones.
* If leaving a front door open whilst loading a car, or giving it a wash, make sure you always keep the door within view.
* Wherever it is possible for a burglar to gain access to the rear of your house, French or patio doors should always be shut and locked when no one is in the room.
* To be secure and satisfy the requirements of most insurance companies, front doors must be fitted with an automatic dead-latch at shoulder height, and a mortice deadlock to British Standard 3621 at knee level.

Please be sure to check household contents insurance policies to make sure your premises fulfil the insurers specifications. Otherwise you may find that if the premises are burgled you cannot claim against the policy.

Help the Police to make this summer a safe and happy one for everyone - burglars excepted.

FREE CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE
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.

Item added 12th April 2002
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Advice for all with a mobile phone:

STOP!! DON'T MAKE YOUR MOBILE PHONE A GIFT FOR STREET ROBBERS

* Mobile phones are the main target for street robbers in the Borough
* The majority of victims are teenagers.
* The robberies can often start as bullying and progress from there.

THE POLICE ARE WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST STREET ROBBERS, BUT CAN DO MORE WITH YOUR HELP. TAKE NOTE of this advice to lessen the chances of your becoming a victim. TAKE ACTION to stop your friends or family becoming victims. If you know who is responsible for these crimes then let the Police know - your information can remain anonymous. GIVE STREET ROBBERS THE GIFT THEY DESERVE - A VISIT FROM THE ROBBERY SQUAD.

Make sure you don't make yourself an easy target.

* Only use your phone in areas where there are other people. Avoid taking secluded short cuts.
* Be prepared - don't think it can't happen to me. Have your own personal safety plan.
* It doesn't pay to advertise - Keep your valuables out of sight.
* Leave an area if you feel unsafe - Trust your instincts.
* Extra vigilance can produce results - You are less likely to become a victim if you are aware of your surroundings.
* Phones have a unique identification (IMEI) number. Key in *#06# to find yours, record this number and keep it in a safe place.
* Have a PIN number that is unique to you and change it when you first get your phone.
* Only unlock the phone when you need to use it.
* Never a buy a phone unless you know the seller is the owner - Can they produce the original packaging or a receipt?
* Every time you finish using the phone, lock the keys - This helps reduce accidental calls to the 999 system.

REPORTING CRIME
Police can only solve a crime if you report it. It is important all crime is reported, no matter how big or small. Crime can be reported personally at Wandsworth, Lavender Hill, or Battersea Police Stations 24 hours a day, or at Tooting Police Station between 8am and
12 night. Crime can also be reported by telephone to 020 8247 8441.

IF A CRIME IS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE DIAL 999.

If you have any information please phone the Crime Intelligence Unit on 020 8247 8863. To give information anonymously ring CRIMESTOPPERS free of charge on 0800 555111.

Putney Police and Wandsworth Crime Prevention Centre are currently carrying out an initiative to encourage all mobile phone owners to mark their property. Callers are welcome to bring their phones to the addresses below where the phones will be marked for them FREE OF CHARGE. Give the Police a chance to return your mobile phone if it is stolen - get it marked today at the following locations:

* 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.

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

Item added 12th April 2002
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT:
Police target street crime in Wandsworth:

8 weeks of Operation Safer Streets shows marked impact on crime. Results of the Metropolitan Police's operation have been compiled and released at the end of the initial 8-week phase.

On the Safer Streets boroughs the reported street crime increase has been reduced from 33% to 5% while across the Met as a whole the increase instreet crime before Safer Streets was 40% and during the 8 weeks was brought down to 11.5%.

The operation will continue throughout 2002. In addition to the nine original Safer Streets boroughs, six further boroughs have received extra financial support to the policing of street crime hotspots. Those boroughs are Newham, Croydon, Lewisham, Wandsworth,
Ealing and Waltham Forest.

Commander Bob Quick, Gold Commander for Operation Safer Streets said: "We have reduced street crime levels back to what they were in May 2001. That is a significant achievement and we are determined to continue the gains that we have made. This will not be easy."