Item added 15th February 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 14th Feb 2003:

The files attached have the full report - can't see any incidents in our immediate area this time.

Click the logo to get the full crime report (pdf format - 64k)

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under 'crime bulletins' on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Item added 8th February 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 7th Feb 2003:

The files attached have the full report - one incident is listed in our immediate area this week - a residential burglary between 1730hrs and 1930hrs on 30th Jan in Southcroft Road. The intruder slipped the front door catch and stole a handbag from the kitchen.

Click the logo to get the full crime report (pdf format - 62k)

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under 'crime bulletins' on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Item added 1st February 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 31st Jan 2003:

The files attached have the full report - two incidents are listed in our immediate area this week: The first is the violent robbery of a mobile phone from a person travelling on a bus in Southcroft Road, the second is a street robbery in Welham Road and the third a violent bag snatch in a private parking area off Rectory Lane.

Click here to get the full crime report (pdf format - 83k)

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under 'crime bulletins' on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Item added 25th January 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Urgent Appeal for Information/Witnesses - 23rd Jan 2003:

12 Year Old Boy Violently Robbed in Wandsworth:

Detectives from Wandsworth Robbery Squad are appealing for information and witnesses to a violent robbery on a 12-year-old boy on Wandsworth High Street on Wednesday January 15th 2003. The victim was in McDonald's restaurant on Wandsworth High Street, at about five in the evening with his 14 year old brother.

The brothers were approached by two girls, aged approximately 15 years, who threatened them and forcibly searched them. The suspects took two Playstation games and a Travelcard from the 12 year old boy and then forced him to accompany them outside the restaurant.

The victim was forced across Buckhold Road, where he was nearly struck by a vehicle, and down an alleyway near McDonalds. The suspects then repeatedly punched the victim in the face. The victim suffered serious facial injuries including a suspected fractured jaw and cheekbone.

One of the suspects then attempted to set alight to his hair causing singeing. The hot lighter was then used to burn the victim's face. The two suspects then tied the victim to a post, using his own clothes, and struck him several times with a stick.

The two female suspects then fled from the scene (it is not known in which direction). During the incident the victim's 14 year old brother ran off to get assistance.

The first female suspects is described as a white female, aged approximately 15 years of medium build and wearing a white jacket. The second suspect is described as a white female, aged approximately 15 years, of heavy build.

DC Derek Steele, of Wandsworth Robbery Squad, said: "This was a vicious, prolonged and completely unprovoked attack. It is vital that anyone who witnessed this incident or who has information about those responsible contacts police immediately."

"During the incident a member of the public approached the victim and asked if he was ok. One of the female suspects told the member of the public the victim was her brother and that everything was fine. We would like this person to contact us as soon as possible because they may have vital important information to assist the inquiry. We are also keen to speak with the motorist who may have had to break sharply to avoid the victim as he was forced across Buckhold Road."

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Wandsworth Robbery Squad on 020 8247 8888. Alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Item added 25th January 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 23rd Jan 2003:

The files attached have the full report - just one incident listed in our immediate area this week, but that is the same theft in Salterford Road as shown in the report for 16th Jan:

Click here to get the full crime report (pdf format - 43k)

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under 'crime bulletins' on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Item added 18th January 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 16th Jan 2003:

The files attached have the full report - rather better for this area this week than last! Just one incident in the immediate area:

Theft Snatch: SALTERFORD ROAD TOOTING SW17, Weds 15th Jan 2003, 2345hrs. Suspect distracted the victim, ripped a bag from their arm and made off with the property.

Click here to get the full crime report (Adobe 'pdf' format - 60k)

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under 'crime bulletins' on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Item added 12th January 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 10th Jan 2003:

The files attached have the full report - but there are a worrying number of incidents in or very close to our road:

Street Robbery:CROWBOROUGH ROAD TOOTING SW16, Friday 20th Dec 2002, 2045hrs. Suspect approached victim in street searched pockets through threat of violence and stole mobile telephone.

Street Robbery: FRESHWATER ROAD TOOTING SW17, Sunday 22nd Dec 2002, 1659hrs. Two males approached the victim, grabbed hold of his mobile phone, and by force pulled it from him.

Street Robbery: SOUTHCROFT ROAD TOOTING SW17, Saturday 4th Jan 2003, 2100hrs. Suspects threatened the victim with a pole and stole items of property.

Street Robbery: RECTORY LANE TOOTING SW17, Sunday 5th Jan 2003, 1920hrs. Suspect(s) approached their victim from behind, pushed her to the ground and grabbed her bag. They then made off on a motor bike.

Street Robbery: WELHAM ROAD TOOTING SW16, Wednesday 1st Jan 2003, 1110hrs. Suspect held the victim by the wrist and pushed a sharp instrument against her stomach to make her hand over her bag.

Street Robbery: WELHAM ROAD TOOTING SW17, Wednesday 8th Jan 2003, 2240hrs. Suspect used force to make the victim hand over property.

Residential Burglary: SOUTHCROFT ROAD TOOTING SW16, between Tuesday 24th Dec 2002, 2200hrs and Wednesday 25th Dec 2002, 0830hrs. Suspect(s) entered the premises through an unlocked rear door and stole property.

Click here to get the full crime report (Adobe 'pdf' format - 93k)

If you have information on the above incidents - CLICK HERE

For local places to get Crime Prevention Advice - CLICK HERE

Information on crime in other parts of Wandsworth can be found under 'crime bulletins' on www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Item added 6th January 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Wandsworth Borough Needs More Police Officers:

Wandsworth still needs more police on the streets according to borough commander Martin Jauch.

Commander Jauch was speaking at the annual policing debate at Wandsworth Town Hall held before Christmas which was chaired by Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) commissioner Toby Harris.

He said that policing numbers were based on a needs formula which meant that a neighbouring borough like Lambeth continued to receive more officers. But the methodology took no account of the demands placed on local resources.

The local police's success in reducing street crime had only been achieved at the expense of a rise in burglaries. The good news on street crime, he said, was that there were fewer younger victims.

Overall the total number of crimes in the borough has gone up by 5 percent in the last year. This is about average for London.

Commander Jauch praised the work of the council-managed Youth Inclusion Project in Roehampton which helps to keep young people out of criminal activity. He said the scheme was one of the best of its kind in the country. He added that he knew of no better local police partnership in London than that in Wandsworth.

Clapham Junction residents who spoke said the council's street patrol initiative had made a huge impact. Commander Jauch confirmed that the extra resource had led to a drop in the demand on police officers' time in the town centre.

The council's cabinet member for environment and public services Guy Senior urged the Commissioner to look again at the inequalities of the London-wide formula which set policing numbers for each borough:

"The more the council does to reduce crime the less chance it seems we have of getting back the police we have lost.

"We will soon have 500 cameras installed throughout the borough at the council's expense. We have a record number of neighbourhood watches - around 900 - and we are about to launch with Government support our second street patrol scheme in Tooting.

"Yet what people really want to see is more bobbies on the beat. This can't happen while the police numbers formula still ties Wandsworth down to a lower level than we had 10 years ago."

Cllr Senior challenged Toby Harris to explain his decision last year to make up for a shortfall of police numbers in Lambeth by taking 72 officers from other areas. This took numbers away from boroughs like Wandsworth, Kingston and Sutton which were already losing out because of the way the formula operates.

Council analysts believe the current formula does not take enough account of the incidence of many of the most threatening crimes including muggings, assault and burglary.

A Wandsworth study earlier this year revealed that the model used by the MPA to predict crime levels seriously understates the actual rate in boroughs situated just outside core inner city areas of the capital.

A full report of the debate will be considered by councillors at the environment and public services overview and scrutiny committee on January 7.

Item added 6th January 2003
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Volunteers Needed:

Burglary
loss, invasion of privacy,

Street Crime
shock, disbelief

Violence
fear, anger, physical pain

Rape
terror, hatred, inability to cope

Race crime
why me? Angry, insulted

Harassment
intimidated, drained.

Crime hurts in many ways - help us to heal the hurt.

Victim Support needs volunteers to counsel victims of crime.

If you can help please contact Helen Burdock on 020 7223 1234 or e-mail John Stocker watchlinkmanager@wandsworth.gov.uk and he will forward your message.

Item added 3rd December 2002
FROM EMAIL FROM FURZEDOWN WARD OFFICER (PC Bob Davies):
Tyre Slashing Outbreak In This Area:

Police have received reports of car tyres being deliberately slashed or punctured in Rectory Lane and Crowborough Road recently. On Saturday 23rd November there were six such incidents in the area.

The only description of possible suspects is of "youths" seen loitering in the area and bending down near parked cars. Clearly a better description is needed.

If anyone has recently discovered they have a flat tyre with no evidence of having punctured it accidentally, then please report this to local Police. The more incidents are reported, the more Police will focus on this area and this particular crime. Also, if anyone has a better description of suspects, please report this to Police.

Item added 27th October, Updated 3rd December 2002
FROM WATCH CO-ORDINATOR:
News Flashes:

The reports which appear on this page rely on information provided by the Police being Emailed by the Watchlink Unit at Wandsworth Council. I'm happy to say that this information is now arriving again on a regular basis, and soon will be posted here as before (once a minor logistical problem here is resolved!).

Until the reports can be placed here, they are still appearing on the Watchlink's Unit's website - this can be found under ‘crime bulletins’ on www.wandsworth.gov.uk - select 'Balham and Tooting' to view local bulletins.