Item added 28th December 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 23rd December 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports).

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

For anyone who is worried about the recent rumours of telephone scams, where your phone is connected to a premium number, here is the advice from ICSTIS, the premium rate regulator. (Note that the ICSTIS website was down at the time of posting this link - Hillside CoOrd)

£20 PER MINUTE AND £50 PER MINUTE TELEPHONE 'SCAMS' - URBAN MYTHS

Over the last few days, ICSTIS has received dozens of enquiries about the above 'scams', which are being widely publicised by e-mail. To help us put an end to the current spate of enquiries, please pass this information on to all contacts.

In the first case, the apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a recorded message informing them that they have won an all-expenses paid holiday and are asked to press 9 to hear further details. It is then claimed that callers are connected to a £20.00 per minute premium rate line that will still charge them for a minimum of five minutes even if they disconnect immediately. It is also claimed that, if callers stay connected, the entire message costs £260.00.

In the second case, the apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a missed call from a number beginning 0709. It is then claimed that, if callers dial this number, they are connected to a £50.00 per minute premium rate line.

Please note that these stories are NOT true.

£20.00 per minute and £50.00 per minute premium rate tariffs do not exist - the highest premium rate tariff available is £1.50 per minute. Despite the dozens of enquiries received by ICSTIS about these 'scams' (and most people appear to have heard about them second or third-hand), not one person who claims that it has actually happened to them has been able to produce a phone bill to support their story.

ICSTIS urges any individual or organisation that receives an e-mail about these 'scams' to delete it immediately. Please do NOT forward it to others.

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (153k)

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 December 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 15th December 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports).

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (77k)

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 December 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 8th December 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports).

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

This week's crime report was prepared a day earlier than usual. Next week's report will also be prepared a day earlier than usual.

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (77k)

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 4th December 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 2nd December 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports). This week there was a burglary in Welham Road during the daytime.

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

Two warnings this week:

The first concerns a gentleman who was having some work done by a contractor. He paid by cheque, but was rung a few days later to say that he was entitled to a discount, and was asked to send a cheque for £100 less than the original sum. He had the good sense to ask for his old cheque back (which obviously did not arrive) and checked the phone number by dialling 1471 (it had been withheld). After another day or so he was rung again, and told that the caller would escort him to his building society to withdraw the money. Luckily, he was not fooled, and did not lose any money. He was more fortunate than another person in the borough earlier in the year, who lost about £1000 in this way.

The second case is more distressing. A very elderly lady had a tree growing close to her house. A man called at her door and spun her a tale about needing change for the tree surgeon who was due to cut the tree back. She let him in the house and gave him change, but as he was about to leave he made an excuse, returned into the house and stole a relatively large amount of cash from her. She described him as 25-30 years old, with short dark hair, stocky build, wearing a short dark jacket and dark trousers.

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (79k)

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 28th November 2004
FROM HILLSIDE WATCH CO-ORDINATOR:
This Year's Christmas Drinks:

I'm delighted to invite Hillside Watch members (41-76 Crowborough Road) to this year's Christmas drinks. As usual we'll provide the beers, wines, soft drinks and snacks - all you have to do is let us know you're coming and then drop in for an hour or so on the night. An invitation with full details and RSVP slip will be delivered though your door this week, so watch out for our distinctive bright yellow paper on your doormat.

Knowing your neighbours makes the street a friendlier place to live and causes a real problem for burglars and con men, so by popping in for a drink you're doing a bit of crime prevention!

This being the internet, it would be unwise to publish the details here, but if you're not in our Watch area, but are nearby and would like to come and socialise, just drop me and Email at hillside@andysteele.com with your home address, and I'll post you an invitation.

Hope to see you there!

Item added 27th November 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 25th November 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports). This week there was a nasty mugging on Welham Road.

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

We have been informed of several telephone scams operating, some new, some not. Not all these alleged scams are true, but some are, and it is best to be on the safe side.

Several involve asking you to dial a number, while you are talking to a caller. This may give them access to your phone line and allow them to connect you to a premium rate number. Another trick is done on your mobile, when you are notified of a missed call. When you call back it is a premium rate number.

Another, where you don't know anything about it until your very heavy phone bill comes in, is the rogue dialler. This is a bit of software installed on your computer without your knowledge when you visit a web site. It then dials a premium rate number everytime you connect to the internet, rather than going through your normal ISP's number.

One way to avoid this happening to you is to ask your telephone company, BT, Telewest, Adept, etc., to bar premium rate calls from your number. Some companies make a monthly charge for this service, while most do not. If you find that you have been the victim of this sort of fraud, contact ICSTIS at www.icstis.org.uk, who can arrange for these numbers to be suspended.

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (77k)

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 20th November 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 18th November 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports).

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

We are still getting far too many distraction burglaries in the borough. In the last month there have been at least ten, and the victim is almost always elderly- aged 70 to 96.

The prime suspects are two white men; the first is aged 20-30, 5' 6" to 5' 8", thin build; the second is older, 38 to 45, 5' 8" to 5' 10" tall. They almost always pose as water board or council employess, and, once inside, they usually steal cash. If you have any information, please contact the police.

Conmen are operating increasingly throughout London, using some bizarre tactics. One recently claimed to be looking for his pet monkey, and there have been several instances of footballers "losing" a diamond ring whilst playing, and expecting to find it in a stranger's garden.

A similar problem is the bogus workman, who cons his victim, again usually elderly, out of money for unnecessary work to their house, such as roofing or tarmacing. This can sometimes involve very large amounts of money being taken from the victim, who is often reluctant to report it. This is sometimes out of embarrassment and sometimes because they have been conned into believing the work was necessary. If you believe any of your vulnerable neighbours may have been a victim of this, please try and make discreet enquiries, and report the matter to the police or to Trading Standards. Trading Standards can be reached on 0208 8871 7720 or at 78 Garratt Lane, SW18 . As useful web site, giving the sort of cons that are prevalent is at www.ripofftipoff.net/

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (81k)

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 13th November 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 11th November 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports).

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (75k)

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 7th November 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 4th November 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports). Another street robbery in Southcroft Road features this week.

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

I have attached the transcript of a presentation given to Wandsworth Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association, concerning distraction burglary. This can be a very distressing crime, particularly for the elderly, and the transcript gives some good advice on preventing further offences.

Click the logo for information on distraction burglary (84)

We have also been notified about a scam using cash machines in the London area and elsewhere. The thieves put a device over the card slot which clones your card, and then returns it as normal. This first you will know about it is when an unauthorised opurchase appears on your credit card bill. The gadget is sprayed the same colour as the rest of the machine and would look, at first glance, as being a part of it.

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (73k)

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 7th November 2004
FROM EMAIL FROM WATCHLINK UNIT, WANDSWORTH COUNCIL:
Tooting & Balham Crime Report - 28th Oct 2004:

The file attached below has the week's report on burglary and street crime (note that car crimes are not included in these reports). This week there was a mugging in Rectory Lane where the victim was hit over the head from behind.

Message from Steve Selby,
Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division:

One of our co-ordinators has contacted and asked us to pass on a warning regarding a conman operating in Battersea. This gentleman was approached by a white man, 5' 6", with a small round face, wearing a bright yellow fluorescent jacket and holding a hard/protective hat (therefore giving the impression that he was a builder!). He said that his vehicle had broken down and that he needed some money for phone calls to arrange a repair. As this was the third time that the co-ordinator had heard the story from him he managed to harden his heart and refuse, whereupon the man became abusive.
The co-ordinator was stopped soon after by a young man who said that the same thing had happened to him. He had told the "builder" that he was a mechanic and offered to fix the problem, at which point he went away.

Click the logo to get this week's full crime report (82k)

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