GOODWORTH CLATFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH CO-ORDINATORS

July 2009

VILLAGE CO-ORDINATOR - Jackie Grey
Hampshire control centre 0845 045 45 45
Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

If you are new to the village and have not been left details of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme by the previous owners, please contact your nearest co-ordinator for an information pack.

Please report any suspicious activity in the village yourself using the most appropriate of the numbers which follow. Do not leave it for your co-ordinator.

Police non-emergency number is 101, the Hampshire control centre number is 0845 045 45 45

Anonymous Crimestoppers number is 0800 555 111

REMEMBER – in an emergency always dial 999.

BE A GOOD WITNESS

Without putting yourself at risk, try to remember or make a note of as many facts as you can:

What does the person look like? Male/female, height, weight, age, skin colour, hair and other distinguishing features like beards and glasses. What sort of clothing and colours? A hat or gloves when it's warm?

What are they doing? This is easy if a crime is actually being committed but sometimes it can just be an unfamiliar person in an odd place at an odd time. Are they carrying anything?

Where are they going? Don't try to follow but, if you can do so safely, watch them out of sight ­ do they drive off in a car?

If a vehicle is involved do try to identify what make of car or van you saw and what model if you can. The colour and registration number will also be helpful.

SECURITY CHECKLIST

Here is a quick reminder of some of the things you can do to improve the security around your home.

* Fit mortise locks to all front and back doors, and locks to all downstairs windows, or windows that are in easy reach.

* Keep your house and car keys safe and away from doors and windows.

* Ensure your burglar alarm is installed properly and works.

* When you are away from home use timer switches to turn on some lights when it goes dark.

* Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries when you are away and let your immediate neighbours know when you will be back.

* Keep your garage and garden shed locked with proper security locks, and keep any tools
secure and out of sight.

* Trim back any plants or hedges that a burglar could hide behind.

* Make sure your household insurance is up-to-date.

MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR BURGLARS

Most burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves. In two out of ten burglaries they don't even have to use force ­ they get in through an open door or window.

Look at your home through a burglar's eyes:

* Are there places where someone could break in without being seen?
* Have you fitted strong locks on your doors and windows?
* Would a burglar have to make a lot of noise by breaking glass?

Reduce the risk of your home being burgled by making sure you've taken a few simple and inexpensive precautions.

A third of burglars get in through a back window. Window locks which can be seen easily put some thieves off as they know they will make a noise which might attract attention.

Remember to remove keys from locked windows and keep them out of sight.

Never leave keys in doors or under the mat ­ thieves know all the usual hiding places.

Never leave keys, handbags or wallets in the hall or where they can be seen from a window.

SECURE YOUR CAR

Despite numerous warnings and police campaigns people still leave valuables in the car while they go for a walk.  Our local beauty spots have become prime targets for thieves.

Don't leave anything on display in your car. Even and old coat on the back seat is a temptation for someone to 'smash and grab' ­ they steal first and think about the value later.

Take all your belongings with you when you leave the car. If you can't, lock them in the boot, preferably before you start your journey and not while you are at the beauty spot as you may be being watched.

Never leave any of the following items on display in your car as they are all particularly attractive to car thieves:

* Mobile phones
* Sat Navs
* Laptop computers
* Credit and debit cards
* Cheque books
* Cash
* Vehicle registration documents
* Private mail, especially with your address on it.

GARAGES AND SHEDS

Garages and sheds are often full of expensive tools which are ideal for breaking into the rest of the house. They are also often left unlocked and even wide open.

* Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house. A thief could get in and work on the inner door without being seen.

* Fit strong padlocks to shed and garage doors and make sure that the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in.

* Lock ladders inside your garage or shed to stop a thief using them to reach upstairs windows. If there is no room in your garage or shed, chain or padlock them horizontally to a sturdy bracket on an outside wall.

* Consider having lockable steel boxes fitted to the floor to store your tools in.

* Mark your expensive tools, garden equipment and bicycles

MARK IT OR LOSE IT

Mark your belongings with your post code. This may put off burglars as it will make your possessions harder to sell ­ it will also help the police to reunite you with them if they are found.

Mark items with permanent ink, showing your post code and the number of your house or flat, or the first two letters of your house name. Only use an ultraviolet pen when other methods would reduce the value of the object, because the mark can fade.

Take pictures of all valuable items like jewellery and silverware.

Write down the serial numbers of your TV, video, stereo, home computer, camera and other expensive electrical equipment. This will help the police to identify your property if it is stolen.

If you have many valuable items consider installing a safe to keep them in.

A marking kit, purchased by the Parish Council, is available for loan from the Clatfords Village Store for a small fee.

To see NHW news and information
click HERE

The Blue Lamp Trust Bobby Scheme
c/o Gosport Police Station
South Street
Gosport   PO12 1ES

Tel:    02392 899056   
F ax:   02392 891750
  Date:   November 2011

Dear Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator

Re:   Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Information:  

The Blue Lamp Trust Bobby Scheme provides a FREE home security check with the aim of making homes in Hampshire safe and secure.

The Blue Lamp Trust will visit your home by appointment to give out practical advice about home security and fire safety; and where appropriate, will fit free security devices and smoke alarms to properties where needed.

The scheme aims to reassure residents, and to make their properties safe and secure from crime and fire.
If you know anyone in your local Watch area, or anyone else living in Hampshire who may benefit from this service; please pass this information on to them and refer direct to the Blue Lamp Trust on 023 9289 9056 or email bobby.scheme@hampshire.pnn.police.uk .  

Or visit the website: www.bluelamptrust.org.uk

On behalf of the Bobby Scheme I would like to thank you for your help and support you have given, making your community a safe and friendly place.
Yours sincerely, Sharon Micklewright
Blue Lamp Trust
Bobby Scheme Co-ordinator

Direct Dial:     02392 899056

The Bobby Scheme part of The Blue Lamp Trust

PO Box 459 , Southampton SO31 0BW .   Tel 02392 899056

              Charity No. 1137786.   registered Company in England and Wales .   Registration No. 07267846

                            Registered Address: New Kings Court Tollgate, Chandlers Ford , SO53 3LG

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
FOR THE CLATFORDS

Neighbourhood Watch within the County is growing year by year. We currently have 3,697 schemes run by 4,260 volunteer co-ordinators and 175 volunteer Area Co-ordinators.

These co-ordinators cover between them 142,886 homes throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with Neighbourhood Watch which roughly equates to one in 5 homes.

Whilst there is still room for Neighbourhood Watch to grow, the message is getting out that communities can help deter crime and take ownership of their communities themselves and because of this, Neighbourhood Watch membership has increased by 98% across the County in the last 2 years. More and more homeowners are joining Neighbourhood Watch, working with their local Safer Neighbourhood Police to ensure their immediate and wider neighbourhoods are kept safe, encouraging neighbourliness, preventing opportunistic crime and working together to keep anti social behaviour down.

The volunteer co-ordinators' hard work and support for Neighbourhood Watch is the backbone of a successful 'Watch' and they do a sterling job promoting the benefits of this community run initiative.

The Hampshire Neighbourhood Watch Association ( www.hantsnwa.org.uk ) is the umbrella organisation for all Neighbourhood Watches in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and works closely with Hampshire Constabulary to ensure that two way communication is paramount.

Crime Prevention Advice

Here are a few tips for crime prevention which you can cut out and keep, to find out more detail or to discuss any query you may have please contact your local NW Co-ordinator or local Beat Officer.

Latest Warning from Trading Standards

It has come to the attention of Hampshire Trading Standards Service that a crime research company is currently telephoning residents in the county claiming to be authorised to carryout research on crime in the area and then offer to arrange for a security company to visit and survey properties for security purposes, ie burglar and smoke alarms.

It has been suggested that that high pressure sales takes place and often they offer the equipment "free" but only if customers sign up to a costly monitoring agreement.  Other incidents claim that installation costs are extremely high.

Please be on your guard about these types of cold callers either over the telephone or on your doorstep.  If you have already arranged for a visit by a salesman and/or require any assistance concerning this or similar cold calling matters please do not hesitate to contact our

Quick Response Team on 01962 833666

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Spring

Spring time is when we get out all the tools for the garden and start to emerge from the Winter darkness so please bear the following in mind

•  Make sure you keep garages and sheds locked whilst using tools and ensure you put them away after use.

•  Make sure garage doors are closed and secure.

•  Now is a good time to ensure fences are secure and not broken.

•  Consider planting defensive hedging and plants.

•  Light timers can be used for all manner of things including turning lights on if you get home after dark to make the property appear lived in.

•  If you plan a Spring Break ask neighbours to watch over your property ensuring post is pushed completely through the letterbox and make sure milk and papers have been cancelled. 

Summer

Summer is the time when a lot of people think of going on holiday please bear the following in mind:

•  Cancel milk and papers as above.

•  Ask neighbours to keep an eye on your property whilst you are away.

•  If you are going to be away for a long time consider letting your local Beat Team know.

•  Light timers set in different areas of your property at different times are important to give the impression that someone is at home.

•  Ensure windows and doors are securely locked whenever you leave your property even if you are just nipping to the shops, especially if you are going on holiday.

•  Anti Social Behaviour can be more of a problem during school holidays so ensure you know where your children are and if anyone is displaying anti social behaviour then please call the police on 101 or 0845 045 45 45.

•  Keep garages and sheds secure and put tools away when finished with.

•  Makes sure valuable items of garden equipment and toys are put away when finished with and property marked where appropriate.

•  Make sure you property mark your household items - to get more advice on how to mark your property please speak to your local Beat Team.

•  Don't discuss your holiday dates in public where you could be overheard

•  Don't leave calendars on display marked with ' Holiday - 2 weeks'.  

Autumn

Autumn brings in the start of longer nights and with Halloween and Bonfire Night please bear the following in mind: 

•  Light timers should be used where possible to give the impression that the property is occupied.

•  Anti social behaviour can be reported on 101 or 0845 045 45 45.

•  Be aware of your neighbours especially vulnerable residents make sure they are aware of locking their doors and windows properly and that their possessions are stored securely.

•  Ensure you know where you children are on Halloween, accompany younger ones and check that older ones know what is acceptable behaviour and what isn't.

Winter

Winter brings cold weather and long nights, Christmas and the New Year, with that in mind please remember to following:

•  Light timers should be used.

•  Christmas trees and presents should not be displayed by open windows which can tempt a would be thief.

•  When shopping for gifts, do not leave them on display in your vehicle.

•  Dispose of wrapping that details what you have bought away from your property in general refuse bins.

•  When gifts have been opened dispose of wrapping and boxes that details what you have in general refuse bins.

•  Watch out for vulnerable residents, make sure they are not the target of conmen or bogus callers.

•  When you go out to the car to get something have a quick check up and down your road to make sure all is in order.

•  Make sure that if you have a holiday over the Christmas period that your neighbours are aware.

•  Don't just hide away of an evening when you get home, take a quick look out of the window as you go past to make sure your neighbourhood is ok.  

GENERAL ADVICE

  Making sure your property is marked appropriately and your home is secure will go a long way to ensuring you are not the target of a crime. Make sure you lock doors securely at night and leave the keys in a safe place that your family knows about should you need them in a hurry.

If you have any queries about home security or wish to join Neighbourhood Watch then please speak with your local Beat Officer .  

As always the numbers to call are:

  •  Emergency number - call when a crime is being committed or a life is in danger

  •  Non emergency number - call when a crime has been discovered, to leave a message for your local Officer, or for general queries

0845 045 45 45   Non emergency number as above.  

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CALL THE POLICE

If you see someone behaving suspiciously, or believe an intruder may be at work ring 999 IMMEDIATELY.  This gives the police the best possible chance to apprehend the offender.

There is no need to worry about calling them unnecessarily.   You can report anti-social behaviour and ask for advice on other issues on 101. The emergency services only get upset about hoax calls and deliberate mischief making, not about people trying to be public spirited.

You can use the Hampshire Police number 0845 045 4545 for reporting non-urgent information which might be useful. Confidential information can also be left on the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

Also please remember that the Police do not advise householders to take direct action against would-be criminals ­ you could get hurt, or risk becoming an offender yourself if your reactions are considered too harsh.

Be a good witness, without putting yourself at risk, try to remember or make a note of as many facts as you can:

* What does the person look like? Male/female, height, weight, age, skin colour, hair and other distinguishing features like beards and glasses. What sort of clothing and colours? A hat or gloves when it's warm?

* What are they doing? This is easy if a crime is actually being committed but sometimes it can just be an unfamiliar person in an odd place at an odd time. Are they carrying anything?

* Where are they going? Don't try to follow but, if you can do so safely, watch them out of sight ­ do they drive off in a car?

* If a vehicle is involved do try to identify what make of car or van you saw and what model if you can. The colour and registration number will also be helpful.

Keep safe.