NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NEWS
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last updated February 9, 2008 |
The mobile Police Station is parked on Claggy Road on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday
of the month between 09.00 and 10 a.m.
Up-to-date information regarding crimes in Kimpton Parish will be published here regularly. Click here for the latest news
CRIME REPORTS
For more crime prevention information please call the Crime Prevention Officer
on 01462 425 043
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111
HERTS NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER 0845 33 00 222
IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS CAL
A brief Introduction to Neighbourhood Watch
The main aims of Neighbourhood Watch are to reduce opportunities for crime and
make it more difficult for the would-be thief, vandal or criminal to act. At
the same time it could build up a community spirit, giving the opportunity to
neighbours to work together. Members of the watch should warn their co-ordinator
or the police of any suspicious incident in their neighbourhood.
Neighbourhood Watch members are expected to be alert and respond to incidents
in their neighbourhood. This does not mean however that members patrol the streets
or form vigilante groups. It aims to avoid this type of ' busybodying' and If
members have spare time they could help put together news letters or distribute
them. Too often such activities are left to one person. Perhaps members could
organise meetings or events to strengthen the community's opinion on crime reduction.
The most important activity Neighbourhood Watch (NW) scheme members are asked
is to keep an eye on what is happening in the community. For example news papers
sticking out of letter boxes and milk bottles left on the doorstep could mean
that the neighbour is away and failed to cancel a regular order. Or it could
mean that an elderly person living alone might need help or attention. These
signs, if not acted upon immediately could certainly attract criminals to a
neighbourhood with dire consequences.
Most crime is against property and most security measures people take are aimed
at protecting the home and its content. The Neighbourhood Watch scheme is all
about taking sensible precautions and reassuring vulnerable members of the community
that a neighbourly eye is watching out for their safety.
The Neighbourhood Watch in the Kimpton area, which includes surrounding hamlets
and Blackmore End is part of the North Herts Division of the Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Community policing is carried out by the Community Safety Team. This Team consists
of a dedicated Inspector, supported by a Sergeant and five Constables. The Police
Constable responsible for community policing in our area is Pc Dave Panesa,
he can be contacted on 01462 425024. Pc Panesa is also responsible for two other
adjoining beats.
The Kimpton Beat, Code named G1M has at present 14 Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators
and one Area Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinators keep in close touch in order to
alert their watches when crime reports are passed on by the Area Co-ordinator
or the Community Safety Team. The Area Co-ordinator has access to the crime
files which are kept at the Hitchin Police Station. These files are generally
checked once a week. The crime reports of the Kimpton Beat and adjoining streets
are a valuable indication of crime trends and consequently appropriate measures
can then be taken. For example past crime reports have clearly shown that the
security of the rear of properties are generally very weak. Being familiar with
such trends Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators are then in a position to impress
upon scheme members to take appropriate action to avoid further burglaries.
Placing a postcode on property items is important because it is more difficult
for a burglar to sell marked stolen goods. It can also help the police
to return stole property if found. Items should be marked with an indelible
identification showing the postcode and the house number. NW Co-ordinators can
assist scheme members with marking or etching property items.
The Community Safety Team operates a computer program known as Ringmaster. This
system distributes crime reports and other essential messages to Neighbourhood
Watch Co-ordinators either on the phone, by fax or internet.
Emergency Calls
One of the most frequent questions I get asked when setting up a new Neighbourhood Watch scheme, is the use of the 999 system, e.g. when is it an emergency? In simple terms, if you think a situation is 'urgent', then use 999.
Our guidelines say that an emergency is when:
> NHW co-ordinators and members are URGED to inform their vulnerable members
that employees of the Water Board do not make house to house calls. If you
have an unsolicited caller at your door, check their identity before
allowing them acess to your premises. Legitimate callers will not mind
having their identity verified. Please pass this message onto all of your
members. If you have any further information about this crime please call
0845 33 00 222 quoting crime ref no. G1/05/4291
Neighbourhood Watch News.
CRIME REPORTS
G1/08/368 -- 30-31/01/08 (crime committed), [crime recorded 01/02/08]. THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE, HIGH STREET, KIMPTON. OFFENDER(S) HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS LOCKED AND SECURED. THEY HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE VALUED AT ABOUT £5500 AND ITS CONTENTS VALUED AT ABOUT £1000. {319}
BORDER AREAS OFFENCES
THE THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLES HAS CONSIDERABLY INCREASED WITH A PEAK BETWEEN 16 AND 28 JANUARY. SOME OF THESE THEFT OCCURRED DUE TO THE FACT THAT STOLEN ITEMS WERE LEFT IN THE VEHICLE. RESIDENTS SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT EXTRA CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN PARKING NEAR SPORTS CLUBS, HOTELS AND CLUBS. SAT NAVS, MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER VALUABLES SHOULD BE TAKEN TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT LEFT UNDER THE SEAT OR IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT.
NINE CRIME REPORTS WERE COLLECTED FROM THE HITCHIN POLICE STATION ON 9TH JANUARY 2008 FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN 17TH DECEMBER 2007 AND 5TH JANUARY 2008. ONE REPORT WAS DISCARDED
G1/07/4496 -- 24/12/07 (crime committed), [crime recorded 25/12/07). THEFT, WREN CLOSE, KIMPTON. IP LOST PURSE WHILE WALKING FROM HOME ADDRESS TO BUS STOP. OFFENDER(S) HAVE USED IP'S GIFT CARD TO PAY OFF THEIR NEXT ACCOUNT. {308}
G1/07/4567 -- 24/12/07 (crime committed), [crime recorded 01/01/07]. ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, ALLOTMENT GARDENS, PAMS LANE, KIMPTON. OFFENDER(S) HAVE FORCED THE DOOR OF THE SHED, ENTERED IT BUT LEFT WITHOUT TAKING ANYTHING FROM THE SHED. {309}
G1/07/4521 -- 27-28/12/07 (crime committed), [crime recorded 29/12/07]. BURGLARY, HIGH STREET, KIMPTON. OFFENDER(S) GAINED ACCESS TO GARDEN BY SIDE GATE. FORCED DOOR OF SHED AND REMOVED MOTOR BIKE AND MADE OFF. {310}
G1/07/4548 -- 28-30/12/07 (crime committed), [crime recorded 31/12/07]. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PAMS LANE, KIMPTON. OFFENDER(S) ENTERED ALLOTMENTS ON PAMS LANE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO SHED DOOR HOWEVER NOTHING WAS STOLEN. {311}
G1/07/4555 -- 30/12/07 (crime committed), [crime recorded 31/12/07]. THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE, HIGH STREET, KIMPTON. SALE OF VEHICLE AGREEDPREVIOUS DAY BY MUTUAL FRIEND. THE OFFENDER TURNED UP AT AGREED TIME, TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT NEVER RETURNED IT. IPS PHONE WAS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF. {312}
G1/08/20 -- 31/12-02/01/08 (crime committed), [crime recorded 03/01/08]. BURGLARY, LUTON ROAD, KIMPTON. OFFENDER(S) HAVE BROKEN OFF PADLOCK ON A DOOR THAT ACCESSED THE WORKSHOP AND STOLE A POWER WASHER, ESTIMATED VALUE OF LOSS WITHHELD. {313]
G1/08/33 -- 29-30/12/07 (crime committed), [crime recorded 04/01/08}. DAMAGE TO PTOPERTY, PAMS LANE, KIMPTON. OFFENDER(S) HAVE BROKEN THE SHED DOOR, BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THEY ENTERED THE SHED, NOTHING WAS MISSING. [314}
G1/08/64 -- 04-06/01/08 (crime committed), [crime recorded 06/01/08]. BURGLARY, KIMPTON, LOCATION WITHHELD. OFFENDER(S) HAVE BROKEN GATE AND ENTERED FARM. BROKE PADLOCKS OF SEVERAL UNITS AND SEARCHED THEM. THEY THEN REMOVED A WELDER/GENERATOR TO THE AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF £800. {316}
BORDER AREAS OFFENCES
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF INSECURE STORAGE OF CAR KEYS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. IN ONE CASE THE VEHICLE WAS VALUED AT £6800, WHERE OFFENDER(S) HAD OBSERVED THE KEYS THROUGH THE LETTER BOX AND MANAGED TO HOOK THEM THROUGH THE LETTER BOX.
THEFT FROM VEHICLES WAS COMMON DURING THE PERIOD 17/12/07 TO 06/01/2008. THE LOSS MAINLY CONSISTED OF SATELLITE NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT, IPODS, TOOLS, MOBILE PHONES AND CASH. MOBILE PHONES WERE ALSO STOLEN FROM PERSONS VISITING SUPER MARKETS AND NIGHT CLUBS.
FRAUD OF CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE INVOLVING LARGE AND SMALL AMOUNTS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN WHEN USING AND HANDLING THESE. PROTECT ALL CORRESPONDENCE FROM BANKS AND BUILDING SOCIETIES.