Hungerford August 2010
Neighbourhood Police Team
Here is the latest neighbourhood update for Hungerford from Neighbourhood
Specialist Officer (NSO) PC Claire Drewitt
Our three priorities for Hungerford are Burglary, drugs and hare-coursing.
During the month of July we are pleased to be able to say that we have had
no reports of any house burglaries within Hungerford.
During the summer periods we often find that levels of burglaries can rise
slightly due to people having their windows and doors open, so this is all
the more positive that this is not the case this month.
However it is important that you don’t become complacent and ensure
that your property is secure and you have closed ground floor windows and
doors at night. Burglary has fallen by 25 per cent in the area compared with
the same time last year.
The team have not made any arrests this month but we continue to patrol our
hotspot areas and offenders will be dealt with.
The hare-coursing season is upon us and we have already had a number a calls
relating to vehicles and people hare-coursing in the Hungerford area. Just
a reminder that we are successfully using a new text alert system when to
help tackle hare-coursing, rural breaks and poaching, landowners and farmers
receive text messages from Thames Valley Police alerting them to suspicious
people or vehicles used in crime. If you would like to be added to this system
then please email deborah.morton@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk with your details.
Overall crime in Hungerford has reduced by 24.5 per cent in comparison to
this time last year. Vehicle crime has risen by 28 per cent, this month we
have seen an increase in theft from motor vehicles where people are leaving
their vehicles insecure in very rural locations whilst they go walking. We
are aware that people are still leaving their vehicles insecure overnight.
In order to prevent more incidents and to deter the opportunist thieves,
we urge you to lock all doors and windows when leaving your vehicle unattended
even if it is parked on the driveway.
Also ensure that you remove any belongings, or if that is not possible, at
least lock items out of sight. Car crime is easy to prevent, do not give
thieves the opportunity.
Anti-social behaviour in the town has reduced by a massive 43 per cent. This
is a really great result, especially during the summer months as this is
normally the time of the year that we receive the most reports.
At 4.40am on Saturday 31 July, five-six vehicles were damaged in the High
Street after a person was seen jumping on the bonnets of the vehicles. Anyone
with any information regarding this incident then please contact me via the
24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak
to police contact Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
We have recently worked alongside the WOW partnership that provide childcare,
activities and support to the community. A group of 14 teenagers attended
a forensic science day at the John O’Gaunt School on Tuesday 27 July,
two officers from the neighbourhood police team attended to speak to the
group about the evidence that the police gather at crime scenes and what
the public can do to help us secure and preserve that evidence.
We have also attended the bike ability courses which was held at Hungerford
Leisure Centre, we attended to engrave bicycles with postcodes so there is
more chance they can be identified if they were stolen. This is something
that we can offer to anyone who would like this service. Please email me
claire.drewitt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk if you are interested.
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Debbie Randall will be holding a ‘have
your say’ meeting at Hungerford Market on Wednesday 25 August from
10am -11am. These meetings are an opportunity for local residents to come
and meet their local neighbourhood team and raise any issues or concerns
they may have.
For more information about your local neighbourhood team visit the Thames
Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk and follow the neighbourhood
policing links.
You can contact any member of the team by calling 0845 8 505 505. To
find out more about them please visit the Thames Valley Police website
at www.thamesvalley.police.uk and
follow the neighbourhood policing links.