Bottesford NHW Alert: Beat Surgery / Cold Calling / Police Spring Crime Prevention Campaign

Beat Surgery

The next local police beat surgery is at Pizzini's on Thursday 31/3 at 6pm. Please use this opportunity to meet with our local beat team and raise any local crime and/or ASB issues with them.

 

Cold Calling

A fish seller was reported cold calling in the village last week. It is not clear if this was the same one reported in Orston recently (see our alert dated 11/3) but as always treat all cold callers with caution. It is best not to encourage them!

 

Police Spring Crime Prevention Campaign

Leicestershire Police is launching a spring crime prevention campaign encouraging people to improve the security of their sheds, garages and outbuildings.

A number of crime prevention initiatives will be taking place across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland where officers and volunteers will be giving advice to the public and allotment holders on how to secure their property.  Officers will also be working with local garden centres and DIY stores to promote security asking them to hand out leaflets on securing items that have been bought.

Crime analysis shows a seasonal increase in shed and garage breaks between March and May as the nicer weather prompts people to start gardening, DIY and getting their bikes out.  There is also a greater demand for tools and garden equipment fuelling an increase in thefts.
Garden sheds are often targeted by burglars because they are often overlooked when it comes to security. The value of the contents, such as garden mowers, strimmers and bicycles, even motorbikes, can add up to many hundreds of pounds. It is therefore wise to secure the shed door with at least one heavy duty hasp and staple and a closed-shackle padlock.
Other crime prevention advice includes;
 

• Secure the hinges with 'clutch head' screws which can't be undone
• Keeping valuable items locked and out of sight by covering windows
• Think about chaining and/or padlocking items within the shed
• Security marking the items in the shed to make them less attractive to steal

Anyone with any information should call 101 or 999 if they see a crime in progress.  You can also call Crimestoppers which is free and anonymous on 0800 555 111.
 

John Shilton
Principal NHW Co-ordinator
Bottesford Parish NHW
JohnS@BottesfordParishNHW.org.uk
Mobile: 07725636626