Royston Community Team

Rural Watch

January 2008

Covering Arbury, Ermine, Weston & Sandon Wards.

I have received this by email, it seems plausible

This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"
You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

No Veh Max. Av

Hinxworth	High Street	21/12/07 1800 - 1825	18 veh / 33 mph / 25.1 mph
Ashwell	High Street	21/12/07 2100 - 2135	10 veh / 22 mph / 19.9 mph
Ashwell	Station rd (40 limit)	21/12/07 2020 - 2045	14 veh / 44 mph / 33.3 mph
Weston	Damask green rd	21/12/07 1640 - 1705	15 veh / 31 mph / 24.6 mph
Rushden	Moon + Stars	21/12/07 1715 - 1745	17 veh / 34 mph / 26.3 mph
Bygrave	Upper Bygrave	21/12/07 1835 - 1900	21 veh / 32 mph / 26.8 mph
Barley	Cambridge Road	21/12/07 1500 - 1525	20 veh / 33 mph / 27.1 mph
Barkway	Cambridge Road	21/12/07 1530 - 1655	20 veh / 31 mph / 26.6 mph
Therfield	The Causeway	21/12/07 1600 - 1625	13 veh / 29 mph / 24.8 mph
Newham	Ashwell road	21/12/07 2050 - 2105	10 veh / 27 mph / 23 mph

This month in the lead up to the festive period of Christmas and the New Year PCSO TRUSSELL and I joined with members of the Pub Watch from Royston Town to re launch a scheme that will see those who cause a disturbance or commit violence in one pub to be banned from that pub and all other pubs in Royston that are part of Pub Watch. (The pubs that form a part of Pub Watch, all display posters on their premises.) These bans could be in place for six months or more. It is important to remember that the majority of people drinking in Royston do so with out disruption to most but there is a minority who spoil the atmosphere for others.

Following a spate of criminal damage in Ashwell during November, PC MARINA has identified the offenders and they have all been positively dealt with by the Police. This type of reckless vandalism will not be tolerated in our villages, or the town, and offenders will be brought to justice.

There have been some thefts from vehicles recently in Royston Town and it is important to remind everyone to ensure that our vehicles are locked and secure, with all valuables and any shopping out of sight. On 19^th December PCSO TOMSETT and members from the Crime Prevention Panel completed checks of Car Parks in Royston and at Tesco Car Park over 300 vehicles were checked, and 20% of these were found to have been left by the owners either insecure or with property such as wrapped Christmas presents, mobile telephone and Sat Navs openly on display. We all need to take more care when leaving our vehicles, even if “just for minute”, after all that is all it takes.

Royston Police Station is open every day for enquires at the Front Counter and Police Officers work from the Station twenty four hours a day patrolling Royston Town and Royston And Baldock Rural.

Royston remains a low crime area and by working together we can ensure that it remains that way.

If any of you want to contact me, please do so on 01438 757926. or via e-mail at: peter.frost@herts.pnn.police.uk

A 64-YEAR-OLD man from Letchworth has been given a life sentence for sexual offences, including rape, on three girls. The offences took place at an address in Letchworth between 1985 and 2006.

George Bell was convicted at Luton Crown Court on November 19, 2007. He must serve 10 years before he is eligible for parole.

Detective Constable Rob Scott from the Child Abuse Investigation unit said: “George Bell abused his position of trust and the life sentence given to him clearly reflects the seriousness of his crimes.

“Protecting children and other vulnerable people is a priority for Hertfordshire Constabulary. We have specialist teams to deal with these crimes and we will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies to ensure offenders are brought to justice. Indeed, the successful conclusion of this case was down to a number of agencies working together, including the NSPCC.”

Two of the victims have asked for the following statement to be released: “We will never be able to forget what this man did to us but knowing that he will be in prison for a long time will go some way to helping us get on with our lives.

“We would like to thank the officers and other agencies involved in the case for their hard work in getting us justice. We would urge anyone who has been abused or is being abused to contact police immediately.”

G4E; - Ashwell, Hinxworth, Bygrave, Newnham & Caldecote

Vandals caused damage to a Mercedes Estate by spraying it with green paint whilst it was parked in the High Street, Ashwell overnight of Thursday 6^th December.

(Crime no G4/07/1349).

Two dogs, a Springer Spaniel and a Terrier were stolen from a cage situated in the boot of a car in Caldecote Road, Newnham just after midday on Tuesday 11^th December. Three males were seen in the vicinity behaving in a suspicious manner. They were seen to leave the area in a red Ford Mondeo. (Crime no G4/07/1358).

The drivers window of a Mercedes Estate was smashed by vandals whilst it was parked in Lucas Lane, Ashwell overnight of Wednesday 12^th December.

(Crime no G4/07/1361).

A BMW had the fuel siphoned from its fuel tank whilst it was parked in Dixies Close, Ashwell overnight of Friday 14^th December. (Crime no G4/07/1369).

A quantity of telephone cable was stolen from Kingsland Way in Ashwell during the course of Sunday 23^rd December. (Crime no G4/07/1393).

A 42 year old female was arrested during the early hours of Christmas Day after a patrolling Police Officer stopped and breathalysed her on the A507 Great North Road and found her to be over the legal alcohol limit. (Crime no G4/07/1396).

G4D; - Barkway, Barley, Reed, Nuthampstead, Newsells, Kelshall & Therfield

A quantity of copper cabling was stolen from the area of Royston Road, Therfield between Friday 30^th November and Tuesday 4^th December. Several manhole covers were lifted and the cable removed from the ground. (Crime no G4/07/1341).

A wacker plate was stolen from the rear of a vehicle parked in Cambridge Road, Barkway, between 1.45pm and 2.15pm on Wednesday 19^th December.

(Crime no. G4/07/1381).

G3C; - Sandon, Wallington, Rushden, Clothal & Weston

A Toyota Estate was stolen from Mill Lane, Weston overnight of Friday 30^th November. This vehicle was found on the evening of Sunday 2^nd December in the Wilbury Hills area of Letchworth having been set on fire and destroyed.

(Crime no G3/07/998).

Just before 2pm on Sunday 16^th December, two males posing as Waterboard officials called at the house of an elderly lady in The Street, Wallington. When the door was answered, the men pushed their way in and whilst one of the males distracted the lady by running the taps in the bathroom and the kitchen, the other male searched the living room for money and valuables. The males left the house empty handed and departed in a blue coloured Audi with a ‘06’ registration. (Crime no. G3/07/1054).

Damage was caused to the petrol cap of a Ford Ka parked in Damask Close, Weston when a thief siphoned petrol from its tank overnight of Friday 28^th December.

(Crime no. G3/07/1081).

Total for 2003 – 2004 = 80

Total for 2004 – 2005 = 26

Total for 2005 – 2006 = 6

Total for 2006 – 2007 = 17

Reported Hare coursing Incidents in our area.

	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	April
03-04	3	13	28	3	8	13	9	3
04-05	4	13	4	0	4	0	1	0
05-06	0	3	0	0	1	1	1	0
06-07	0	4	4	6	1	0	2	0
07-08	3	10	4	6

Dates Hare Coursing and Nuisance Patrols Carried Out.
04/08	05/08	12/08	16/09	23/09	30/09	27/10	28/10	16/12

Road Traffic Collisions For A507 Baldock to Cumberlow Green

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Last time we attended

RUSHDEN	20/02/07	SANDON	08/02/06
THERFIELD	25/04/07	REED	07/03/07
BARKWAY	16/05/07	BARLEY	08/01/07
KELSHALL	16/04/07	NUTHAMP	01/05/07
ASHWELL	05/09/07	BYGRAVE	08/01/07
CALDECOTE	05/01/07	WESTON	08/03/07
RADWELL	24/04/07	WALLIGTON	20/02/07
HINXWORT	01/03/07	CLOTHALL	09/05/07

Area	Last Meeting	Next Meeting	Location and Time
G4E	15^th August 2007
G4D	18th July 2007	12^th February 08	Barley Town House 7pm
G3C	11^th October 2007

Locality

Members

Martin Dingemans, Eric Gurney, Howard Marshall, Simon Holtom, Robert Law, Teddy Faure-Walker, , Steve Jarvis, Andrew Young, Tony Hunter, Peter Shuttlewood, Keith Bone Christine Schwick, Janette Kingsley.

Meeting

22/12/07

Tasks set

1. High visibility patrols in daylight hours at weekend in a bid to Reduce Incidents of hare coursing, Nusience Motor cycling and Nusience 4 X 4 use.

2. Continue with crime prevention and evidence gathering thus keeping crime as low as possible.

3. Continue with speed checks by PCSO’s to monitor vehicle speeds; enforcement was not considered a good use of resources.

Please click on the below link to meet some of the people we wish to becomes friends with.

http://www.herts.police.uk/CCTV/gallery.htm

Rural Watch

Jan

RUSHDEN

SANDON

THERFIELD

ASHWELL

BYGRAVE

CALDECOTE

Please click on the below link to meet some of the people we wish to becomes friends with.