Royston Community Team

Rural Watch

May 2007

Covering Arbury, Ermine, Weston & Sandon Wards.

Fordham Hall, Therfield has been booked for our next Neighbourhood Watch meeting for G4D Barkway, Barley, Reed, Nuthampstead, Newsells, Kelshall & Therfield, this takes place on 18th July. The Meeting will start at 8pm and I am trying to get an operational Tactical Firearms Car to show you all the equipment they have in their vehicle. Neighbourhoods Watch is open to anyone please turn up if you wish.

Although we have one on the lowest crime rates in the UK it is my intention to reduce it even lower. There is always an increase in this type of crime over these periods. Please be extra vigilant with your security arrangements and below once again are a few pointers to assist you in a small way: -

· Ask a friend or neighbour to look after your house if you are away, be sure to leave details of where you are staying or contact details. Please send us an unoccupied premises form. (Available at you local post office)

· Cancel milk, newspapers etc.

· Make use of time switches better still leave a radio on.

· Don’t leave items of value on open view.

· Take the time out one-day to mark your property photograph items of

High value e.g. jewellery and note serial numbers of electrical goods.

· Don’t forget outbuilding i.e. sheds and garages.

Also as the days are getting lighter we find those cycles which have been in Storage over the winter months is once again being used. So if you should own one, try to prevent it from being stolen; please adopt some of the guidelines offered

· Do not leave cycles in isolated places

· Park safely and considerately where your bike will not cause a danger or obstruction to others – particularly to older people, young children, or People with disabilities

· Always lock a cycle when leaving it, even if it’s only for a few minutes

· Secure bikes to proper stands or robust street furniture

· Lock cycles through the frame

· Secure or remove wheels

· Remove smaller parts and accessories that can’t be secured, especially lights, pumps and quick release saddles

· Remember that more than half of cycle theft happens at the owner’s home.

I have been asked to see if I can recruit a volunteer or two, I am not sure if any of you will be interested, if you are please look at what our HQ say.

If you are interested please apply, I would also be grateful if you could let me know if you are.

http://www.hertspolicecareers.co.uk/roles/volunteers/default.aspx

Hinxworth	High Street	17/04/07 0830 - 0855	29 veh / 34 mph / 25.9 mph
Ashwell	West end / Newham way	17/04/07 0905 - 0930	30 veh / 30 mph / 22.9 mph
Ashwell	Station rd (40 limit)	17/04/07 1140 - 1205	20 veh / 41 mph / 34.3 mph
Weston	Damask green rd	26/04/07 1820 - 1845	32 veh / 37 mph / 25.9 mph
Rushden	Moon + Stars	26/04/07 1745 - 1810	18 veh / 37 mph / 27 mph
Bygrave	Upper Bygrave	17/04/07 0940 - 1005	16 veh / 46 mph / 29.4 mph
Barley	London Road	25/04/07 1545 - 1605	38 veh / 37 mph / 27.2 mph
Barkway	Royston Road	24/04/07 1625 –1650	35 veh / 37 mph / 25.9 mph
Therfield	Hay Green	25/04/05 1620 - 1645	31 veh / 35 mph / 27 mph
Newham	Ashwell road	17/04/07 1015 - 1040	16 veh / 27 mph / 21.5 mph
Sandon	Rushden Road	25/04/07 1650 - 1815	15 veh / 31 mph / 26.2 mph

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

Damage was caused to St. Nicholas Church in Hinxworth between Sunday 1^st and Wednesday 4^th April. Piping linked to the central heating tank was vandalised and a quantity of fuel was also stolen. (Crime no. G4/07/455).

On the evening of Saturday 7^th April a 43-year-old male was arrested and later released with a fine after he was found by Police Officers. He was swearing and banging on the front door of an address in Station Road, Ashwell. (Crime no. G4/07/410).

A pressure washer and a sit on lawnmower were stolen from a shed situated in Hinxworth Road in Ashwell between 2pm and 3pm on Wednesday 18^th April. The thieves were two white males and they arrived in a white transit van and caused considerable damage to the shed door in the process. It also appears that they may have attempted to steal a caravan but were unsuccessful. (Crime no. G4/07/462).

Thieves stole a donation box and it’s contents from St. Vincent’s Church in Newnham sometime between 9am and 7pm on Tuesday 24^th April. (Crime no, G4/07/481).

A garage in Chapel Street in Hinxworth was broken into sometime during the course of Friday 27^th April. A strimmer, chainsaw and hedge trimmer were stolen from within and considerable damage was caused to the garage door in the process.

(Crime no. G4/07/493).

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

Sometime between 6pm on Friday 30^th March and 7am on Monday 2^nd April, thieves removed a corrugated metal panel from the side of an outbuilding in Nuthampstead they search this building. They then removed catalytic converters from four vehicles parked outside.

(Crime no. G4/07/385).

The front registration plate was stolen from a Nissan car, which had been parked in, Barley between 7pm and 8pm on Wednesday 4^th April. (Crime no. G4/07/397).

A sack of scrap copper was stolen from a yard in Barley between 5pm on Monday 16^th and 1pm on Tuesday 17^th April. (Crime no. G4/07/459).

An excavator window was smashed whilst in operation at Lowerfield Pumping Station in Barley, at 9.45am on Wednesday 25^th April. (Crime no. G4/07/483).

A wing mirror was smashed off a vehicle parked in Mill Lane in Therfield at approximately 10.30pm on Friday 27^th April. (Crime no. G4/07/495).

At 4pm on Saturday 28^th April a distraction burglary occurred at the address of two elderly people in Barkway. The burglar, who is described as being a white male, possibly Polish, told the resident that he was from the water board and had come to fix a problem. The resident was suspicious and sent the male on his way. The resident then went to discuss the incident with his neighbour. When the elderly resident returned it became apparent that someone had been in his home whilst he had been at his neighbours. The intruder had disturbed the elderly gentleman’s wife who had been sleeping in an upstairs room, the lady challenged the male and he left their home empty handed. (Crime no. G4/07/499).

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

A BMW was stolen from Fore Street, Weston during the evening of Wednesday 18^th April. (Crime no. G3/07/397).

Eastern Officers Confiscate Over £250,000 Worth Of Property And Cash Under Proceeds Of Crime Act

OFFICERS in the Eastern Area of the county have seized more than a quarter of a million pounds in cash and property since the introduction of the Proceeds of Crime act last year.
The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), enables officers to seize property and cash obtained though criminal activity.

The Money Laundering team for the Eastern Area, which is based at Stevenage Police Station, has seized £84,071.85 since April 1 last year and have confiscated £245,354.22 in assets.
They have also exceeded their set detection rates and continue to contribute to the number of detections across the force.
Hertfordshire Constabulary has forfeited £631,164.76 in cash forfeitures and has confiscated £463,558.65 in property.
Detective Sergeant Charles Moore, who leads the Eastern Area Money Laundering Unit, said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act has proven to be a key piece of legislation and enabled us to work with other agencies to make significant asset recoveries. This sends a clear message to both offenders and the law-abiding public that no-one should be allowed to enjoy a lavish lifestyle gained from criminality.
“Not only have these efforts left criminals and suspects feeling out of pocket but there has also been significant disruption to criminal networks operating in the county and beyond.”
Property and high value vehicles have also been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Last summer, Operation Movement, a force wide operation, saw the confiscation of a container with dozens of high value vehicles that had been stolen to order from parts of Hertfordshire.
DS Moore added: “Nationally in the Eastern Area we are also being used as an example as to how we detect crimes using the POCA legislation. This legislation has enabled us to disrupt a lot of criminal activity. The team here and in other parts of the country continue to work extremely hard to hit criminals where it hurts - in the pocket.”
Detective Inspector Andrew Theakston, who heads the Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit at Headquarters, said: “The work that is being carried out on the Eastern Area and across the county in terms of POCA seizures indicates that this legislation is helping us to put a stop to criminal activity.
“Hertfordshire Constabulary is doing exceptionally well as a police force with the amount of confiscation’s and seizures we have obtained and continue to seize.
“This legislation is helping us to stop criminality in its tracks and through seizing cash and property, our message is clear to would be criminals. If you are involved in criminality we will find you.”

Total for 2003 – 2004 = 80

Total for 2004 – 2005 = 26

Total for 2005 – 2006 = 6

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

Last time we attended

RUSHDEN	20/02/07	SANDON	08/02/06
THERFIELD	25/01/07	REED	07/03/07
BARKWAY	11/07/06	BARLEY	08/01/07
KELSHALL	16/04/07	NUTHAMP	03/05/06
ASHWELL	06/12/06	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	29/11/06

Area	Last Meeting	Next Meeting	Location and Time
G4E	31^st January 2007
G4D	7^th December 2006	18th July 2007	Fordham Hall, Therfield 8pm.
G3C	27^th March 2007

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

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

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

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

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.