Royston Community Team

Rural Watch

November 2007

Covering Arbury, Ermine, Weston & Sandon Wards.

On Saturday 13^th October in Wallington PCSO’s Kennedy and Brabrook completed a security marking day where bicycles, mobile telephones and lawn mowers were brought to the village hall where members from the Crime Prevention Panel (CPP) and Neighbourhood Team marked property. Members from the CPP were on hand to offer advice on home and personal security and also sold a number of Personal Attack Alarms.

With satellite navigation equipment becoming more popular with motorists, it is also becoming more popular with criminals.

Where it’s portable keep it safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and suction pads, with you when you leave the car. And remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these.

Don’t leave the equipment in the glove compartment – thieves will usually check there first.

You can also help by following these tips:

Mark your satellite navigation equipment system with your postcode and house number or your vehicle registration number or another unique number, using special security markers.
Making a note of the make, model and serial number of the equipment and keeping the note somewhere safe – not in the car. Consider recording this information.

Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other

Personal information only when you're buying from a company you know and trust.

Know who you're dealing with. Don't do business with any company that

Won’t provide its name, street address, and telephone number.

Take your time. Resist any urge to 'act now' despite the offer and

The terms. Once you turn over your money, you may never get it back.

Read the small print. Get all promises in writing and review them

carefully before you make a payment or sign a contract

Never pay for a 'free' gift. Disregard any offer that asks you to pay

For a gift or prize. If it's free or a gift, you shouldn't have to pay for it - free means free.

In all situations, the old maxim applies: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

As the nights draw in Bonfire night is almost upon us, it’s a good time to remind everyone to remain safe and vigilant for Anti Social Behaviour.

This time of year is an opportunity for those who wish to enjoy Fireworks to do so with respect for those who choose not to. Traditionally, there’s a slight rise in Anti Social Behaviour complaints and I would urge all to make it different this year.

Police will deal robustly with those causing annoyance and danger to others. Throwing anything could cause damage to property or worse still cause an injury. Therefore, the advice is simply not to do so.

You could find yourself arrested and with a Criminal Record.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team continues to conduct Anti-Social Behaviour patrols in Royston Town, arrests have been made and alcohol continues to be seized within the Alcohol Free Zone. At this time of year increased patrols throughout Royston Town and Royston And Baldock Rural will be completed. And I would ask anyone to contact the Police to report any Anti Social Behaviour.

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 Rural 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

Ashwell	West end / Newham way	24/07/07 1645 - 1710	40 veh / 31 mph / 23.2 mph
Ashwell	Station rd (40 limit)	24/07/07 1530 - 1600	22 veh / 41 mph / 33 mph
Bygrave	Upper Bygrave	23/10/07 1705 - 1730	19 veh / 37 mph / 29.1 mph
Barley	High Street	22/10/07 1610 - 1640	50 veh / 38 mph / 27.3 mph
Barkway	Royston Road	22/07/07 1535 - 1600	43 veh / 31 mph / 26.2 mph
Therfield	The Causeway	22/10/07 1705 - 1730	17 veh / 28 mph/ 22.1 mph
Newham	Ashwell road	25/10/07 1500 - 1525	20 veh / 29 mph / 23.3 mph
Weston	Damask Green Road	23/10/07 1615 - 1640	18 veh / 28 mph / 24.2 mph
Rushden	Moon and Stars	23/10/07 1540 - 1605	13 veh / 31 mph / 28 mph
Hinxworth	High Street	24/10/07 1715 - 1740	16 veh / 31 mph / 25.4 mph

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

Two males posing as water board officials burgled the house of an elderly couple in the High Street, Ashwell at 3.20pm on Wednesday 17^th October. The two males are both described as white, 5ft4 tall with moustaches, one had a goatee beard and both spoke with an Irish accent. The males told the residents that they were investigating a leak and whilst one of the residents back was turned they pushed their way in and stole a handbag and a quantity of cash from a wallet in the kitchen.

(Crime no. G4/07/ 1150).

An attempt was made to break in to a Honda Concerto parked on the forecourt of Ashwell Garage overnight of Wednesday 17^th October. Damage was caused to the drivers side lock but entry was unsuccessful and the would be thief left empty handed. (Crime no. G4/07/1156).

A Volkswagen Golf had one of its wing mirrors damaged whilst it was parked in Lucas Lane, Ashwell overnight of Monday 22^nd October. (Crime no. G4/07/1182).

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

A Nissan Coupe was stolen from the driveway of a property in London Road Reed at 11.15pm on Wednesday 3^rd October. The vehicle was seen to be driven away in the direction of Buntingford. (Crime no. G4/07/1105).

The catalytic converters were stolen from two vehicles parked on the forecourt of the garage on the A10 at Reed overnight of Sunday 7^th October. (Crime no. G4/07/1123).

A boys blue BMX bike was stolen from a front garden in Barley between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday 9^th October. (Crime no. G4/07/1129).

Damage was caused to a field in Bury End, Nuthampstead when a vehicle was driven across it during the course of Tuesday 9^th or Wednesday 10^th October.

(Crime no. G4/07/1131).

Police Officers patrolling Therfield Heath arrested two 17-year-old youths who were later released with a reprimand after they were found to be in possession of cannabis. (Crime no. G4/07/1152).

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

At 9.45pm on Tuesday 2^nd October, a burglary occurred at Mill End Nursery in Rushden. The offenders used their vehicle to force the electric gates to the premises causing approximately £2,000 worth of damage in doing so. Once inside, the shop door was forced and the cash register was searched although it had been left empty by staff earlier that day. The thieves therefore left empty handed.

(Crime no. G3/07/847).

An intruder attempted to brake into the Moon and Stars public house between 6pm on Sunday 7^th and 3.30am on Monday 8^th October. You may recall that we reported the same premises being the target of burglars a fortnight earlier in last month’s newsletter. On this occasion a drill was used to penetrate an outer wall of the premises however access was unsuccessful and the would be thieves left the area empty-handed.

(Crime no. G3/07/861).

A Peugeot 206 was broken into whilst it was parked in Maiden Street, Weston overnight of Tuesday 9^th October. The passenger door lock was forced and the parcel shelf with integral speakers was stolen along with a jumper and some loose change. The thief then proceeded to spray the inside of the passenger door with spray paint. (Crime no. G3/07/865).

The windscreen of a Vauxhall Astra van and the drivers side window of a Ford Pick up were smashed whilst they were parked in the vicinity of Dane End Farm, Weston during the afternoon of Monday 15^th October. (Crime no. G3/07/879 & G3/07/884).

Two youths aged 12 and 14 years have received a reprimand following a break in to a shed in the grounds of Sandon JMI School. (Crime no. G3/07/889).

Total for 2003 – 2004 = 80

Total for 2004 – 2005 = 26

Total for 2005 – 2006 = 6

Total for 2006 – 2007 = 17

Hare coursing has increased and the tactics used by coursers have changed, traditional they have been in large groups and have spent a long time in our area, this has made the relatively easy for use to catch. Now they seem to arrive in one or two vehicles and only spend a short time in our area. Thus it may be some time before we get a call making it harder for us to meet and greet them. If you do see hare coursers please cal 999 and if possible get any index numbers that you can (please do not put yourself at risk).

We are increasing our hare coursing patrols.

On the 27/10/07 we received a report of coursers and it appeared they left one of their vehicles on farm land near Baldock. We seized the vehicle as we found blood in the rear that we suspect is hares blood (seized under the Hunting Act 2004) and subjected the vehicle to a full forensic examination, the blood will be sent to the RSPCA in a bid to confirm our suspicions. I will be then be dealing with the owner, who I will expect will want his vehicle back in the near future.

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

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

Road Traffic Collisions For A507 Baldock to Cumberlow Green

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Survey period - 18th to 25th October 2007, 60 mph Between Baldock and Cumberlow Green

42,742 vehicles counted

21,397 SE towards Buntingford at an average speed of 52 mph

21,345 NW towards Baldock at an average speed of 46 mph

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
G3C	11^th October 2007

Our first Locality Panel Meeting took place at kelshall Village Hall on the 19th April, we had a very interesting meeting and my first tasks were set.

Locality

Members

Martin Dingemans, Howard Marshall, Simon Holtom, Robert Law, Teddy Faure-Walker, Michael Meredith-Hardy, Steve Jarvis, Andrew Young, Tony Hunter, Peter Shuttlewood, Keith Bone.

Meeting

19/04/07

Tasks set

1. Reducing Incidents of Nusience Motor cycling and Nusience 4 X 4 use, by increasing weekend patrols.

2. Supply uncorrupted data of the true speed of vehicles travelling on, A507 Radwell, London Road Barley, Causeway Therfield, Damask Green, Station Road, Newnham Road & Mill Street Ashwell, Mill Street Rushden and the A507 Clothall on Wednesdays.

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.