Royston Community Team

Rural Watch

November 2010

PC 431 Paul Marina PCSO Amy Rainbird PCSO 6522 Brabrook

Covering Arbury, Ermine, Weston & Sandon Wards.

DID YOU WITNESS COLLISION NEAR BALDOCK WHERE MAN SADLY DIED?

POLICE are appealing for witnesses and information after a man sadly died when his car came off the road and landed in a ditch between Clothall and Weston yesterday (October 17). The incident happened at about 7.15pm on Ashanger Lane between the two villages, which are near Baldock. The man, who was in his 30s and driving a red Citroen, was pronounced dead at the scene. PC Ian Breacher, investigating from the Road Crash Investigation Unit, said: “This is a sad incident and, although it is quite a secluded road, we are hoping that someone in the area at the time might have seen something that will help us find out what happened. “We are appealing for any people like this to come forward and contact us.” Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. They are asked to contact PC Ian Breacher from the Road Crash Investigation Unit, via the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222.

Defensive planting

Defensive planting is nature’s way of helping to reduce crime. Thieves will not wish to force their way through or over a prickly hedge. The smallest trace of blood or shred of ripped clothing could help the Police identify the offender. Gloucestershire Crimestoppers produce a leaflet which shows the advantages of Defensive Planting and provides a list of shrubs suitable for this purpose. These shrubs can, if planted around your tank, provide an effective and decorative thief proof barrier. If you would like a copy of this, contact your local Police Station or Crime Reduction Officer, or download from the Crime Reduction (Home Safe) section of our website.

Securing your oil tank

Following on from the defensive planting tactic, fences, earth walls can also make life difficult for the thief. A wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall can give significant protection to the tank but it must be remembered that the oil tanker driver will need access to fill the tank! A metal grill or cage with a lockable access point across the top of this wall or fence can further improve security. The wall or fence should be as close to the tank and as high as possible. Of course a trellis could also be decorated with defensive planting as illustrated above. A product called ‘Tank Guard’ has just become available which surrounds the existing storage tank with a metal enclosure. This sheet metal enclosure has lockable access doors to allow filling and maintenance and has internal anchorage points to fix it to the concrete base. A tank guard costs less than one tank full of oil and will last for many years

Closed circuit television

The use of CCTV as a crime prevention and a crime detection tool has grown massively in recent years. It could play a part in the protection of oil tanks but before you spend lots of money on equipment make an assessment of your needs.

Ask yourself:

1. What do I hope to achieve by using CCTV

2. How much am I prepared to spend??

3. Is there a reasonable level of light where the cameras will be operating or do I need to think

about using cameras with low light capability?

4. What am I going to record the captured images on? Digital recording is best.

5. How am I going to provide the Police with any evidence I may capture?

Control switches

Control switches that control the flow of oil should be turned off and the electricity supply isolated when the tank is not in use.

Padlocks

A thief will usually come equipped with a limited range of tools to attack your tank so it’s worth spending a little more on good quality locks. Close shackle padlocks are the best as they offer most resistance to the most popular of burglar tools; the bolt cropper! Due to their design, close shackle padlocks have very little of the metal hoop (shackle) exposed and bolt croppers cannot get a good grip. Remember that buying a padlock is like buying a car, the more you pay the better the quality and the longer it will last.

Oil level gauges

Remote electronic oil level gauges are now available which will set off an audible alarm if the oil level in the tank suddenly drops or falls below a quarter full. These gauges can be located in the kitchen, or perhaps a utility room to warn of any potential problem. There are two or three different versions on the market at the moment and cost between £70 and £100.

Security lights

Security lights can have a very positive effect and make any property a much harder target for the thief. It’s not always necessary to floodlight the area with high power beams, as a more subtle level of lighting may be all that is needed. Low energy ‘dusk ‘til dawn’ lights positioned close to the tank should, in most cases, provide sufficient light to illuminate any suspicious activity. This type of light can be both effective and inexpensive. High powered lights can be used but care should be taken not to cause any nuisance to neighbours or road users.

Hinxworth	High Street	11/10/10 1630 - 1700	18 veh / 30 mph / 22.5 mph
Newham	Ashwell road	19/10/10 0925 - 0955	56 veh / 49 mph / 29.1 mph
Weston	Damask Green Road	12/10/10 1740 - 1810	26 veh / 31 mph / 22.1 mph
Bygrave	Lower Bygrave	11/10/10 1540 – 1610	20 veh / 42 mph / 28 mph
Ashwell	Station Road (40 limit)	12/10/10 1650 - 1720	27 veh / 45 mph / 36.4 mph
Ashwell,	Newnham Way	19/10/10 0845 - 0915	30 veh / 37 mph / 28.1 mph

Date & Times	Location	Cautions	Fixed fines	Prosecutions
06/10/10 08.10-08.30	Barley Camb Rd	2	0	0
25/10/10 08.15-08.35	Therfield Rooks Nest	0	0	0
25/10/10 12.30-1250	Mill End Rusden	0	0	0
06/10/10 08.35-08.55	Barkway Camb Rd	3	0	0

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

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Date
G4/10/782	Theft from Motor Vehicle	Ashwell	01-08/10/10
Offender(s) have removed padlock to gain entry then continued to steal a vehicle and a golf buggy.

Crime no.	Offence	Location	Time & date
G4/10/793	Theft – pedal cycle	Bygrave	14/10/10
Offender(s) have stolen a pedal bike that was left secure.

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

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G4/10/765	Burglary - other	A505	30/09/10-01/10/10
Offender(s) have cut through fencing and gained entry to premises.

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G4/10/767	Burglary - other	A505	02/10/10
Offender(s) have cut through fencing and gained entry to premises.

Crime no.	Offence	Location	Time & date
G4/10/781	Theft	Barkway	06-07/10/10
Offender(s) gained entry to a site and removed plant equipment.

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G4/10/785	Burglary - Dwelling	Therfield	07/10/10
Offender(s) have gained entry via an insecure door and stolen a dog from the property.

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G4/10/808	Damage or Destroy £500 or Less	Barley	19/10/10
Offender(s) have slashed two rear tyres on a vehicle parked on a drive.

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

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G3/10/550	Burglary - Other	Weston	16-17/10/10
Offender(s) have gained entry into secure premises, and stolen valuable machinery.

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G3/10/557	Damage or Destroy £500 or less	Weston	16-17/10/10
Offender(s) have tried to remove a car badge, and caused damage to the vehicle.

Crime No.	Offence	Location	Time & Date
G3/10/562	Driving whilst disqualified.	Weston	20/10/10
Offender was charged with the offence, after being stopped by police.

Reported Hare coursing Incidents in our area.

	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	Total
03-04	3	13	28	3	8	13	9	3	80
04-05	4	13	4	0	4	0	1	0	26
05-06	0	3	0	0	1	1	1	0	6
06-07	0	4	4	6	1	0	2	0	17
07-08	3	10	4	6	9	2	4	3	43
08-09	7	5	2	4	4	4	2	1	29
09-10	3	3	10	3	1	1	2	1	24
10-11	0	2

Number of Sunday Hare Coursing and Nuisance Vehicle Patrols Carried Out to Reduce coursing Nusience Motor cycling and Nusience 4 X 4 use, patrols per months, early start preferred, 7am or 8am.
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
07								3	3	3	0	3
08	4	4	4	4	4	2	2	2	2	3	1	4
09	1	1	3	2	1	3	2	1	1	2	3	2
10	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2

Last time we attended

RUSHDEN	28/09/10	SANDON	22/04/09
THERFIELD	06/09/10	REED	04/03/09
BARKWAY	23/06/10	BARLEY	04/10/10
KELSHALL	20/04/09	NUTHAMP	09/06/09
ASHWELL	02/06/10	BYGRAVE	14/01/09
CALDECOTE	05/05/08	WESTON	12/08/10
RADWELL	10/05/10	WALLINGTON	28/09/10
HINXWORT	09/09/10	CLOTHALL	02/07/08

Area	Last Meeting	Next Meeting	Location and Time
G4E	Monday 26th July
G4D	Weds 1st Sept
G3C	Weds 25th August

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

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

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

Locality

Members

Martin Dingemans, Howard Marshall, Simon Holtom, Robert Law, Teddy Faure-Walker, Steve Jarvis, Andrew Young, Tony Hunter, Keith Bone , Charlie Snowdon

Meeting

20/01/10

Tasks set

1. Tackling incidents of hare coursing and nuisance vehicle use within the rural community on Saturday & Sundays between the hours 06.00 – 19.00 (G4D, G4E, G3C).

2. To improve/increase intelligence gathering in relation to suspicious vehicles/persons and attend incidents when reported. (G4D, G4E, G3C)

3. To tackle speeding - locations West end / Newnham Way Ashwell, Station Rd, Ashwell. Upper Bygrave Rd, Bygrave, London Road, Barley, Cambridge Rd Barkway, The Causeway, Therfield, Ashwell Road, Newham, Damask Green Road, Weston, Outside the Moon and Stars public house, Rushden and High Street, Hinxworth. 10 Speed checks a Month. From June 09 to Sep 09 to have a temporary trial on monthly enforceable checks in Barley, Therfield & Rusden.

Surgeries all times 10.30 – 12.00
Barkway – Reading Room. Barley – Church. Weston – Post Office. Ashwell URC Hall. Sandon Cecil Sales

Weds 3^rd Nov - Weston	Thurs 11^th Nov - Barley	Fri 12^th Nov - Ashwell
Wed 8th Dec - Sandon	Thurs 9th Dec - Barkway	Fri 3rd Dec - Ashwell
Wed 12th Jan - Weston	Thurs 13th Jan - Barley	Fri 14th Jan - Ashwell
Wed 16th Feb - Sandon	Thurs 17th Feb - Barkway	Fri 4th Feb - Ashwell
Wed 9th March - Weston	Wed 16th March - Barley	Fri 4th Feb - Ashwell

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.