Archive for category: Neighbourhood Watch

Hello
I have been co-ordinator of Astley & Dunley neighbourhood watch for several years. The organisation has changed a lot and is now predominantly online, with a national organisation supporting local areas.

Local residents can join the Astley & Dunley NHW by registering online.
www.ourwatch.org.uk

The West Mercia local police team Martley and Tenbury cover our patch and communicate any local issues or events.

I report yearly to the Parish council , at the AGM, as they support NHW and other local groups and services . The council members get a brief overview of the NHW year from myself, in the form of a report. This mentions local issues, any crime trends and news the local police team also provide the parish council members with the police perspective.

I shall be retiring in the spring from my full time job and be looking to move to the next chapter in my life. With this move I am hoping that someone will take on the overview of NHW for the area.

The role is flexible as in you can decide how much time you invest in it. Access to the Internet is a must, along with basic emailing skills and being able to read and amend a spreadsheet of members. It would be an advantage to be aware and keep abreast of local issues and be accessible to be contacted with any issues, in order to pass on information if necessary, to prevent or detect crime.

I would love to hand over the details to someone to continue in what I feel is an important local asset to those living in this area.

Kind regards

Sarah Beard sarahlbeardlll@hotmail.com

There has been an increase in reports of shed break ins and trailer thefts across the Tenbury and Martley SNT area. We have recieved reports of trailer thefts in Wichenford, Hallow, Astley and Great Witley. The thefts have taken place over the past few weeks between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

Trailer security

Where possible park your trailer where it cannot be seen from the road or surrounding fields or rights of way.

Park where there is good lighting with secure locks and gates.

When not in use, park or place something in front of the trailer so it cannot be moved.

Secure the trailer with a chain or steel cable to a strong anchor point.

Consider a cable alarm where an alarm will go off if the cable is cut.

Use a wheel lock/and or a hitch lock.

Record all relevant numbers e.g. chassis, hitch, body etc.

Make the trailer unique to you so it will stand out, this can be done by putting the farm, stable or your name or postcode on the side or using a motif or logo, this will act as a deterrent and make it easily identifiable.

Take photographs of the trailer from all angles, include close ups of scratches, dents scuff and any security markings and keep them in a safe place to give to the police to help them identify the vehicle if it is stolen.

Consider fitting a tracker that will notify you if the trailer is moved and allow you to track it and pass the information to the police.

 

Securing a shed

Fit a strong hasp and padlock to your shed door. Make sure the door is strong enough to resist being kicked or pushed in.

Replace standard hinges with strap hinges secured by coach bolts or use security screws on existing hinges.

Consider fitting a battery operated shed alarm.

Visibly mark the property you keep in your shed and garage and use anchor points to secure larger tools and equipment.

 

Securing your garden

Your front garden should not provide cover for a burglar. Hedges or fences at the front of your home should be limited to 1 metre high.

At the rear of your property, hedges, fences or walls should be at least 1.8 metres high. Gates leading to the rear of your property should be the same height and padlocked.

Move ladders, tables, chairs and wheelie bins so that they cannot be used to climb on. If possible, chain and padlock them to a strong anchor point.

Fit lighting in your garden. The most appropriate form of lighting for the back yard would be high-efficiency low-energy lighting, controlled by dusk-to-dawn switch so that it comes on only when it’s dark. This provides a constant and uniform level of light. It costs very little to run and helps create a more reassuring environment.

For further advice on Crime Prevention please contact us on the below link and scroll down for “Crime prevention” information box.

https://www.westmercia.police.uk/

 

Kind regards

PCSO Deb Abbott 40528

Tenbury and Martley SNT

Incident Number 00080_I_22012022

The first trailer was stolen from a yard in Great Witley on 22nd January at approx 5am – Twin axle Ivor Williams trailer.

 Incident Number 00531_I_24012022

The second trailer was stolen from the drive in Wichenford on 24th January at approx 6.30pm – Ivor Williams P7E trailer complete with mesh sides the back drops down to become a ramp and spare wheel.

The Police are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information relating to these thefts or that may have been in the areas around the time of the incidents and heard or seen anything suspicious.

If you have information this, please call the Police on 101, quoting incident reference numbers 00080_I_22012022 or 00531_I_24012022.

Please see below advice provided by the Crime Prevention Officer.

In light of several trailer thefts in the area 

Where possible park the trailer where it cannot be seen from the road, public rights of way and when you come onto the yard or drive.

 Ensure there is good lighting and the area is secure with gates and locks.

When not in use, park or place something in front of the trailer so it cannot be moved.

Secure the trailer with a chain or steel cable to a strong anchor point.

Consider a cable alarm where an alarm will go off if the cable is cut.

Use a wheel lock and/or hitch lock.

Record all relevant numbers, e.g. chassis, body, hitch numbers etc.

Make the trailer unique to you so it stands out, this can be done by putting the farm/stable name on the side or using a motif or logo

This will act as a deterrent and make it easily identifiable..

If appropriate mark your vehicle registration on the roof of your vehicle, this can be done by oil based paint or there are kits you can buy with vinyl lettering.

Take photographs of the trailer from all angles, include close ups of any unique markings such as scratches, dents, scuffs and any security markings and keep them in a safe place to give to the police to help them identify the vehicle if it is stolen.

Consider fitting a tracker that will notify you if the trailer is moved and allow you to track it and pass the information to the police

Please be aware when de-icing your car on a cold frosty morning.

I received the following from one of our residents.

• At approximately 7:30am (14/1/22) I went out to the garage and immediately saw a male walking past the entrance to our property as if walking up towards the school. He was looking into our access way as if passing, and seemed to be jingling something in his hand. All I can say is that he was in his 20’s, tall, dark hair and wore dark clothing.
• He may have been totally innocent but he just seemed out of place given the time of day and how cold/frosty  it was. His clothing was lightweight/ athletic and not attire as if out for a walk.
• Again, he may have been totally innocent however, his demeanour was similar to that of a person looking for an opportunity to take a vehicle which had been intentionally left unattended with the engine running to defrost etc..
• If he was up to no good then the chances are he’ll be in a vehicle with one or maybe two others.. The car will be used to survey the lanes and look into properties where there are lights on, and signs of youngsters living there suggesting there are children about to be conveyed to school.
• If there is a vehicle(s) at the same location which looks of value, then they’ll usually drop one of the occupants off so as to casually walk past the property, and then the same occupant will be picked up by the the said vehicle further away. They can  repeat this process a number of times until they get a strike! They work so quickly the vehicle’s gone in seconds and the worst of it is the insurance company won’t pay out!