23^rd November 2008 – Rogue Traders

There are rogue traders operating in this area, they are offering building work and targeting the elderly and elderly housing areas. They are only doing small amount of work which is always completed in a sub standard fashion and charge large amounts of money for what they have done.

They have also harassed the elderly persons they have targeted in to giving them a blank cheque for them to fill out the amounts themselves. The men to look out for are using a Blue Ford Transit van on a 02 plate but also use a Dark Blue Ford Focus estate on a 51 plate and a Vauxhall Astra on a P plate. We have also had reports of a Blue Transit flat bed with the index A4 FGH who are offering guttering work so if you spot any of these about then please let us know.

This week we have had the theft of a trailer from Isleham, this was taken from the front of the owners home at 10 o clock in the morning by 2 males in a white car/derived van. The trailer is made by ERDE and is 4ft by 5ft and silver and green in colour. If you see it then again give us a shout please?

Regards PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris

17^th November 2008 – Parcel Scam

I would just like to bring the following scam to your attention so no one in our community falls foul of this, please tell your friends and family as it could be a national scam.

It has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service)suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number). DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at www.icstis.org.uk

Regards to all PC 1848 NICK WEBBER CBM Soham and Surrounding Villages

12^th November 2008 – Rise in Tool Thefts

There has been a rise in theft from vehicles where offenders are scouting around for unattended vehicles which have items on display. They are also targeting work vans which may hold valuable tools. Please be vigilant, one victim of this type of crime saw a white car derived ford escort van drive past their house very slowly twice a few minutes before their vehicle was broken into. If you see any vehicles acting in a suspicious manor like this please don't hesitate to call the non emergency number on 0845 456 456 4.

Even if you think it may not lead to anything, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Any make, model or registration number is of great help when calling in an incident.

If you see any suspicious people in the area please call. They will often walk slowly past parked cars looking into the windows.If you see someone actually breaking into a vehicle please call 999.

Regards PCSOs Jack Harris and PCSO Barb Neill.

6^th November 2008 – Seens any suspicious activity?

Help us to achieve our aim of creating a safer Cambridgeshire and join us in the fight against crime.  Police would like to know if you have seen any suspicious activity in your area?  Do you suspect drug activity, or someone handling stolen goods?  Is there an address near you that receives a lot of visitors by car or on foot whom only stop for a few minutes at a time?  Do you see packages being exchanged for money?  Does activity take places during strange hours of the day or night?

Police would like your help in stopping criminal activity in 'Your Neighbourhood'. 

You can contact police in various different ways:-

Cambridgeshire Constabulary Switchboard         0845 456 456 4

Crime Stoppers anonymously                                  0800 555111

The information you give will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Regards PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris South Neighbourhood Policing Team

1^st November 2008 – Post Halloween

I am pleased to report that Halloween as far as we are aware passed off without any problems in our villages. It was great to see so many of the youngsters all dressed up and out trick of treating despite it being such a cold night.

That said we are having issues with graffiti in both Isleham and Fordham at the moment some of which is of a very crude nature. If you have been affected by the graffiti and have yet to either report it or know any information of who may be responsible then please let us know.

We have also had a burglary in a house in Wicken although it is not clear as yet if anything has been taken, so please be extra vigilant in reporting who is out and about in our villages.

Regards PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris 0845 456 456 4

29^th October 2008 - Success for 'Immobilise'

Earlier this week a youth was stopped and searched and found to be in possession of a mobile phone that had been reported stolen during August.The phone had been registered with 'Immobilise' and has now been successfully reunited with its owner. The youth experienced our hospitality at Parkside police station!

To protect your property, register free on-line any valuables that have a unique serial number such as mobile phones, laptops, i-pods, bicycles and cameras at www.immobilise.com.Kind Regards, PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris

 1st October 2008 - Blue Escort L173OAV

Can you all keep your eyes out for a Blue Escort index L173 OAV that has been seen acting suspiciously in Chippenham, this vehicle has been seen in the Cambridge area near to scenes of burglaries so maybe planning to commit crime in our area. If you see it let us know?

Regards PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris, South Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 456 456 4

29^th September 2008 – Suspicious Activity

Help us to achieve our aim of creating a safer Cambridgeshire and join us in the fight against crime.  Police would like to know if you have seen any suspicious activity in your area?  Do you suspect drug activity, or someone handling stolen goods?  Is there an address near you that receives a lot of visitors by car or on foot whom only stop for a few minutes at a time?  Do you see packages being exchanged for money?  Does activity take places during strange hours of the day or night?

Police would like your help in stopping criminal activity in 'Your Neighbourhood'.  You can contact police in various different ways:-

 Cambridgeshire Constabulary Switchboard         0845 456 456 4

Crime Stoppers    anonymously                   0800 555111

Kind Regards

PCSOs Barb Neil and Jack Harris, South Neighbourhood Policing Team, 0845 456 456 4

29^th September 2008 – More thefts from sheds

There have been several shed burglaries in The villages in the last month, so here is some security advice for your sheds and garages.

Shed and garage security

The standard security locks and doors supplied with buildings of this nature often represent to burglars an easier target than alarmed, double glazed, occupied houses.  There are a few simple measures that can be taken to vastly improve their security.

1) Padlocking your garden shed ensures the lock cannot be broken open.

However, padlocks can be easily circumnavigated by levering or forcing the lock itself off the flimsy wooden doorjamb and surround, leaving the padlock intact and locked and the shed insecure.  Replace the lightweight 'T' hinges that come as standard on most garden sheds with heavier ones, and replace all screws with security screws.  Fix the roof to the walls from the inside, and bolt the floor to the foundation with bolts through the floor bearers.  This will prevent the roof being pried off or the whole shed being lifted away: it has happened in the past!

2) If possible, fit window locks to all opening windows on your shed or garage.  Fix 50x50mm steel weld mesh to the inside of the window, and consider frosted glass to prevent someone looking in and seeing what's inside.  Consider bracing the insides of doors with additional timbers, fitting 5/7 lever insurance locks to external doors and fit additional bolts to the corners and bottom of garage doors.

 3) Think about how easy it is for someone to enter your garden from a road, alleyway or other garden, especially if you live in a terraced house.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary runs Operation Thistle, providing information and advice about how to secure your garden.  For a leaflet or more advice about garden or home security, please write to:

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Community Safety Unit

Parkside Police Station

Parkside

Cambridge

CB1 1JG

 If you have any information about crime please contact us on 0845 456 456 4 or alternatively call crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Kind regards, PCSO Barb Neill, 07736086870

26^th September 2008 – Vehicle Crime

We have had a large spate of vehicle crime in the East Cambs area over the last week.  There were 3 crimes reported over Wednesday to Thursday in Carter Street, Fordham and another 2 crimes reported Thursday to Friday night in the Mildenhall road area of Fordham.  Please be aware of any suspicious vehicles or people in your area.  Anything you see please report to 0845 456 456 4 or in an emergency 999.  Remember to take all property out of your vehicle and secure your vehicle when leaving it alone.

PCSO Barb Neill & PCSO Jack Harris

26^th September 2008 – How and when to contact your local police

Hello residents.

I have had some feedback that some of you are unsure of what numbers to call for help and advice from your local police force, to address this I have put together some useful information that should help: We always like to hear from local residents, so feel free to come and say hello when you see me out on patrol.

You can also get in touch by calling 0845 456 456 4 and asking the operator to put you through to the Ely Neighbourhood Team.

If you are calling to report a crime the switchboard operator will be able to put you through to someone who can help, do not ask for the NPT in this instance

If you just wish to pass general information feel free to do this via the ecops web site.

IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS DIAL 999.

You should call 999 when:

·         A life is in danger

·         A serious offence is in progress

·         A suspect is at the scene

·         An alleged offender is identified at any location

·         There is imminent likelihood of violence / damage to persons or property

·         There is a serious road traffic collision

FOR NON EMERGENCIES AND TO REPORT CRIMES PLEASE CALL 0845 456 456 4.

To provide information about crime anonymously to the police, please call Crimestoppers, an independent charity on 0800 555 111.

If you would prefer a visit or telephone call from either myself or PCSO Harris then please call 0845 456 456 4 and ask to be put through to the Ely Neighbourhood Team and ask for a message to passed to us and we will arrange a convenient time to visit or call. The same applies if you run or are a member of a group that you think would benefit from having a talk or visit from us.

We are also having a few problems with the villages that sit on the Cambridge/ Suffolk border which results in calls going to the wrong control room and thus slows the response time from ourselves as messages have to be passed between forces. So to clarify who belongs to who the following villages belong to Cambridgeshire Force:

Wicken         Fordham          Snailwell

Upware        Isleham            Kennett

Barway        Chippenham    Badlingham

I hope that helps. If any of you have any topics that you would like to see covered then please let me know and I will do my best to get them covered in future editions.

All the best, Barb Neill PCSO 7237

24^th September 2008 – Neighbourhood Panel Meeting

Are you concerned about crime, or the fear of crime, and anti-social behaviour; speeding, parking and other traffic issues; housing issues and any other issues in your locality ?

If you have any issues of concern then please make every effort to attend the next Neighbourhood Panel meeting at Soham Village College (Beechurst

Hall) at  7pm on Wednesday, 8th October. The presentation will be about Engagement and provision for young people.  Other topics will include Speedwatch and local issues of concern which members of the public are asked to raise at the meeting

There are 5 Neighbourhood Panels in East Cambridgeshire serving

     South area

     Soham and East area  8th October at 7pm

     West area

     Littleport

     Ely

All Panels are open for the public to participate in, you will be very welcome to come and have your say !

Each Panel is made up of Parish, District and County Councillors along with community representatives invited to become panel members. The public is welcome to attend and raise their own local issues.  At Panel meetings there is discussion about local concerns such as crime, health, housing and children and young people’s issues. Decisions are made about which issues are most important to focus efforts on in the next 3 months.  Each Panel also agrees what actions need to be completed between meetings and who will be responsible. So, its all about local action, and improvement for your area!

The Local Strategic Partnership, together with other important service providers in our area, is working to ensure that the community can have a say in how services are delivered. There is still much work to be done this is a completely new way of working but the Council hopes that Neighbourhood Panels will become a valuable part of community life in the district.

If you want to know even more, and you have a computer, take a look on the District Councils website (www.eastcambs.gov.uk) and look for the Neighbourhood Panel webpage in the A Z section of ECDCs homepage.

Alternatively, contact Alan Williams, the Neighbourhood Panel Coordinator, on 01353  616349.

23^rd September 2008 – Theft from vans

There has been a recent spate of theft from vans in and around the Ely and Littleport area. This may seem far away but the offenders could come over this area to commit more crime. The offenders are targeting vans which may carry tools so remember if you do carry any expensive items or tools in a van, please make sure you take the items out.

Myself and Barb will be patrolling, and any vans we see at night we will make sure they are secure and are not likely to be a target of any crimes.Please make sure no items are left in your cars/vans at night, as this is the time the offenders are operating in.If you see any suspicious activity in your area please call the non emergency number on 0845 456 456 4.

If you see someone breaking into a car/van please dial 999.

Regards PCSO Jack Harris and PCSO Barb Neill.

20^th September 2008 – House Thefts

We have had a few reports this week of a male with a young boy with him targeting some houses in the Fordham area. They are knocking on doors of properties that appear empty, by that we mean that no vehicles are in the drive as opposed to unoccupied. When and if they get no answer they are making their way round to the rear of the houses in an attempt to gain entry. They managed to get into one house on Carter Street but thankfully were disturbed by the home owner before they managed to get further than the doorway.

The male is described as approx 30 years old of slim build, he has very dark hair and is around 5ft 10 tall. The young boy he has with him is approx 10-11 years old. Please keep your eyes out for these two and if you see him then please give us a call.

Kind regards

PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris, South Neighbourhood Policing Team, 0845 456 456 4

20th September 2008 – Hare Coursing

It is that time of year when Hare Coursing is taking place.

What is hare coursing?

Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares using hounds. Participants of an event spread in a line across a field approximately 20-30 metres apart and disturb the hare from it's 'form'. They release their dogs onto the hare with the object of one dog catching it first.

 Participants will bet on which dog will catch the hare first and as it is a gambling event, hare coursing means large sums of money changing hands.The terrified hare, once disturbed, is reluctant to leave its home so to start with it runs in a large circle. It tries to jink, twist and turn to avoid being caught and as part of the 'sport' points are awarded to any of the dogs for causing it to turn. The hare is faster than the dogs but is no match for their stamina. As it gets tired it runs in a straighter line and is eventually worn down to absolute exhaustion and killed by the hounds not necessarily quickly. It can be fought over by two or more dogs and end up in a brutal tug of war between the dogs' jaws suffering a horrific death.

Hare coursing tends to start when crops have been harvested leaving large

tracts of land without standing crops. This is usually around the end of

August/start of September. Coursing is more likely to take place at dawn or

dusk but it can also take place in broad daylight.

How you can tell there is an illegal hare coursing event taking place?

The most obvious sign is a group of vehicles parked in a rural area perhaps

by a gateway to farmland, on a grass verge, on a farm track or bridle path.

There will usually be estate cars, four wheel drives or vans that are well

looked after to avoid attention from the police. They may contain evidence

of dogs inside such as muddy paw prints and dog hair.These vehicles can drive easily onto fields, destroying crops and damaging fences as they go.Hare coursers often travel in convoy with transit vans at the front and rear containing minders and the cars in between containing the employers. If they are confronted in a field, they may claim they are only exercising their dogs

If you see an event taking place, NEVER APPROACH THE PARTICIPANTS. They can

be violent. Instead, try to make a note of vehicle details and descriptions

and tell the Police immediately.

Regards

PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris,South Neighbourhood Policing Team, 0856 456 456 4

13^th September 2008 – Not so handy man

In the last week there has been a white male aged 40-50 in a blue transit van knocking on residents doors and telling them that they need work doing on their house. he is charging about £60 to do some work and not doing anything at all.

Please be aware of this male and the blue van. If you suspect the van or male may be in your area knocking on doors please call the non emergency number on 0845 456 456 4.

Remember if you have a chain on your door, use it!Its better to be safe than sorry. Ask for identification if someone is claiming to be a builder or from a company.If you are at all worried about someone at your door please call the police on the non emergency number:

0845 456 456 4. If you are any immediate danger or your property is in danger call 999.Regards PCSO Jack Harris and PCSO Barb Neill.

8^th September 2008 – Large Cat

We had a report last week of a big cat being spotted along Knaves Acre Drove in Isleham. It is possibly a sighting of the Fen Tiger we often hear about in the press but as it was more than one person that saw it the information is credible. We don't wish to alarm anyone just to make you aware and to keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you spot it. It is unlikely that it will venture into built up areas and would more than likely run away from us than attack so our sources say, If you could let us know of any sightings as we have a specialist team ready to deal with the issue as and when required.

We also had a couple of reports of attempted break ins on sheds/garages last week but thankfully they were disturbed by vigilant residents.

Regards

PCSOs Barb Neill and Jack Harris - South Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 456 456 4

ARCHIVED REPORTS( click on each entry to view it)  

24^th July 2008 – School Holidays

20^th July 2008 -Personal Security

16^th July 2008 – Human Trafficking

1^st July 2008 - Tack Thefts

30^th June 2008 - Shed Security

26th April 2008 - Theft of garden equipment from sheds and garages.

21st April 2008- ATM Fraud using Card Cloning Devices

15th April 2008 - Burglary at Fordham Co-op & Suspicious Workmen

11th April 2008 - Rural Community Action Team - Wildlife Crime

8th April 2008 - Land Rover Discovery Stolen

6th April 2008 - Vehicle Stolen & Vehicle Security Advice

3rd April 2008 - Neighbourhood Panel Priorities