RECENT POLICE INCIDENT REPORTS
Monday, 9 August 2010
Doorstep callers
We have had reports of two males and one female, in a white van, calling at households
offering to do garden clearance / odd jobs, but charging very high prices.
These people appear to single out the elderly and we have various complaints
that the fees they charge were not agreed before hand and are excessively high.
Please can I ask you to advise any elderly neighbours that they should NOT
commission any works on their doorsteps and that if they need work carried out,
they should ask friends and neighbours for personal recommendations. Prices for any
commissioned works should always be agreed prior to commencing the job and we would advise
that you ask for a written quote so that you can prove the price you have agreed
in case of any disagreement after the job has been completed.
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
Wednesday 10th February 2010.
Householders warned of fraud
Householders across Essex could this week receive a letter warning them of fraudsters.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and City of London Police have written to 6,500 homes across the UK warning residents that their details are on a list being used by fraudsters to target people and sell them worthless shares.
The list contains the names of about 10,000 people, some with addresses and phone numbers.
The police have teamed up with the FSA to launch Operation Warn following concerns the list was being circulated among fraudsters.
The letter, which is the first stage of the operation, explains what people can do to protect themselves from the fraud.
It includes advice such as hanging up the phone if you get an ‘out of the blue’ call offering you shares and checking that anyone offering to sell you shares is registered with the FSA.
By writing to people now, we can raise awareness of this type of fraud and help protect people from losing money to these criminals.
Jonathan Phelan, FSA
As well as acting quickly to alert those on the list, the FSA and City of London Police have launched a new secure consumer helpline for people who have received the letter.
The fraudsters usually contact people by telephone and use high pressure sales tactics to con investors into buying non-tradable, overpriced or even non-existent shares.
Jonathan Phelan, Head of the Unauthorised Business Department at the FSA, said: “By writing to people now, we can raise awareness of this type of fraud and help protect people from losing money to these criminals.
“Legitimate companies should not normally call you out of the blue offering to buy or sell shares. If you get such calls, just hang up and report it. These fraudsters will sound authentic, have legitimate looking websites but they just want to steal your money with little hope of you getting it back.”
Det Chief Supt Steve Head, head of the City of London Police's Economic Crime Directorate said: "We are all potential victims for fraudsters and need to be aware of the heartless way they operate.
"I would urge those people who receive a letter from us in the next few days to contact the FSA and City of London Police on the Operation WARN helpline.”
· You can call the helpline on 0845 602 2185.
Car Park thefts
Police in mid and north Essex are urging members of the public to ensure that they keep their bags and purses safe and secure in car parks across the region.
Since December 11, 2009, there have been six reported incidents where unidentified suspects have distracted a shopper in a car park, usually by asking for directions, whilst an accomplice has stolen the shopper’s purse or bag from inside their car. The criminals have then used any credit or debit cards inside the bags that they have stolen to withdraw sums of cash fraudulently from ATMs, often within minutes of the theft.
Insp Mick Pitcher said: “Essex Police has had six crimes of this type reported to us since early December, so thefts using this precise modus operandi are rare. However, I would ask members of the public to be aware of this criminal technique, and to keep their valuables, such as bags and purses, safe and secure when they’re in busy car parks – perhaps parking their car or unloading their shopping.
“We also suspect that the criminals may be watching people using ATMs, to try to read their PIN numbers as they type them in. So, I would also ask members of the public to be aware and alert when withdrawing cash from a cash machine. Try and make sure that your PIN number is kept private when entering it into the keypad and be swift to remove both the card and the money when they are returned to you.”
Two of the thefts occurred in Chelmsford, with one theft taking place in Halstead, one in Witham, one in Dunmow and one in Stanway
If you see any suspicious or unusual activity around your neighbourhood or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
Many thanks,
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
Monday 8th February 2010.
Suspicious calls:
We have again had reports of an alarm company (who I cannot name) attempting to set up meetings in peoples’ homes to sell alarm systems. According to one report, the householder was told that Essex Police had asked the company to show their system to local residents.
Please be assured that Essex Police DO NOT endorse any commercial companies and would NOT advise you to invite sales companies into your homes unless you are absolutely sure that you wish to use their services. Please warn your friends and neighbours about these people. If you are considering an alarm system, please speak to our Crime Reduction Officer (01376 556 233) who will explain to you what you might need and how much you should expect to pay for hardware and installation.
Bramble’s back:
On a happier note, Bramble the Chocolate Labrador who went missing in January, has now been found and is happy to be at home with his rightful owners.
Suspicious vehicle:
A “V” reg silver Vauxhall Vectra has been reported as sitting in a lay-by in Little Chesterford, claiming to have run out of petrol on the way to Manchester and asking for money for petrol in return for “gold” jewellery. Don’t be fooled - we’ve had other similar calls in the past and the vehicles have always managed to move before a patrol car gets there!
Metal thefts:
There are an increasing amount of metal thefts since scrap metal can fetch an extremely good price at the moment. If you have cast iron garden furniture in your garden, we’d advise that you keep it out of sight of the road, or even better, put it away whilst you’re not using it.
If you saw any suspicious or unusual activity around any of these locations or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
Many thanks,
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
Dunmow 21st January 2010
2 young men knocked on the door of a resident’s house asking to come in and check her computer to see what internet service provider she was using. Fortunately the householder declined.
We have had reports of other people elsewhere telephoning up and asking people to switch on their computers and log on to the internet. If anyone asks you to do this, we would advise that you do not. Your legitimate internet service provider will know full well that you use their services and anyone else who asks could possibly be trying to intercept your communications and financial transactions.
If you saw any suspicious or unusual activity around any of these locations or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
Many thanks,
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
Dunmow 21st January 2009
2 young men knocked on the door of a resident’s house asking to come in and check her computer to see what internet service provider she was using. Fortunately the householder declined.
We have had reports of other people elsewhere telephoning up and asking people to switch on their computers and log on to the internet. If anyone asks you to do this, we would advise that you do not. Your legitimate internet service provider will know full well that you use their services and anyone else who asks could possibly be trying to intercept your communications and financial transactions.
If you saw any suspicious or unusual activity around any of these locations or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
Tesco Dunmow – 11:50hrs 20th January 2009
A lady was stopped by a couple in what she described as a “beaten up” silver Mercedez who asked her for directions. They chatted for a while and then the lady drove home. It transpired later that her cash card had been stolen from her purse. It may be that these people stood behind her in the queue to find out her pin number.
The couple are described as being a white male with a Eastern European accent, dark hair aged around late 30’s and a white female with blonde hair tied back of around the same age. If you see these people, please let us know.
If you saw any suspicious or unusual activity around any of these locations or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk
Hempstead Tuesday 19th Jan 2009
At around 9am, a man in an orange high visibility jacket knocked on the door of an address in Hempstead asking to read the electric meter. The householder escorted the caller to his outhouse where the meter is kept and stayed for the duration of his visit. Afterwards, feeling suspicious, he called his electricity provider who said that they have no meter readers working in this area.
We would advise you to always be sure of who you let into your house by checking ID and to stay with callers for the duration of their visit.
If you are unsure of a caller’s identity DO NOT LET THEM IN.
Roofing / house maintenance
A Neighbourhood Watch member has drawn our attention to a company currently canvassing for roof cleaning. We NEVER advise that you buy goods or services on your door step. Many companies who doorstep sell charge hugely inflated prices with no guarantee of workmanship. If you do need work done on your house there is a list of approved and accredited practitioners in the Yellow Pages who can all be checked out by the accrediting body.
If you saw any suspicious or unusual activity around any of these locations or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
Lindsay Baillie
Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford.
01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683 Lindsay.Baillie@essex.pnn.police.uk