DAY 82: Are your outbuildings secure?

Police are reminding residents to make sure their outbuildings and containers are secure, after two recent breaks overnight into this morning (28/2).

Offenders forced their way into a container at a farm in Wavendon, near Milton Keynes, by forcing the metal shutter and smashing their way in. An outbuilding at a farm in Leighton Buzzard was also targeted the same night, with a door being jemmied open. Nothing was stolen.

Police are reminding people of the importance of making sure all buildings and containers are secure. If you would like a check on your security, contact the police on 101 and ask to speak to your local crime reduction advisor.

The Thames Valley Police Country Watch website has a wealth of information and advice on how to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

DAY 81: Burglars sent to prison, Wycombe

Two High Wycombe men have been sentenced a total of 40 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a number of thefts and burglaries in Wycombe. 

Paul Horwood, age 33, from Oldhouse Close, and Jervaise Shurety, aged 44, from Inkerman Hill, each pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court on February 25 to one count of handling stolen goods; one count of burglary non-dwelling; and five counts of theft. Horwood was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, and Shurety was sentenced to 22 months.

The charge of handling stolen goods relates to a mini digger stolen in Studley Green on 15 August 2013. The burglary non-dwellings relate to an offence on 25 July 2013 in EJ Churchill Shooting ground.

The five thefts relate to incidents below:

• Theft of a mini digger in Addington on 10 January 2013;
• Theft of a dumper truck in Winslow on 15 January 2013;
• Theft of a dumper truck in from a farm in West Wycombe on 6 February 2013;
• Theft of mini digger in High Wycombe on 20 May 2013;
• Theft of two dumper trucks from Marsh County on 1 August and 12 August 2013.

The presiding Judge thanked the officer in the case, Det Con Alex Kratky from Local CID at High Wycombe police station, for his thoroughness and persistency.

Det Insp Robin Hughes, from Local CID at High Wycombe police station, said: “The two defendants conspired together to target properties in isolated rural areas which resulted in a lengthy investigation to catch them.

“Bringing Horwood and Shurety to justice will have a major impact on reducing rural plant theft across Buckinghamshire."

DAY 80: Man arrested in connection with metal theft - Aldermaston

Thames Valley Police officers have arrested a man after the theft of metal in Aldermaston, near Reading.

Police were called by an eagle-eyed member of the public on Wednesday (19/2), who reported they had seen a suspicious vehicle on a road near to Wasing Park that had various metal items in the back.

Officers attended and, with the witness, discovered a large metal pole had been sawn off and stolen. A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and released on bail.

This case is an excellent example of how calling the police when you have suspicions about a person or vehicle in your area can lead to results.

If you see anything you are unsure of in your community which you think may be suspicious, call police on 101. If a crime is in progress, call 999.

DAY 79: Two men charged with trespassing in Newbury

Thames Valley Police charged two people on Saturday (08/2) with entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment.

Thomas Britzman, aged 19, of Avon Way, Newbury and a 16-year-old boy, were charged in relation to an incident of trespass at a field belonging to Newbury Showground on 27 January .

Both have been bailed to appear at Newbury Magistrates’ Court on 27 February.

DAY 78: West Berkshire runs Operation Fox to disrupt crime on Ridgeway

Operation Fox ran on Tuesday (11/2) between 9am and 5pm along The Ridgeway, a National Trail that runs through West Berkshire which is known to be used by criminals to commit rural crime as it is criss-crossed by byways

The aim was to:

• Disrupt and detect any criminal activity
• Stop check and where powers exist search persons and vehicles of interest
• Gather intelligence
• Seize any vehicles where powers exist
• Provide reassurance to the rural community by high visibility policing and engage with members of the public

Two members of the Mounted Section helped the local NHPT to patrol The Ridgeway.

Two Section 59s were issued on the day to people driving in an anti-social manner.

DAY 77: Police to hold rural crime prevention forum at South Bucks District Council offices

Thames Valley Police will be holding a rural crime and crime prevention forum in the South Buckinghamshire District Council offices on Thursday 27 February 2014.

This is a meeting for farmers, landowners, gamekeepers, horse and other animal keepers and anyone else who may be interested, to meet with Thames Valley Police and their partners.

Attending on behalf of Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld will be the Deputy PCC, Mr David Carroll.

If you are concerned about rural crime or want to share your views about what is being done to tackle rural crime, please come along and encourage others to do so.

The forum will begin at 6.30pm at Capswood, South Bucks District Council offices, Oxford Road, Denham UB9 4LH.

Currently on the agenda:

• Welcome, coffee and introduction by Superintendent Steve Hockin
• Discussion about impact of crime and criminal activity currently being felt by the local rural communities
• Discussion of successes and/or failure of recent Thames Valley Police initiatives designed to improve the prevention and detection of crime in rural areas and suggestions for further improvements and new initiatives.
• Discussion on further ways to improve communication, co-ordination and understanding between Thames Valley Police and members of the rural community.

Further Information can be obtained by contacting:

PS Lucy Seabright, email: lucy.seabright@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk  or phone: 07800 703335

Robert Dunleavy, email: robertdunleavy@nfumutual.co.uk or phone: 01628 477311                         

DAY 76: Two men arrested under the hunting act in Hungerford

Two men have been arrested under the hunting act after being seen trespassing on private land and allegedly using dogs to kill a deer.

Officers were called at approximately 3.30pm yesterday (12/2), to reports men were trespassing in a field just off the B4000, Hungerford. Officers located the men and seized a vehicle and two dogs.

The two men, aged 33 and 23, both from Swansea, have been released on police bail until 24 March.

If you have any information which could help officers or any information or concerns about hunting or poaching, please call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don't want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.