DAY 100: Red kites update

The birds have now been handed over to a Natural England field officer for post-mortem examination. If poisoning is confirmed, more partnership working will be required to try and identify the source of the poison and any suspects for offences against the Wildlife and Countryside Act and/or Pesticide Regulations.

PC Perry, who is currently leading the investigation, believes that working in partnership with Natural England and other similar organisations is the only way forward in dealing with Wild Life Crime offences.

 Visit the RSPB website for more information about bird crime.

DAY 99: Red kites possibly poisoned in Wallingford

Thames Valley Police wildlife officers have launched an investigation after two red kites were found dead near Wallingford.

Police were called last night and are currently investigating to see if the birds have been poisoned. If so, a criminal investigation will be launched under section one of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

If tests due to be carried out on the birds to determine how they died show they were poisoned,  the Thames Valley Police wildlife officer will launch an investigation to try and find those responsible.

Visit the RSPB website for more information about bird crime.

DAY 98: Rural crime round up

Among the latest crimes to affect rural areas of the Thames Valley was a theft from stables in West Ilsley, Newbury on Sunday (6/4), when at 10pm, offenders broke into storage rooms and stole items.

On 4 April in Little London, Whitchurch, near Aylesbury, offenders flattened a wire fence to access an oil tank in garden at the rear of the garage. Oil has then been stolen, and the hose that was used has been left behind by the offenders.

Overnight at Clapper Farm, Cross Lane near Reading on 4 April, a caravan was stolen from a secure hard standing area. Offenders have bypassed all security by breaking through several fences and driving through fields to get to the main road. The caravan is a white Bailey Pageant Burgundy 7.

At Berry Leys Farm, East Claydon Road in Winslow, on 5 April, offenders gained access to the two diesel tanks in farm yard and emptied them of 200 litres of diesel.

If you have any information about these crimes, please call police on 101.

For further information on rural crime prevention / security advice and TVP Countrywatch please see the website -  TVP Country Watchrural crime prevention 

DAY 97: Theft of red diesel

Police are reminding residents to make sure their fuel is secure, after two arrests in connection with the theft of red diesel last month from a farm in Longcott, Faringdon.

The theft happened on 21 March, and officers arrested two people shortly afterwards in connection with it. A 19-year-old man from Swindon was subsequently released on police bail until 26 April 2014.

The second man, Philip O'Driscoll, aged 46, of Streetfield Road, Northampton has been charged with one count of theft and will appear at Oxford Magistrates on 22 April 2014.

Considering the position of your tank can reduce your chance of becoming a victim as it can have a significant effect on its vulnerability:

• If it is close to the house and overlooked, then the thief may consider the risk of being seen to be too high.
• If it is close to the road or other access points, then it will be an easier target.
• Hiding it behind the garage or other structure is commonplace but can be an advantage to the thief.
• If tanks are to be stored in an outbuilding then there are strict regulations which must be followed and advice should be sought from the fire service and the Oil Firing Technical Association for the petroleum industry (OFTEC).

For further crime prevention advice on red diesel and heating oil visit our country watch website.

DAY 96: Officers busy out and about

Officers have had a busy time at the end of our week getting out and about and following on from our operation yesterday looking for anti-social motor cycle riders PC Merlin Evans found evidence of the motorcycles riding across the field but unfortunately no sign of the culprits.

Our mounted section was also out patrolling around Ibstone and Stokenchurch and stopped in at one of the local schools to say hello.

Officers were out meeting lots of other residents of our countryside but as you can see following the heavy rain over the winter there are still areas that are suffering and this can be a reminder to landowners (large and small) clear out their ditches.  This is an obligation under the Land Drainage Act 1991.

 

Other agencies are also helping with our operation to get information out there and offer security advice to as many people as we can as you can see from our photo with the NFU. 

If we have not managed to see you over this week but you would like any of your equipment security marked or a security assessment of your property please contact your local neighbourhood team to arrange this.

  

DAY 95: Are your boundaries secure?

A field was damaged after a vehicle was driven into it and set on fire in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.

On 28 March, a van was driven onto farmland off Willen Road and set on fire. The van had been stolen from West Yorkshire in February.

Did you see any suspicious activity in the area? Call police on 101 if so.

Follow our advice on how to make your boundaries more secure by visiting our Country Watch website

DAY 94: Marlow officers meet rural residents

Marlow officers were out and about today meeting some of our rural residents, advice was offered to the human ones about security for their equipment and belongings.  The following information isn’t just for our rural areas but could also be considered by all.

General advice:

• Where possible install fuel tanks within secure buildings or cages made from a material resistant to attack
• Thieves may stake-out your property in advance by making up an excuse to call round. Try to take a note of their registration number and report the incident to police
• Never advertise that you are away by leaving notes for tradesmen or delivery drivers
•  Ensure you have adequate insurance cover
•   Keep up to date on crime trends by joining Countrywatch
• When you are away, ask neighbours and friends to keep an eye on your property and be prepared to do the same for them    
• Take down registration numbers of suspicious vehicles and report suspicious activity to police immediately.

Officers have also continued to visit golf clubs marking up equipment making it more undesirable to thieves.  If you have anything that you would like security marked please contact your local team.

An operation is being carried out as I type in the woodland area around High Wycombe this is to stop the anti-social riding of motorbikes through the woodland and open areas which can cause distress to persons trying to enjoy the area. More information on this tomorrow.