DAYS 49 & 50: Burglary hotspot patrols result in three arrests in Iver, South Bucks

Neighbourhood teams in Chiltern and South Bucks have been patrolling the south eastern corner of the local policing area to tackle burglaries, which have previously increased at this time of year. The patrols spanned four days last week (7-10/1).

After receiving intelligence as a result of a burglary which occurred last Wednesday (8/1), a suspicious vehicle was located by officers in Pinewood Green the following evening (9/1). After a pursuit, the car was pulled over in Seven Hills Road, Iver and searched. A large amount of herbal cannabis was found.

Three men were subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession with intent to supply. The men, aged 24 and 25, both from Slough, and a 26-year-old from Iver have all been bailed until 7 February.

Inspt Lucy Price said: “We identified a burglary non-dwelling spike happening in the first few weeks of January. Although there is no distinct hotspot area, offences have been found to occur across Iver, Iver Heath, Denham, Fulmer and Stoke Poges and there was a noticeable trend towards rural or remote locations with farms, stables and lock-ups being targeted for saddles, machinery, tools, hay and catalytic converters.

“We have been working with the Metropolitan Police in our ANPR operations so both forces can cover the cross-border areas which we believe make quick escape routes for offenders.”

Information about keeping your outbuildings and lock-ups safe can be found on the Country Watch pages of the Thames Valley Police website.

DAYS 34 & 35: Three men arrested for poaching in South Oxfordshire

Last Thursday (19/9) three men were arrested on suspicion of poaching offences and possession of an offensive weapon after being stopped by police officers on the Ridgway in Moulsford, Wallingford.

Police stopped a vehicle at approximately 11pm after under suspicious circumstances during 100 days of action patrols. After searching the car, a catapult was found which was subsequently seized along with the car.

The men, aged 30, 28 and 23 are all from Tadley, Hampshire and have been released on bail until the 22 October.

On Friday (20/9), teams across the South and Vale visited Millets and surrounding farm visits for a day of reinforcing crime prevention advice. 

Property marking valuable farming property!

The numbers for the day were:

• ·         92 people signed up to Thames Valley Alert

• ·         6 Smartwater kits sold

• ·         27 bikes marked

• ·         41 property marking kits given out

• ·         9 purse bells given out to elderly people living in rural locations

• ·         20 farm visits

• ·         8 crime prevention folders delivered to farmers/ landowners

• ·         20 Country Watch gate signs displayed

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DAY 33: Stolen property recovered during patrols near Christmas Common and two arrested for theft of a motor vehicle

During patrols yesterday (18/9), stolen property was recovered near to Christmas Common in Watlington.

The discovery came when a passer-by found a credit card by the side of the road near to the beauty spot car park and handed it card to a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who was patrolling close by. The PCSO then searched further along the hedgerows and discovered the discarded property.

The property is thought to have been stolen from a car during a spate of theft from motor vehicle offences on 14 September, when six cars were broken into while parked in the car park. Items such as handbags, purses and wallets were stolen. 

The property has been recovered and the owner will be notified.

Over on the eastern by-pass in Thame, a patrol car pulled over a vehicle after the registration plate flagged up from Lancashire Police that the chassis number and occupants should be checked.

After some vehicle checks were carried out it was found that the chassis number and the displayed registration plate both related to different cars. Two men, aged 51and 40, and both from Wheatley, Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. The 51 year-old man appeared at Oxford Magistrates this morning (19/9) and has been released on court bail. The other man remains in custody at this time.

Meanwhile, PCSOs Sandra Syphas and Claire Smallcombe were joined by the South and Vale crime reduction officer Ali Smith and the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for the area, Ann Martin to deliver Smartwater kits to the Appleford-Upon-Thames area.

Halfway through the day, the team managed to sell 70 kits to residents (out of 148 houses, so they’re doing pretty well so far!) which are used to forensically mark valuable property with UV technology.

Residents in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are able to buy the kits at the discounted price of £15 (normally £60) from local neighbourhood officers

DAY 27: Five men arrested during 100 days of action patrols in Aylesbury

An ANPR operation to tackle metal thefts in Aston Clinton resulted in two arrests yesterday (12/9).

At around 1pm a vehicle was stopped and after searching the vehicle a basket of lead was found. The occupant, a 34 year old man from Watford, Hertfordshire was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of an offensive weapon and going equipped to commit theft. The man has been released on police bail until the 10 October.

In another part of Aylesbury, four men were arrested during a 4x4 patrol of the rural areas.

While a car was being pursued by police, a bag which was found to contain jewellery and cash was thrown from the car. Once the car had been pulled over, four men, a 38 year-old from Witney, 21 year-old from Edgware Middlesex, 24 year-old from High Wycombe and a 35 year-old from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The burglary is believed to have taken place at a property in Warwickshire. All four men have been transferred to Warwickshire Police.

The team also visited the villages of Wingrave and Weston Turville and signed up around 100 residents to Thames Valley Alerts.

ANPR operation resulted in four men arrested on suspicion of burglary

Around 18 sites of heritage and churches were also visited and left with specific crime prevention advice.



Visiting heritage sites and churches



A word about heritage crime

Many land owners have ancient monuments and archaeological sites in or near to their property. Any theft or criminal damage involving a monument or archaeological site should be reported to police ASAP. Any work being carried out on a monument without consent can be reported to English Heritage.



Metal detectors

·         The vast majority of metal detector users are law-abiding people and will only detect and search for objects on land where they have the landowner’s permission, however, a landowner cannot give permission for a person to use a metal detector on a scheduled monument.

·         Metal detecting in a specified location without consent could amount to theft.

·         Illegal detecting at night is sometimes known by the term night hawking.

·         Report suspicious incidents to the Thames Valley Police as soon as possible on our non-emergency number 101 or 999 if it is an emergency.  

For further information please visit the National Council for Metal Detecting.