DAY 74: Windsor and Maidenhead recover stolen vehicle linked to four burglary offences.

Yesterday (6/2) officers found and seized an abandoned stolen vehicle in an area of woodland. The vehicle is believed to be linked to four burglary non-dwelling offences where tools and other items were stolen. Two of these burglary offences happened in Surrey and two within the Thames Valley area.

Investigating officers continue to make enquires.

Elsewhere in Windsor, officers set up a Country Watch stand at the Windsor Farm Shop and held a crime prevention event at Windsor Great Park. Approximately 30 people attended and were given various presentations about crime prevention.

Country Watch came to Windsor Farm Shop

Crime prevention presentation at Windsor Great Park

Farmers and landowners are now able to self-asses security on their land using the farm security assessment which can be downloaded from the Thames Valley Police website.

The farm security assessment has been put together by Thames Valley Police’s crime prevention and reduction advisors and contains advice on low cost security solutions in a common sense approach.

In the assessment you will find crime prevention advice about:

•  Controlling access to farms
• Tools
• Metal theft
• Agricultural machinery protection
• Field security
• Livestock
• Wildlife crime
• Out buildings
• Home security

DAY 64: Buckingham team raise burglary awareness and continue appeal for intelligence for Operation Silo

On Monday (20/1), the team in Aylesbury Vale visited the villages around Buckingham to talk to residents about vehicle and home security.

The visits have come after three burglary offences were reported between the 9 and 11 of January with a previous attempted burglary taking place on the 18 December. 

The areas affected by this series are Akeley, Nash, Water Startford and Maids Moreton although there is nothing to suggest these offences are linked.

The crime prevention pages on the Thames Valley Police website have some useful advice about protecting your home.

Have your say meeting at Foscote Farmers market

The schools officer took year 10 children from Cottleslow School out to do security surveys in the rural villages

The children spotted potential home security risks. An open gargage door could be what an oppotunisitc burglar is looking for!

 Here are some simple tips for burglary prevention:

• Visit a local retailer to pick up a 24 hour segment timer for under £5. The timer can be used with a lamp, radio or TV to give the impression that someone’s home. Remember to use an energy efficient light bulb.
• Register your valuables on www.immobilise.com (opens new window) its free and takes just a few minutes and if your valuables are stolen, will allow you to tell the police, your insurer, and the second-hand trade to assist in recovering your property and catch the thief.
• Keep valuables out of sight.
• Lock your doors and windows, if you have a UPVC door make sure you have double locked it.

In total, the team in Buckingham visited 117 addresses and signed up 57 people to the Thames Valley Alert messaging system. 

Elsewhere 12 farms were visited in the area and farm and landowners spoken to about the recently launched Operation Silo. 

Advising on oil tank security in Radclive

Rural patrols in Radclive

The proactive patrols in Buckingham went ahead into the evening

Officers also patrolled the eastern and western borders in the evening

 Thames Valley Police are currently appealing for intelligence from anyone who thinks they may have been sold or offered illegal or counterfeit pesticides.

If you’re not sure if this applies to you, here is what to look out for:

·         Does the product look or smell unusual?

·         Have you been offered a product which has been described as the same as another but at a discounted rate?

·         Have you been sold a product because your first choice was ‘out of stock’?

·         Do you have any feelings that a product you have bought isn’t quite right?

·         Is the packaging unusual or not what you would expect?

 

Please act on any suspicions you might have and call Thames Valley Police as soon as possible on the 24 hour, non-emergency number 101.

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.