DAYS 51 & 52: Stolen property seized during proactive burglary patrols in Farnham Common

Officers in the Chiltern and South Bucks area continued with their proactive burglary patrols last Thursday and Friday (9-10/1) in rural areas which have previously been targeted by offenders looking to steal tools and machinery.

On Friday (10/1) the officers received some intelligence that a log splitter stolen from a yard in Farnham Common in December was being advertised on eBay as for sale and being stored at a lock-up.

After obtaining and executing a warrant at the lock-up, a digger, which was believed to have been stolen in a separate offence was found and seized.

The log splitter and a power washer believed to have also been stolen were later recovered by officers.

To prevent your tools and equipment being stolen, you could consider security marking. Forensic DNA markers such as CRE products, either liquid, gel or UV pens can be used to mark your property or engrave or permanently label your valuable property with your postcode.

Information about how property marking can protect your equipment can be found on the Thames Valley Police website.

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.

Man arrested and stolen property recovered during West Berkshire warrant

Yesterday morning (17/12) Thames Valley Police executed two warrants in Four Houses Corner.

Police officers from the West Berkshire and the South and Vale local policing areas recovered up to £15,000 worth of stolen property, some of which is believed to have been stolen from a property in Speen just hours before the warrant was executed.

The property recovered included two off-road motorcycles, tools and a jet ski which is believed to have been stolen from a burglary which occurred in Hampshire last week. 

A 27-year-old man from Yately, Hampshire was arrested on suspicion of burglary non-dwelling in connection with these offences and was released on bail until 14 January.

DAY 44: PCSOs continue to visit farms in the West Oxfordshire area and security mark tools and equipment

Friday (13/12) saw the Banbury Rural team head out to a wood yard near Hook Norton and a farm in Clifton who have both been victims of crime within the last 12 months.

As well as offering some general crime prevention advice the officers, armed with a CRE-Mark pen, were able to security mark some valuable tools and equipment to improve security around the premises.

CRE (Crime Reduction Enterprise) products are used to deter thieves and prevent property from being stolen using the overt property marking technique. 

Using CRE-Mark silver marker pens to security code valuable tools and equipment

The CRE-Mark silver marker is used to write your postcode and house number of first two letters of your house name in a clear and obvious place on your property. The marker is permanent, visible to would be thieves and if your property does happen to get stolen, the items are easily traceable back to the rightful owners.

Officers who are visiting farms over the next few weeks are also offering to go through a farm security assessment. The security assessment is for farm owners, managers, employees and land owners to help them improve the security of their premises. 

The 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

You can now view and download the farm security assessment from the Thames Valley Police website 

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