See also Neighbourhood Watch and Local Police. See also: - Community Group

These alerts are provided by the online watch link

Click the picture for online neighbourhood watch

Jan 2010

Gold Fever - Beware of generous buyers at the door

Gold prices are very high - even your broken jewellery is worth good money and jewellery buyers are very keen to buy.

Be cautious about advertising material through your letterbox from so-called generous cash buyers willing to visit your home to value your gold and silver.

If you are considering taking advantage of high gold prices perhaps you could contact a local established independent jewellers.

Do not invite door to door canvassers into your home to value property.

Hertfordshire is one of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit. Neighbourhood can help keep it this way.

If you need to reply by email click on my address here: nhw@colneywatch.co.uk.

Peter Yexley Community Coordinator Neighbourhood Watch

Suspicious Activity

On Friday 15th January at approximately 4pm residents of Cravells Road and East Common were visited by a male in his 20s who was short and wore a grey jacket. He said he was carrying out a survey on older properties and how they have 'stood up' to the bad weather we have had recently.

He offered a card to the home owner however they were not able to read it due to not having glasses on. He seemed more interested in asking questions about who was living in the property and trying to gain information such as phone numbers and times when the property would be empty. He left when it was clear he was not going to get this information.

Police are not aware of any such survey being carried out and advise residents to be aware of anyone calling at the door that you are not expecting. Check any ID offered and do not call any number they give you for verification, use a phone book etc. If you are still not happy then politely ask them to leave or you will call the police.

If you need to reply by email use the address here: allison.dewar@herts.pnn.police.uk.

Regards, Alli Dewar, Police Community Support Officer, Tel 01707 354192

RENEWED WARNING ABOUT FRAUDULENT CALLS

Police Officers from Hertfordshire Serious and Organised Crime are currently investigating a number of incidents whereby a man purporting to be a police officer investigating a fraud calls an elderly resident and asks them to provide their bank details, including Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).

The police would never ask for bank details so, if you have a call of this nature, do not give any personal details to the caller and call police as soon as possible.

Please pass this message on to your friends and relatives and if you have had a similar phone calls to contact police as soon as possible on the non-emergency number 0845 3300222.

St.Albans Neighbourhood watch have also received further reports about calls from individuals purporting to be from BT and threatening to disconnect their telephone unless immediate payment is made.

When questioned about the authenticity of the ‘BT Official', the caller offers to prove that he can immediately disconnect the phone by asking the resident to end the call and try to make another call. The line remains dead until the ‘BT' caller phones back.

Although this ability might appear convincing, it is simply done by the caller NOT ending the call whilst the receiving party does; thus keeping the line open.

BT do not phone people and practice this method of collection, do not pass your financial information to anybody claiming to be from BT.

Regards, Peter Yexley, Community Coordinator, Neighbourhood Watch , Email: nhw@colneywatch.co.uk

Dec 2009

REDBOURN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Deterring the Burglar – A Christmas Message

Whilst crime in the village is still down on this time last year, there has been an increase in the number of burglaries in the District, including Redbourn. With the longer dark evenings now upon us, it is a good time to remind ourselves of the benefits of making sure that we have some kind of lighting in our houses in the early evening before we get home.

It is a fact of life that if your home looks empty when darkness falls, then there is every likelihood that nobody is at home. I could make that conclusion, as could you, and certainly ‘Burglar Bill’ is going to think that here is a house that is unoccupied. How much better if, when the burglar passes your house, he sees a faint glimmer of light which makes him think that perhaps you may be home, even when you are not. Putting doubt in his mind is often enough to make him pass you by and go on to another target where his chances of success are more certain.

Time switches are easily obtainable from electrical outlets and DIY stores and are relatively cheap to purchase when you compare that with the distress and cost of a burglary when it happens to you. Many people never get over the anguish caused by the invasion of their own home and a change of address is often the inevitable outcome for some.

Police are asking for residents to be particularly vigilant at this time, especially with the added benefits for burglars at Christmas time with homes stocked with valuable presents for your friends and loved ones.

An online crime prevention tool has been developed - a virtual 'house' which you can explore to discover advice on how to keep safe and secure. The ‘house’ can be accessed via the link below:

Do Not Disclose Your Pin Number to Anyone

Police would like to remind you that you should never pass details of your bank card PIN (Personal Identification Number) number to anyone.

This follows incidents across the District where members of the public have had their wallets or purses stolen and have then been contacted by someone claiming to be from their bank requesting their PIN to allow them to cancel their cards. In most cases, money has been taken from their bank accounts.

These offenders are clever and convincing but it is important to remember to never disclose your PIN number to anyone.

• If you are carrying a bag, keep it close to you with the opening facing inwards, keep purses and wallets in front pockets, and try and cover up expensive looking jewellery.

• Never leave your bag or personal belongings in a shopping trolley and ensure if you use something valuable in the street, to always put it away safely.

• Men are reminded not to leave their wallets in their back pockets as it makes it easy for opportunist thieves to take them.

All this apart, it is as well to be reminded that we do live in a relatively safe and crime- free part of the country. Let’s do all we can to keep it that way. Happy Christmas.

Barry Welch, Neighbourhood Watch Ward Coordinator for Redbourn

Tel 01582 626443 or Email barrywelch@ntlworld.com

Nov 2009

Ref: 1114 November 16, 2009

HERTS POLICE TELL RESIDENTS TO AVOID THE BOILER ROOM SCAM

RESIDENTS across Hertfordshire are being told to be on their guard against a ‘Boiler Room’ scam to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of a fraud.

Detectives from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Fraud Squad want to help people to avoid falling for the scams, which typically begin over the telephone, where someone will receive a call and is offered to buy shares in a company at a discounted price.

In reality, the company is based outside the UK, and is employed to promote the shares of another company. The salespeople use high pressure tactics, often calling people several times a week in order to get them to buy shares.

Once the caller agrees to buy the shares, they are first asked to send a large quantity of money to release the shares, wh