Police Ringway Messages

 

On this page you can read Police Ringway Messages about local crime and crime reduction.  Messages are listed in date order with the most recent first. 

Police advice about safety and security in your home, your car and your environment may be found here.

 28 November 08 (a)

There have been Distraction Burglaries in the South Oxfordshire & Vale police areas, where offenders have called on elderly people, claiming to be from the Police. On Wednesday 26th November, at approx: 18:10hrs, offender(s) called at a property in Swinburne Road, Abingdon. They gained entry and stole property. On the same day, at approx: 17:15hrs, offender(s) called at a property in Lime Road, Elms Rise, Oxford. It is not know at this time if anything was stolen. On Thursday 27th November, around midday, there was an attempted Distraction Burglary at a property in Bayswater Mill, Headington, Oxford.  Two males called, stating they were from the police. One offender was wearing a Hi Vis Jacket, which had police written on the left chest pocket.  The aggrieved refused them entry and they left. Please be extra vigilant and keep a look out for any elderly, vulnerable neighbours.  Advise them to use safety chains and NOT to let callers into their home that are unexpected.  FREE home security advice is available from the Crime Reduction Advisors at Thames Valley Police. If you have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message.  Call 999 for crimes in progress.

28 November 08 (b)

Overnight on Tuesday 25th November into Wednesday 26th November 2008 there were five burglaries to non dwellings.  These occurred in Fernham, Stanford in the Vale, Pusey, Baulking and Faringdon. We would like to offer the following advice: check you have adequate security lighting, good locks and bolts on outbuildings and garages. Secure your valuables internally with secure chains or cord. We would advise you to consider CC/TV and Intruder Alarms. Locking and securing gates and never leaving tools or implements lying around which would be used to force entry. If you require any free Crime Reduction Advice please contact your Crime Reduction Officer at Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505.

12 November 08

This is to make you all aware that there has been theft of Land Rover defender vehicles from East Hanney, Milton, Upton and Benson during the last month.  Owners are urged to take extra care of their vehicles.  Please make sure you secure your vehicle at all times and activate immobilisers and alarms.  Keep your vehicle in a garage if able or box them in with other vehicles where possible.  Consider tracking devices for your vehicle.  If you require further Crime Reduction Advice, please contact Crime Reduction Adviser, Roger Foster on 01235 556611.   

15 October 08

Halloween posters warning off unwelcome trick or treat callers are now available from the Thames Valley Police Website.  There are two posters available to download as PDF files and print off.  There is a 'no trick or treat' poster and also a 'No flour or eggs' poster available.  Please visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk where you will see the information available on the front page. 

8 October 08 (i)

Between 1145-1800 hours on Tuesday 7th October a property in Ashbury was burgled. Offenders have gained entry via the patio door. Antiques and other valuables have been stolen. If you have any information relating to this message, or have seen any suspicious people or vehicles in the area, please contact the Police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 1116 of 7th October 2008.  

8 October 08 (ii)

We are pleased to introduce Clare Stroud who is a new Neighbourhood Watch Administrator. Clare joins Carol Rudd and Kathryn Gubbins to complete the team of NHW Administrators, based at Abingdon Police Station.

26 September 08

There is now a Watch newsletter available for all Vale of White Horse Neighbourhood Watch members.  Please collect copies for your scheme members from either Faringdon, Wantage or Abingdon Police Station front desks. Please check the Stations opening times before going.  If you would like a copy sent to you in PDF format, let Kathy in the Watch Office know on 01235 556938 or email Kathryn.Gubbins@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk. We would like to point out that unfortunately there is a small printing error on page three of the newsletter.  The sentence cuts off just before the end. It should read "The locks were improved up to Home Office Standard". 

1 September 08

If you see a white male, stocky/large build, 6 ft 3in, short brown hair with a Northern accent walking around your village, please contact the Police on 08458 505 505 at the time.  Information is required by the Priority Crime Team at Abingdon Police Station  Please be extra vigilant and make sure that you do not leave doors and windows open when you are away from your property.  Do not leave any valuables, wallets, handbags, purses, laptops etc on view from doors, windows or within your vehicles.  If you have any information about the above message that is of an urgent nature please contact our police enquiry centre on 0845 8 505 505 and state you are responding to this Ringmaster message. If you require further information about home security, please contact Sarah Merritt, Crime Reduction Advisor on 01235 776007 or sarah.merrit@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk. 

27 May 08

A Suzuki LT50 Children's Quad Bike was stolen from outside Rose Tree Cottage, Kingstone Winslow sometime between 7.20pm and 9.30pm on 27 May 08. The bike is white with blue seat and the underside of the petrol tank has been filled extensively with pink fibre glass filler, making it readily identifiable. If you have any information related to this crime please call the police quoting URN 1686, crime number MW3100122-08.

26 March 2008

There have been some thefts of lead in both Kingston Lisle and also Sparsholt.  Large amounts of lead has been taken from the Church roof at Kingston Lisle. Also in Sparsholt there has been lead stolen from a Church window.  If you have seen any suspicious people or vehicles in the area, please contact the Police on 08458 505 505 and say you are responding to a Ringmaster message.

25 March 2008

On Easter Sunday, Sunday 23rd March 2008 a property in Sparsholt, near Wantage was  burgled.  Offenders forced rear patio doors to gain entry and property was stolen.  If you have seen any suspicious people or vehicles in the area, please contact the Police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 402 of 23rd March 2008. 

20 March 2008

Sometime between 23.30 and 09.30 hours overnight on Tuesday 18th March in to Wednesday 19th March 2008 a pub in Ashbury, Swindon has been burgled.  Offenders gained entry to the cellar.  External doors have been forced open and the padlock smashed.  If you have seen any suspicious people or vehicles, please contact the police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message. 

 

 Police Advice on Safety and Security  

Community Safety

All residents have the ability to have an impact on improving their local community.  Poorly lit footpaths, broken fences, smashed windows, graffiti, & littering, can all have a detrimental effect on community safety.  If buildings or structures are allowed to fall into decline it may be a trigger for crime and anti social behaviour to increase, this is known as "Broken Windows Syndrome".  We would welcome your feedback in identifying any areas of concern within your neighbourhood. Your local knowledge could have a very positive effect in reducing crimes & anti social behaviour in the future, by simply carrying out what is known as an Environmental Visual Audit and reporting any areas of concern to your local Crime Reduction Advisor at Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505.

Anti-social Behaviour & Criminal Damage

Anti social behaviour can have a detrimental effect on community safety and quality of life. Groups of young people shouting, depositing litter, causing minor damage, can lead to more serious crime if allowed to develop unchecked.  There are dedicated anti-social behaviour officers employed both in the police and at your local district councils. We want to encourage all residents to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour or criminal damage to the police on 08458 505 505 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous. 

Personal Safety

The chances of you or a member of your family becoming a victim of violent crime are low in either the VOWH or SODC.  Always adopt a common sense approach when planning to go out whether on foot or in a a vehicle.  If alone, try to walk in well lit populated areas.  Take care when using ATMs and keep purses/wallets secure and out of site.  If you do feel vulnerable when going out, consider carrying a personal attack alarm. 

Security Coding of Property

As part of any security review of our homes and property it is important to ensure all valuable items are security marked. Options available to help increase the chance of recovery in event of loss or theft are: Engraving or etching, ultra violet or invisible marking, ceramic marking, punching, marking and registration services or electronically coded. If you do not have one, the coded for keeps leaflet and sticker are available, along with free ultra violet marker pens from the watch office on 01235 556957.

Identity Theft

 

Please take care when disposing of personal documents.  Many supermarkets sell paper shredders at very reasonable prices.  Shredders are an effective way of disposing of personal information.  If you use a computer please ensure you have virus checkers and firewalls installed to protect against internet crime.  For more information about identity theft, log on to www.identitytheft.org.uk or telephone 0870 010 2091.

 

Vehicle Crime  

 

There has been a reduction in vehicle crime and with your help we can maintain this trend. Could you please ensure you carry out the following checks when parking your vehicles: 

• Always remove keys, lock and properly secure your vehicles
  
• Never leave valuable items on display, such as sat-navs, laptop computers, mobile phones, cash, handbags, wallets, etc.
  
• Park with care in busy well lit area or near cc/tv cameras where possible
  
• Never keep car documents in your vehicle
  
• Never leave vehicle keys on view or near doors or windows in your home, thieves will break into your house in order to obtain the keys and then steal your car. 
• It is understood that the current national crime trend of stealing metals will continue for the foreseeable future. Also being stolen are catalytic converters from cars. The catalytic converter contains an insert of platinum which has a high scrap value. Most modern cars are fitted with catalytic converters so please take precautions when leaving your car unattended. If you have to leave your vehicle in the street, try to park in areas of good street lighting. If you see any suspicious persons or vehicles, or have any information relating to this message, please call the Police on 08458 505 505 and say you are responding to a Ringmaster Message.

For further information on vehicle security please contact your local crime reduction advisor at Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505.