posted 5 Dec 2019, 07:26 by Earl Soham Parish Council
Police are issuing a CCTV image of
a man they would like to trace in connection with a number of distraction
thefts across the county and warning businesses to be vigilant.
The first three incidents occurred between
11.30am and 3pm on Friday 15 November at town centre businesses in Stowmarket,
Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.
At a business in Station Road West,
Stowmarket, a man entered the office and engaged staff in conversation and
after he left a Samsung mobile phone was found to have been stolen.
At a company in Risbygate Street,
Bury St Edmunds, a man entered the office area and distracted staff, following
which an iPhone was stolen from a desk.
In Haverhill, a man went into an
office in High Street and asked for information to be translated and in the
process leant over a desk and stole an Apple iPhone.
A fourth incident was reported on
Saturday 30 November in Ipswich, where at around 11.40am a man entered a
restaurant at Anglia Retail Park (off Bury Road) and placed a piece of paper
over the victim’s iPhone whilst asking for help with translation. After he left
the victim realised her phone had been taken.
Officers would like to speak to the
man pictured in the CCTV about these incidents. He is described as being around
5ft 11in tall, well built, wearing dark-coloured bottoms, a black jacket and a
black hat.
Customer-facing businesses and
their employees are reminded to be vigilant to this type of offence and assure
that any personal possessions, or valuable items in areas accessed by the
general public, are kept in a safe place and out of reach.
Anyone who believes they recognise
the man pictured in the CCTV, or who has any information about these incidents,
is asked to contact the Incident and Crime Management Hub, quoting reference
number 69218/19.
posted 14 Nov 2019, 02:16 by Earl Soham Parish Council
[
updated 14 Nov 2019, 02:18
]
Police are appealing for
help to trace a prisoner who has absconded from Hollesley Bay.
Paul
Luttman aged 49, failed to return to the prison yesterday afternoon at
3.30pm (Wednesday 13 November).
He
was released on temporary licence to the Cleveland area for a period of home
leave from 11 November to 13 November.
He is serving a sentence of just
under seven years for burglary offences.
He should not be approached and
anyone who believes they may have seen him or who has any information regarding
his whereabouts should call Suffolk Police quoting CAD 262 of
today, Wednesday 13 November.
posted 7 Nov 2019, 05:03 by Earl Soham Parish Council
[
updated 7 Nov 2019, 05:08
]
Police
are issuing photographs of items of stolen property in an effort to return them
to the rightful owners.
Following
a recent search of a vehicle and trailer in the Mildenhall area and a vehicle and
caravan in the Lakenheath area, officers recovered a number of items of
property which are believed to have been stolen. These include tools, clothing
and a bible.
In addition to potentially being taken during burglaries in Suffolk, the items
could also have been stolen from properties in neighbouring counties.
If you recognise any of the items please contact Suffolk Police quoting crime reference 37/62795/19 via -
Halloween
should be a fun celebration, with children enjoying dressing up as ghosts,
witches or other assorted monsters, and visiting neighbouring householders
happy to hand over sweets to, as superstition suggests, ward off evil spirits.
While
it’s an exciting time for some, those who enjoy the seasonal highlights, should
also bear in mind that there are members of the community who may not wish to
take part.
Residents
in the county are once again being reminded to display Halloween posters in
their homes to let trick-or-treaters know if they are welcome or not.
To
help householders and businesses in the run up to the day, two posters are
available to download from the Suffolk police website, indicating whether they
would welcome trick-or-treaters or not.
The National Rural Crime Week,
(6-13 October) saw Suffolk Police undertake a wide range of successful
preventive, enforcement and reassurance action, highlighting how crime can
uniquely impact those that live and work in the countryside.
Proactive patrols targeting hare-coursers at known hotspots took place
throughout the week. A number were identified in the Honington area who then
made off from police. Offenders abandoned their vehicle which was then seized
by officers.
Police also worked with landowners and farmers to offer crime prevention advice
to secure land from being accessed by offenders. In addition, a meeting was
arranged with the Breckland Deer Group to share information and to continue to
work together to combat deer poaching. Officers also conducted two nights of
proactive action against poaching using both thermal and night vision
equipment.
To raise awareness of domestic abuse and associated vulnerability in rural
areas, officers visited over 55 shops, pubs and other community facilities.
There was a high level of engagement in raising this important subject and
discussions as to how we can work together to tackle it moving forward took
place. New posters highlighting the issue were put up in all locations. In
addition most premises also accepted campaign posters about heritage crime,
including theft of lead theft from churches.
Offenders using the road network were targeted in a multi-agency day of action
at Red Lodge on 9 October in which 40 vehicles were checked. The aim was to
underline the Constabulary’s determination to disrupt and frustrate the activities
of criminals, including organised crime groups, who commit offences across
county borders whilst using the road network.
Vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality were
brought back to a check site at Newmarket Road, Worlington, where police and
partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.
The operation was carried-out by the Roads and Armed Policing Team, Rural Crime
officers and Safer Neighbourhood Teams.
Partner agencies present included the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency
(DVSA), Driver & Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA), HM Revenue & Customs
(HMRC), Immigration Enforcement, National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service
and West Suffolk Council licensing. 40 vehicles were escorted back to the site,
with just three leaving clear of any offences.
A 27-year-old man from Beck Row was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving,
possession of cannabis and burglary offences. He was taken to Bury St Edmunds
Police Investigation Centre for questioning but has now been released under
investigation whilst enquiries continue.
35 Traffic Offence Reports were issued as follows: five for number plate
offences; four for no MOT; three for having no motor insurance; eight for not
wearing a seatbelt; two for driving otherwise than in accordance with a
licence; five for vehicle in a dangerous condition; ten for registration
plates; two for tinted windows (over the prescribed level); one for glass not
prescribed and one for a lorry that was overweight.
Three vehicles were seized for document offences.
HMRC dipped 23 fuel tanks, three of which contained red diesel. Each driver was
fined £540.
The DVSA issued 12 immediate prohibitions, taking those vehicles off the road
straight away; 17 delayed prohibitions; and 57 advisory notices.
The DVLA recovered £760 in fines including for wheel clamping and warning
letters etc. West Suffolk Council Licensing will follow up with six vehicles
that were carrying scrap metal.
Road safety in rural locations was highlighted during the week of action across
the county. Speed enforcement teams including targeted motorists on rural roads
and on one day detected 151 speeding offences.
Sgt Brian Calver said, "This successful week of action in rural areas
demonstrates the effectiveness of police working with partners and
co-ordinating action cross-border. Using a range of preventive, enforcement and
reassurance measures makes a positive difference to those that live, work and
travel in our countryside.
"Rural crime covers a wide range of issues including wildlife crime,
domestic abuse, incidents involving firearms, theft, and arson etc. We
recognise that people living in remote areas may feel particularly vulnerable
because of their isolation and are working to reduce the chances of individuals
and landowners becoming victims, whilst taking robust enforcement action
against offenders. We continue to work hard to meet the needs of our rural
communities across Suffolk, keeping people safe and property protected.”
Police
are appealing for witnesses following four incidents of thefts from vehicles in
Debenham, Lowestoft and Wetheringsett.
In
Debenham a van parked on a driveway in Gardeners Road was entered between 2pm
Tuesday 8 October and 10am Wednesday 9 October.
Tools were stolen from within. (crime number 37/61646/19)
Elsewhere,
a van parked on Moores Close also in Debenham, was damaged when a side door was
jemmied. The door was damaged, although
no entry was gained. This occurred
between 5.20pm Tuesday 8 October and 10.30am Wednesday 9 October. (c/n 37/61324/19)
Meanwhile
at the North Quay Retail Park in Lowestoft a Ford Transit combi van had power
tools stolen. This incident happened at some point between 5.30pm and 10.30pm
on Wednesday 9 October. (c/n 37/61582/19)
At Hockey Hill in Wetheringsett a van parked
up had tools removed at some point overnight between Tuesday 8 October and
Wednesday 9 October. (c/n 37/61700/19)
If you
have any information in relation to these crimes, please contact Suffolk Police
quoting the relevant crime number.
For
crime prevention advice please click on the below link:
posted 9 Oct 2019, 04:12 by Chris Hoare
[
updated 9 Oct 2019, 04:14
]
Rural
Crime Week, taking place 6-13 October, is a national week of action, supported
by Suffolk Constabulary and is an opportunity to highlight awareness of how
crime can uniquely impact rural communities. The Constabulary works across the
county taking preventive, enforcement and reassurance action to help keep those
that live and work in countryside safe.
Rural
crime covers a wide range of issues including vehicle and machinery theft,
domestic abuse, incidents involving firearms, hare-coursing, wildlife crime,
heritage and metal theft and arson etc.Police recognise that people living in remote areas may feel
particularly vulnerable because of their isolation and are working to reduce
the chances of individuals and landowners becoming victims, whilst taking
robust enforcement action against offenders. Police are highlighting the issue
of domestic abuse in rural areas and launching a poster campaign to raise
awareness.
Sergeant
Brian Calver:"While the county
remains one of the safest in the country, we appreciate that policing rural
areas does present a number of challenges and that we need to work with
partners, residents and businesses to keep people safe and property protected.
"The
Rural Crime Team works across the county, supported by local officers who are
specially trained in rural and wildlife crime matters. Developing a
multi-agency approach we continue to invest in technology such as drones to
help tackle those crimes that impact rural communities.
"The
Constabulary is also supported by volunteers, on initiatives such as Community
Speedwatch to make our rural roads safer, and a team of special constables
experienced in rural crime matters who support our policing response to rural
incidents.”
Inspector
Andrew Martin "This week of action also provides us a broader opportunity
to shine a light on rural matters that are less often considered. For example,
victims of domestic violence in rural areas are less likely to report incidents
and more likely to suffer prolonged periods of abuse. By raising awareness of
this in our rural communities we can encourage discussion, offer support and
encourage reporting. Officers will be visiting communities halls, local shops
and public houses throughout this week to raise this important subject and
discuss how we can work together to tackle it moving forward, something that
will continue into the future.”
Suffolk
Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said, "Suffolk is a safe county
and we are very lucky to live and work in such a beautiful place, however, I
believe the impact of crime is often greater on victims in the countryside due
to their remote and isolated locations, making them feel more vulnerable and
concerned.
"The
isolated nature of rural communities across Suffolk contributes to victims’
levels of anxiety and distress which is why I am so pleased the constabulary
has focussed on domestic abuse as part of this rural crime week of action.
He
added, "As vice chairman of the National Rural Crime Network, I work with
Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales to highlight the unique
challenges of crime in the rural areas and I will continue to do everything
possible to ensure policing meets the needs of our rural communities.”
Vehicle owners are asked to remain vigilant as the nights
draw in and to be mindful of vehicle security in particular to take steps to
prevent catalytic converter thefts.
Catalytic converters contain several metals, including
copper, nickel, cerium, iron and manganese. Small amounts of rhodium are also
found within a catalytic converter. Rhodium, like platinum and palladium, is
very rare and valuable.
How are Catalytic converters (CATs) removed?
A pipe cutter, or similar, tool is used to cut the CAT from
the pipe. Offences most commonly occur in residential locations. Vans
and cars with higher ground clearance are usually targeted.
Often the quarterlight window is removed or smashed to
gain access to the bonnet release. The exhaust system is then accessed,
unbolted and then either taken in its entirety, or discarded after the CAT has
been cut free.
There are a number of
prevention tactics you can consider to try and reduce the risk of becoming the
next victim of CAT theft -
· Park your vehicle in a locked and
secure garage/compound at all times.
· The use of alarms, lighting and CCTV
can deter thieves. If this isn’t possible park in a well-lit public area.
· Park in such a way as to make access to
the catalytic converter difficult, or parallel with another vehicle if you own
one.
· Report suspicious activity by looking
out for people ‘working’ under vehicles as they may not be the owners or lease
holders, even if they have fluorescent jackets on.
· Mark your catalytic converter by etching
your vehicle registration onto the metal shell, or by using a Secured by Design
(SBD) approved forensic marking solution which is heat-resistant. This
makes it easier for police to trace the converter back to your vehicle should
it ever be stolen, and links offenders to a crime. https://www.securedbydesign.com/
· Consider fitting
additional security on your vehicle(s) by installing an SBD
approved converter security product, such as a clamp.
Further crime prevention advice
can be found here.