St Marks Community

St Marks Community Update - January

In December 2011 there was 57 burglaries in our area. 23% of which occurred where properties were insecure.

To raise awareness the importance of locking your doors Cheltenham North Local Policing Area are currently running Operation Lock. We visit burglary hotspot areas and ensure properties are secured correctly. We are also providing crime prevention advice to all residents.

Always ensure windows and doors are closed and locked when leaving your property, asleep or in even in a different room. It can take seconds for opportunists to enter, steal and leave.

If you see anything suspicious please call 101, if you believe a burglary or any other crime is occurring now call 999.

Suspicious activity to look out for:

• Any person going door-to door. If, after a few houses visited, one or more of them goes into a back or side garden.  More suspicious if another remains in the front when this occurs.  
• Non-Resident going into the back or the side of the any house.
• Person running. Suspicious especially if something of value is being carried.
• Carrying property, depending upon the circumstance.  E.g. if it’s at an unusual time or place.
• Non-Resident waiting in front of a house or business.

The Enrichment Course.

PCSO Gordon arranged the donation of five bikes from Gloucestershire Constabulary. These cycles are bikes that has recovered or found by Police and are not claimed by their owner. The bikes usually go to auction but on this occasion PCSO Gordon decided they could be put to good use and have been donated to All Saints Academy for their Enrichment Course.

The aim of the Enrichment Course is to teach students how to maintain bikes and road safety.  It was brought to the attention of staff at the All Saints Academy that some of the bikes students were using to go to school were not very safe to use on the road and this course will provide the students with the necessary skills to maintain their bikes correctly.

The bikes will continually be used by the students to strip down and re-build, on a rolling course through out the year groups. The course's are run by Mike Guilbert who was really pleased with our donation.

We have previously donated a cycle to The Rock, Tewkesbury Road bike. Staff at The Rock told us that the bike is a brilliant asset and continues to be used for local youngsters.

Chinese New Year Celebration

The Hesters Way Chinese Centre are holding their Chinese New Year celebration on 29^th January 12.30pm – 4pm at the Cheltenham Ladies college. Tickets cost £2 per adult and are available from the Chinese Centre, Cassin Drive, Cheltenham.

This is a brilliant day out for the family and there will be lots to see and do, so please support this and come along.

Have Your Say 

Our engagement questionnaire is now available online. You can find it on the useful links section of our community pages on our website.

This is a great way to tell us about the issues or problems you have in your area.

St Marks Neighbourhood Watch Update

During December in the Springbank Way area there have been 24 dwelling burglaries, 1 attempt breaks and 2 non dwelling breaks.  This is a vast increase on previous months.

Operation Spa is the Cheltenham Local Policing Area response to crime and involves targeting those criminals who we believe are causing the most harm to the residents of Cheltenham.

Within this initiative was run Operation twilight which was aimed at reducing the numbers of houses burgled during the twilight hours.

It has become apparent that burglars identify which houses to burgle once they can see that there is no-one at home. They look for the houses which appear to be unoccupied, either because they are in darkness or where there is no answer when they knock at the door. History show us that offenders at this time of year target properties in darkness before people return from their day at work. There are a number of things people can do to keep their homes and property safe, all the details can be found on our website or by calling 101 and asking to speak to your local officer.

We are also investigating a number of incidents where offenders have used tools which they have taken from the sheds of homes they are targeting.  “I would urge everyone to make sure their sheds and outbuildings are locked up, anything we can do to make things more difficult for thieves the better.”

For advice on how to make your home safer please visit the crime reduction pages. You can ring the new non-emergency number 101 and asked to speak to your local policing team.

Also would like to remind you to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us on the new police non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Information from the public assists us in detecting and preventing crime and allows us to target those involved in crime.

The Aston Project

The Aston Project is an innovative Project, run by your local Police at Hesters Way Police Station, Cheltenham North LPA, working with young people aged 10-18yrs. Our aim is to reduce current and future anti-social behaviour within our community by engaging positively with as many young people as possible. Basically; for those aged 14-18 we arrange local workplaces based on their likes, skills and abilities. When they attend their workplace they earn Timebank credits for each hour they work, and when they have earned sufficient credits we help them to convert their credits into activities and experiences, run and supervised through or by us, again specific to them, which they would otherwise not have access to. For the younger age group of 10-13 we look for activities or clubs they can get involved in to earn time credits. All the young people have to earn credits before taking part in activities.

All our workplaces are local people or businesses – we are always looking for anyone who would be willing to help us by offering a workplace or an activity – no money need change hands, although it is our hope that the placements will lead to part time or full time jobs or further education for the young people. Anyone can refer to us if they know an interested young person.

If you are interested in offering a workplace or an activity, or would like to make a referral please contact PC Lea Butcher on 01242 247246 or email on lea.butcher@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk

We’d be very happy to hear from you.

You can also find us on Facebook

Advice to help protect yourself and your home

Not Sure? Don't open the door!

STOP

• Most people who call at your door are genuine but some are not. They could be thieves or con-men trying to trick their way into your home to steal. That's why it is important to take precautions when people call at your home.
• Bogus callers will pretend to be any one of a number of authentic callers such as officials from the council, gas, electricity or water companies. They may say they are workmen needing to make repairs or even claim to be Police Officers.
• Bogus callers are convincing liars and anyone can be taken in by them
• Whether it's a child asking for a glass of water or someone offering to tarmac your drive, never let them into your house unless you are sure they are genuine.
• A genuine visitor will always make an appointment first, so you should be wary if someone turns up unexpectedly. When someone calls at your home make sure you take a good look at that person through the window or by using the door viewer.
• Remember tradesmen must give you a 7 day cooling off period if they arrive at your doorstep offering to complete works over £35. If they fail to do so this is an offence.

CHAIN

• Always put on the door chain or bar before opening the door and keep it on while you are talking to them.
• You should not feel embarrassed about using a door chain, a genuine visitor will not be offended and will expect you to take precautions.
• If you don't have a door chain, get one fitted - it will not cost much. Contact your local police for advice.

CHECK

• Always ask for proof of identity and check it carefully, keeping the chain on the door.
• Genuine callers will carry identification with their photograph and details of their company.
• Don't assume just because a caller is wearing a uniform or clothing with a badge or logo, that they are genuine always ask to see an ID card.

Further crime reduction advice can be found at our website www.gloucestershire.police.uk

Theft from Vehicles

This is the most common offence and is generally committed by opportunists who target vehicles that have valuables in them. Your car is more likely to be broken into at home than when parked in a public car park. Risks can be dramatically reduced by taking these simple precautions when leaving it unattended.

Always fully secure your vehicle.

• Remove detachable stereo equipment.
• Remove all items of property from view, even an old coat with nothing in the pockets will tempt some criminals.
• If removal is not an option, secure valuables out of site and do this away from final destination as criminals often observe car parks to look for people transferring valuables into the boot or hatch.
• Be selective about where you park your vehicle - is it busy and well used, will it still be busy at the time of return, is it well lit, is it covered by CCTV.

Very few cars are broken into or stolen when parked in garages - consider parking your vehicle in a garage when not in use.