Swindon Village and Wymans Brook Community

Swindon Village and Wymans Brook Community Update

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.

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

Swindon Village Neighbourhood Watch Update

During October there were 12 burglaries in Swindon Village and Wymans Brook, in 5 of these entry was gained via insecurities to the property.  Please ensure that your keep your properties secure and lock doors and windows when you are not in the room or go out.  In one case the homeowner awoke to find the burglar in his house and chased him off.  Although you are entitled to defend your property we would advise that you consider your personal safety before acting.

There have been 6 incidents of theft from motor vehicle in the Swindon Village and Wymans Brook area. 2 of these involved offenders cutting through the exhaust system and removing the catalytic converter.  This is becoming an increasing problem within the area and we would like to remind you to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  Information from the public assists us in detecting and preventing crime and allows us to target those involved in crime.

Your local Police are proactively targeting crime in your community in a bid to clamp down on violence, disorder, drug and alcohol related crime and anti social behaviour.  Local officers are working hard to make the streets safe and more peaceful and we will come hard on criminals by making sure they are caught and punished.

As Christmas is approaching we would like to remind you to leave presents out of view in the home so as not to entice opportunist thieves.