GARDEN SHED - HOW SECURE IS YOURS?.

As you will see from the reported crime section of this bulletin three sheds were recently broken into in Fovant, the cost of replacing the items stolen runs into thousands of pounds. Lets face it sheds are vulnerable, they are made of wood and usually sit in the dark at the bottom of your garden. Thieves will always target them as a source of income. So let's make it as hard as possible for them shall we. I've been banging on about shed alarms for years in this bulletin - they are still available to buy from Tisbury Police Station and they are still only £5. If that doesn't put them off what else can you do? I have recently seen a locally produced device called 'Shed Secure' which is worth considering. It is basically a device which enables you to lock your mower, tools, bikes etc to a solid metal fixing inside your shed. It is easy to install and doesn't cost a huge amount. If you want to know more give me a ring or contact the guy who actually makes them - Stephen Bax on 01722-716411.
It's the sort of thing that really spoils a thief's day, and we like that!

DRUGS RAID IN MERE BEARS FRUIT.

On Friday the 25th of April a search warrant obtained under the Misuse of Drugs Act was executed at an address in Mere. A quantity of controlled drugs was seized and two males were arrested. One has been charged and will appear in court and the other who was 16 yrs old was given a reprimand. This was made possible by information received directly from the concerned residents of Mere. You expressed a concern that there was drug dealing taking place in a house and wanted us to do something about it. This just goes to show that if you give us information about a suspected illegal activity in your community we will take it seriously and if we are able to deal with it we will. Keep the flow of information coming we need it.

SUMMER IS COMING, BE ON YOUR GUARD

With summer approaching, (although its raining buckets as I write this) it may be time to review your home security. Once it warms up we all start opening windows and doors to let some fresh air (and wasps) in and immediately become more vulnerable to the opportunist thief. Now I don't want you to panic as this sort of thing is not rife in the area but it does still happen from time to time. Just be a little more careful than usual, for example: if you are sitting in the back garden drinking beer and eating sausages make sure the windows and doors at the front are locked securely. If someone knocks at your front door have they got a partner in crime who is nipping round the back? If you go out make sure the house is secure. The best possible deterrent to potential house burglars is a burglar alarm with an alarm box that is clearly visible to anyone approaching the house.

SUMMER SOLSTICE - KEEP 'EM PEELED.

The Summer Solstice will soon be upon us and as usual Wiltshire's most famous landmark will become the centre of attention on and around the 21st of June. People come from all over the world to watch the sun rise over the 'heel stone' and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of an 'overnighter' at Stonehenge. The vast majority of the visitors are decent law abiding citizens who treat other people and their property with respect. Wouldn't life be great if everyone did? Anyway back to reality, some visitors will as usual attempt to set up camp nearby prior to the event and will try to do the same afterwards. In the past they have damaged gates and fencing in order to gain access to land where they can hold their 'rave' type festivals. Could I ask you all to 'keep 'em peeled' for signs of any mass gatherings on land in this area in the build up to the solstice and immediately after it? Thanks.

REPORTED CRIME APRIL 2003

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, E HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officers: PCs Mark Littlewood and Mark Steele
1st Thief stole a garden gnome from garden in Churchill Estate. (PC Mark Steele)
12th Youth punched and kicked 13yr old boy causing injury. 15yr old male arrested. (PC Mark Steele)
Between 5th and 12th thief stole 4 alloy wheels from garage in Tisbury. (PC Mark Steele)
17th Barn at Wardour broken into during the evening. Tree surgeon equipment stolen. (PC Mark Littlewood)
17th 3 juveniles arrested on suspicion of damaging fencing at Tisbury play park. (PC Mark Littlewood)
24th Man from Wardour arrested for drink driving in Tisbury. (WPC Angie Carpenter)

TISBURY NORTH BEAT
(BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKSGROVE, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, HINDON, RIDGE, SUTTON MANDEVILLE SWALLOWCLIFFE & TEFFONT) Beat Officer: WPC Angela Carpenter
14th Three sheds in Fovant broken into overnight, trials motorcycle, petrol flymo and a large quantity of fishing equipment stolen. (WPC Angie Carpenter)
20th Handbag stolen from boot of car parked near Hindon during afternoon. (WPC Angie Carpenter)

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, ALVEDISTON, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL)
Beat Officer: PC Paul Wilson
2nd Female arrested for drink driving on the A30 following accident. (WPC Angie Carpenter)
10th Female arrested having thrown drink over barmaid in pub at Tollard Royal. (PC Paul Wilson)
16th During the afternoon/evening a burglar smashed glass in a patio door to gain entry to a house in Donhead St. Andrew. Cash, jewellery and an acoustic guitar stolen. (PC Paul Wilson)
20th Overnight burglars broke into a cottage undergoing renovation in Berwick St.John and stole an electric transformer. (PC Paul Wilson)

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PCs Graham Briant, Pete Robins and Lucy Deakin.
1st Thief cut padlock to storage room at farm in Mere but stole nothing. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
1st Burglar broke into farm outbuilding and stole a quantity of power tools. (PC Pete Robins)
5th Thief entered a house in Mere during the evening whilst the occupant was out in the garden and stole money from a bedroom. (PC Pete Robins)
17th Ornamental garden gnome stolen from garden in Mere. (Yes, another one!) (PC Pete Robins)
19th Man from Gillingham arrested in Mere for drink driving. (PC Pete Robins)
25th Two males arrested for possessing and supplying a controlled drug in Mere. (PC Graham Briant)

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer: PC Jerry Wilkins
1st Thief entered farmyard in Sedgehill, cut padlock to outbuilding but stole nothing. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
Between 18th and 22nd mindless vandals smashed windows of pumphouse between Upton and Willoughby Hedge with sticks and stones. (PC Jerry Wilkins)

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS) Beat Officer: PC Steve Porter.
9th Attempted burglary at a house in Zeals foiled by good door lock. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
21st 18th Century vase stolen from public display at Stourhead House. (PC Steve Porter)
25th Car at Lower Zeals broken into overnight. CD player, 50 CDs, bag and tools stolen. (PC Steve Porter)
25th Concrete mixer and cordless drill stolen overnight from building site at Lower Zeals. (PC Steve Porter)

If you would like to leave a non-urgent message for your beat officer or would like advice please ring the following numbers either TISBURY 01747-870203 or MERE 01747-860268.
Be aware that you may get an answer phone if all officers are out on patrol which may not be picked up for several hours.
OTHER NON EMERGENCIES CALL 01722-411444. ALL EMERGENCIES -'999'

TISBURY 01747-870203 / MERE 01747-860268
CONTROL ROOM 01722-411444
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111