Mobile phone scams.
Some of you with mobile phones may have received text messages recently stating that you have won a sum of money and you must ring a number immediately blah, blah, blah. I've received them myself and several of you have contacted us to report these messages as your suspicions were raised. Now I don't know for sure if these are genuine or not but I would strongly suggest that they are not and are just another type of scam where some loafer is trying to make a few quid out of unsuspecting members of the public. On some of them it states the charge for ringing the number is 150ppm. Is this pence per minute or pounds per minute? I delete the messages immediately, might be a good idea if you do the same.

Chain letter scams.
Several of you have handed in chain letters which you have received through the post. The letter is full of quotes such as "Don't throw this away", "This really works", "Bad luck will descend upon you if you break the chain", "I've made thousands of pounds this way" yippety yappety yipp.
There are several different ones floating about, they all ask you to send money to someone on a list which you then add your name to. Again, I don't know for sure if these things work and if you are really that desperate that you want to send off your £10 and hope the money rolls in then please go ahead. I would throw them in the bin every single time and would suggest that you do the same.

E-mail scams.
I have mentioned these scams before but as more and more people keep ringing in to report them I thought it might be worth reiterating the warning. There are several types being used by criminals but by far the most prolific is the offer of a large amount of cash in return for helping out someone purporting to be contacting you from Africa. They may claim to be an African Prince, a high ranking military officer, a leading political figure or a successful businessman. What they ask for are details of a UK bank account in which they can ship tens of millions of pounds or dollars to in order to get it out of the country they are in. In return for providing them with the use of your bank account they promise you a large cut amounting to several million pounds. They even e-mail police officers, I receive several such requests a month! Do not let greed blind your powers of reasoning.
If you want to do more than just delete these unwanted e-mails please send them to the following address:
WEST AFRICAN ORGANISED CRIME SECTION, UNIT 2 SPRING GARDENS, P.O.BOX 8000 LONDON SE1.

Police property auction
The Wiltshire Constabulary is undertaking a 3 month trial of Bumblebee Auctions. This is a web based fully functioned internet auction site, www.bumblebeeauctions.co.uk, where property that has come into Police possession, be it found, seized or recovered property is auctioned to the general public. Several forces around the country already dispose of property via this website. Potential bidders need to be registered on the site to bid on any of the items on auction. A link has been included on the Wiltshire Police Website, which, by the way is well worth a visit. www.wiltshire.police.uk
Personnel Change.
PC Graham Briant having served a third term on the Tisbury & Mere section has left us once again and is now working at Salisbury Police Station. PC Gary Treherne has replaced him at Mere having come from Wilton and WPC Lucy Deakin has moved across to cover the Tisbury South Beat.

The printing of this bulletin is kindly sponsored by local burglar alarm specialists:
PARTNERSHIP SECURITY
40a Wincombe Business Park, Shaftesbury, SP7 9QJ. Tel: 01747-858888

REPORTED CRIME & ARRESTS IN AUGUST.

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, E HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officers: PCs Mark Littlewood and Mark Steele
14th 17 year male old from Tisbury arrested on suspicion of causing Criminal damage. (PC Mark Steele)
17th Local Male out walking on Monmouth Road was assaulted by a stranger who drove off in an old white Cavalier. Male described as 25yrs old, 5'8" tall, stocky build, skinhead haircut with gold hoop earring in left ear. (PC Mark Steele)
23rd Female arrested in Tisbury to prevent a further breach of the peace. (PC Mark Steele)

TISBURY NORTH BEAT
(BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKSGROVE, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, FOVANT, HINDON, RIDGE, SUTTON MANDEVILLE SWALLOWCLIFFE) Beat Officer: WPC Angela Carpenter
1st Green US Mailbox stolen from outside house in Sutton Row. (WPC Angie Carpenter)
9th Overnight a burglar tried unsuccessfully to break into a flat in Fovant. (WPC Angie Carpenter)
10th Male arrested in Hindon for assaulting his partner. (PC Mark Littlewood)
13th Burglar broke into a house in Fonthill Gifford whilst occupant was away. (WPC Angie Carpenter)

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, ALVEDISTON, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL) Beat Officer WPC Lucy Deakin.
5th 12 year old boy assaulted by another boy in Donhead St. Andrew. (WPC Lucy Deakin)
13th Two chainsaws were stolen from the roadside in Donhead St. Andrew as owner worked nearby. (WPC Lucy Deakin)
13th Burglars broke into a house in Ansty during the day and stole silverware and antiques. (Salisbury CID)

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PCs Gary Treherne & Pete Robins.
3rd Two windows broken in The Square by someone throwing stones. (PC Pete Robins)
10th Male from Dorset arrested for drink driving in Mere. (PC Steve Porter)

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer PC Jerry Wilkins.
1st Person damaged front door of The Benett Arms, Semley overnight. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
24th Red boys BMX bike stolen from front garden of house in West Knoyle. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
14th Male arrested under the Mental Health Act for his own safety on the A303. (PC Mark Steele)

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS) Beat Officer: PC Steve Porter.
25th Isolated house near Alfred's Tower broken into. Burglar stole television but made off when burglar alarm activated. (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.

Tisbury 01747-870203 / Mere 01747-860268 (General Enquiries)
Police Control Room 01722-411444 (To report incidents)
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111 (Anonymous reporting)
EMERGENCIES '999' (Crime in progress, persons in danger etc.)