BEWARE - IF THEY CAN CONTACT YOU THEY WILL!

You may remember that in recent bulletins I warned you about a company based in Canada contacting people by post stating the recipient had won a valuable prize. All you had to do to receive the prize was either give them your bank details or send them a cheque to cover 'administration' costs. This payment would ensure that your prize was speedily despatched to you. I also warned you about dealing with similar promises of prizes, which were made over the phone. These types of people have obviously made enough money to purchase a computer as they are now sending out e-mails with promises of great wealth. The latest one brought to my attention is a company purporting to be from Nigeria. A local man received an e-mail from a man saying he was in Nigeria and that his company had significant funds that it needed to release. That's right, the nice man simply wanted to give away company money! The sums of money bandied about were in the millions. Once again all you are required to do is furnish the nice gentleman with your bank details and bing-bang-a-boom you would immediately become very wealthy. Yippee! All Christmases and birthdays rolled into one! Now come on, do we really believe all this tripe?
IF YOU DO RECEIVE THIS TYPE OF COMMUNICATION YOU CAN SEND IT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: WEST AFRICAN ORGANISED CRIME SECTION, UNIT 2 SPRING GARDENS, P.O.BOX 8000, LONDON SE11.

TISBURY AREA COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP.

At 7pm on Wednesday the 15th of May there will be an open meeting at The South Western Hotel, Station Road, Tisbury. This meeting is open to any members of public who would like to attend. The subject matter for the meeting will be any issues that concern community safety and any possible ways of reducing the fear of crime. The Tisbury area Community Safety Partnership encompasses the following parishes - ALVEDISTON, ANSTY, BERWICK ST. JOHN, BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, DONHEAD ST. ANDREW, DONHEAD ST. MARY, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, FOVANT, HINDON, SUTTON MANDEVILLE, SWALLOWCLIFFE, TEFFONT, TISBURY & WEST TISBURY. So if you would like to be involved, make a contribution or would simply like to listen to what should be an interesting evening, please come along. It can't be that bad it is in a pub after all

HELP US TO FIND THE RIGHT PLACE.

A lot about being a Police Officer involves being in the right place at the right time. When we receive an emergency call we always try to get to the 'right place' as quickly as possible. If we have trouble finding the 'right place' our arrival can be delayed. Having spoken to people who work for the Ambulance Service and the Fire Brigade it is obvious that we all suffer from the same problem, sometimes our arrival is delayed because we can't find the 'right place' immediately. We never give up but time searching is valuable. In the extreme cases this can be the difference between life and death. The 'right place' that I refer to is usually of course your home. To those of you who have a clearly visible nameplate or number thank you for helping us to help you if you need us. To those of you out there happily living in anonymity I ask you to consider identifying your house so that if you need help from the emergency services we will be able to find you without any unnecessary delay. I have recently been made aware of a company that sells house signs, which are visible at night, if you would like more information please let me know.

CRIME WAVE BUT THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC.

February and March saw a high proportion of burglaries and car thefts in the area. Other areas of Wiltshire and Dorset also suffered from a similar increase in this type of crime. You may have seen in the local press that a number of people were arrested in Bristol following a joint operation between Wiltshire, Dorset and Avon and Somerset Constabularies. These people are, as they say on the news 'helping the Police with their enquiries'. PC John Bispham has been working with Salisbury CID to build a case for an eventual prosecution. For your information and following on from an article on a previous bulletin I can reveal that they were all drug addicts from the Bristol area and were stealing to fund their habits. Unfortunately this sort of thing does happen from time to time but is by no means the norm. Therefore, I urge you not to worry, this is one of the safest places to live in the country and that has not changed because of the selfish antics of a group of drug addicts from Bristol

REPORTED CRIME
TISBURY & MERE SECTION - MARCH 2002

Berwick St John - 19th Cement mixer stolen overnight from garden. (PC Steve Madams)
Charlton - 16th Two males disturbed attempting to steal tools from a garage. (PC Steve Madams)
Donhead St Andrew - 21st Garden gate stolen from garden. (PC Steve Madams)
Donhead St Mary - 9th Door glass broken during domestic argument in Coronation Drive. (PC Steve Madams)
22nd Handbag and mobile phone stolen from car at St Mary's School. (2 males were subsequently arrested near Crewkerne by Avon & Somerset Police in possession of some of the stolen property) (PC Steve Madams)
East Knoyle - 5th At 2.30pm a male entered the Post Office and threatened the Postmistress with a kitchen knife whilst demanding money. She refused to give him anything and he fled empty handed. (Salisbury CID)
Kilmington - 12th Thieves broke into a car at White Sheet Hill, they stole the car but abandoned it about 200yards down the road. (PC Graham Briant) 13th Male arrested in possession of a car stolen from Devizes. (PC Mark Steele) 29th Car broken into at White Sheet Hill bag containing clothes stolen. (PC Graham Briant)
Maiden Bradley - 1st The Somerset Arms was broken into overnight, wines, spirits and the owner's car was stolen. The burglars also stole property from a guest's room. (Salisbury CID) 1st Burglars attempted to break into a house in Church Street but were prevented by good locks on the patio doors. 2nd House in the High Street burgled overnight, the owners car was stolen from outside. (Salisbury CID) 2nd Burglars attempted to break into another house in the High Street but were foiled by the patio door locks. (Salisbury CID) 18th Quad bike stolen from farm. (PC Graham Briant)
Mere - 3rd A drunken male from Bournemouth was arrested in White Road having assaulted both PC Graham Briant and WPC Lucy Deakin, all they were doing was trying to help him! 7th Red Metro stolen overnight from North Road. It was subsequently used in a petrol theft at Willoughby Hedge Service Station on the 11th and was then found burned out on the Stourhead Estate. (PC Pete Robins) 10th Male arrested for causing criminal damage. (PC Dave Mills) 16th 4 Mountain bikes stolen from garden of house, 2 abandoned nearby. (PC Dave Mills) 16th Trailer stolen from The Lynch overnight. (PC Dave Mills) 22nd Car broken into overnight, laptop computer stolen. (WPC Lucy Deakin) 18th Male arrested for theft. (PC Paul Wilson) 22nd Car broken into, staple gun stolen. (PC Pete Robins)
Newtown - 23rd Unsuccessful attempt made to force rear door of house. (WPC Lucy Deakin)
Semley - Between 4th and 13th The Village Hall was broken into, damage caused, nothing stolen. (PC Jerry Wilkins) 2nd Male arrested on the A350 for drink driving. (PC Dave Mills) Between the 1st and 13th Cottage broken into at Gutch Common. (PC Jerry Wilkins) 26th Electric fence unit stolen from field. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
Stourton - 26th Car parked at Stourhead broken into, handbag stolen. (PC Graham Briant)
Swallowcliffe - Male from Swallowcliffe arrested in Tisbury for drink driving. (PC Paul Wilson)
Tisbury - 4th Outbuilding entered overnight power tools stolen (WPC Lucy Deakin) 16th Male arrested for drink driving. (PC Tom Wilson Traffic Dept) Between 15th/22nd Attempt made to force window of house in Cuffs Lane. (PC Mark Littlewood) Between 23rd/29th Camper van broken into in The Avenue, lamp stolen. (WPC Lucy Deakin)
Tollard Royal - 11th Car broken into at Win Green, handbag stolen. (PC Steve Madams) 29th Car window broken when car parked causing an obstruction. (PC Steve Madams)
Willoughby Hedge - 31st Man drove onto garage forecourt filled up his car with fuel and drove off at speed. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
Zeals - 1st House burgled in Chapel Lane overnight cash and computer stolen. (Salisbury CID) 2nd House burgled in Portnells Lane overnight, computer stolen. (Salisbury CID) 2nd Burglars attempted to break into a house in Fantley Lane but were disturbed by the occupants and ran off. (Salisbury CID) 6th The Bell & Crown burgled overnight and television, telephone, spirits and other property stolen. (Salisbury CID) 16th Ford Escort stolen from Wolverton Lane overnight. (PC Jerry Wilkins) 18th Damage caused to parked car overnight. (PC Graham Briant) In the month prior to the 23rd Antique furniture was stolen from an outbuilding at an isolated house. (PC Graham Briant).

THEFTS FROM CARS - MOSTLY PREVENTABLE.

Every month we take reports from highly agitated and annoyed members of the public who have had their cars broken into and their property stolen. I can only guess at how angry it must make people feel because it has never happened to me. 'Well you are very lucky' I hear you all say, especially those of you who have been victims of this type of theft. Actually luck has very little to do with it. In fact relying on Mr Luck to prevent your property being stolen is a very risky business. Mr Luck by his very nature is liable to let you down. Mr Luck will look after you for years and then without so much as a 'Cheerio' he will desert you. So let's all forget about Mr Luck and make friends with Mr Prevention. He can be relied upon. He will never desert you. You can take him anywhere. Oh yes, Mr Prevention will look after you and your property. Mr Prevention is very powerful with a loud voice. He will protect you with his 'Anti-theft from cars mantra' - 'NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN YOUR CAR!' The facts speak for themselves - property stolen from cars in this area, so far this year: 4 handbags (and contents), 3 mobile phones, 2 computers, 2 wallets, A television, a video recorder, 3 CD players, 2 wallets and cash. Value so far, over £2500 plus the cost of repairing the damage to door locks and windows. Most of these thefts could have been prevented. I urge you, take heed of Mr Prevention and his mantra.

YOU CAN JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THIS BULLETIN BY E-MAIL EVERY MONTH, CONTACT ME AT TISBURY mark.steele@wiltshire.police.uk

You can also access the bulletin including previous copies and a wealth of local information on the following websites:
www.tisbury.co.uk, www.swallowcliffe.com, and www.nadderfocus.com.

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.)

The printing of this bulletin is sponsored by
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RECEIVE THIS BULLETIN FAST BY E-MAIL. CONTACT ME WITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS.

mark.steele@wiltshire.police.uk