STADDLE STONES - GOOD AND BAD NEWS.

Some of you may remember that in 1999 I started marking Staddle Stones and other garden items with permanent paint. Since then I have marked a large number, particularly Staddle Stone tops, with postcodes on the underside.
Two incidents, with differing results have occurred recently. At the beginning of May would be thieves visited a house in Sutton Mandeville. In the garden were 11 Staddle Stones, which I had postcoded in 1999. The thieves removed the first three tops from their bases but seeing the large white postcode painted on the underneath they left the staddle stone tops on the grass and fled the scene empty handed. Hurrah Hurrah! The thieves dirty deeds were foiled, I hear you all exclaim. Well that's what I thought initially, but the story continues.
Two weeks later unsavoury persons visited another premise in the small hours. This time the house was on the outskirts of Tisbury. Once again the garden contained some Staddle Stones which I had postcoded in 1999. Sadly on this occasion the thieves stole two tops and a base, despite the postcodes. Boo hiss the baddies win again.
Well, do they? Sure the owner of the stolen Staddle Stones is the victim of a theft but what good will it do the thieves? I doubt very much if they will be able to sell the stones on, as it will take a tremendous effort to remove the paint. The postcode will surely raise the suspicions of any prospective purchaser!
I am sure that the stones will have been dumped somewhere.
So, three things I would like to add. Firstly, if you see any Staddle Stones dumped anywhere please give me a ring. I keep a record of very item that I mark so will quickly be able to identify the owner. Secondly, it does suggest that postcoding property is an effective deterrent to some thieves. Thirdly, I have just acquired some new paint if anyone out there wants any garden ornaments marked. (Apologies to those I missed last time!) Give me a ring at Tisbury or e-mail me - mark.steele@wiltshire.police.uk.

CAR CRIME ON THE INCREASE AGAIN.

If you visit Alfred's Tower, White Sheet Hill, Fonthill Lakes, Win Green or any of the other popular 'beauty spots' in this area you may have noticed something that they all have in common. We visit all the 'beauty spots' regularly and have nailed fluorescent warning signs to trees or fence posts. The signs say things like 'THIEVES OPERATE IN THIS AREA' and 'DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR'. We constantly have to replace these signs because thieves keep taking them down. The reasons for thieves taking them down are self-explanatory. They also visit these 'beauty spots' regularly looking for items left in cars, which they will steal. If they can remove warning notices they increase their chances. So all I am asking from you is a little help to decrease their chances of a successful theft and increase your chances of maintaining ownership of your property and of keeping your car windows intact.
It is simply not good enough anymore to lock your car. Thieves nowadays have absolutely no respect whatsoever for your property or your feelings and will either smash a window to gain access or they will drill or punch your door lock. Some of them will simply rip open you car door from the top. All methods will leave you with a hefty bill for repairs as well as replacing the stolen items. The insurance may cover it, but this sort of thing happening on the scale it is happening on is making the cost of insurance more expensive for us all.
If you do see anyone ripping down our notices please let us know, they are thieves and we want to speak to them. They are also committing criminal damage. Note car numbers if you can.

PLEASE READ THE NOTICES - THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON. NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN YOUR CAR.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH MEMBERS WITH E-MAIL FACILITIES.

In order for Barry Strange (Police Neighbourhood Watch Sceme Co-ordinator) to compile an accurate database of all Neighbourhood watch co-ordinators and members he has asked that I pass on a simple request to all members who have access to e-mail. Please e-mail Barry at the following address with your name address and telephone number. This will facilitate better communication between Neighbourhood Watch members and Barry Strange and will be of obvious benefit when important information needs to be disseminated quickly. Thank you on his behalf.
neighbourhood.watch@wiltshire.police.uk
If you have any questions about Neighbourhood Watch including getting involved with an existing scheme or starting a new scheme please ring Barry Strange at Salisbury Police Station on 01722- 411444 (ask for the Neighbourhood Watch office at Salisbury).

REPORTED CRIME TISBURY SECTION JUNE 2001

CHICKLADE 9th ~ Handbag left in toilet at services on A303 stolen (Crime Desk)

DONHEAD ST MARY 9th ~ Unsuccessful attempt made to force entry to a dwelling (PC Madams) 10th ~ Securely parked vehicle broken into at Wingreen and property stolen (Crime Desk) 11th ~ Attempt to break into dwelling foiled when alarm activated (PC Madams) 11th ~ 250cc motorcycle stolen from premises on A30 (PC Pilley) 12th ~ Vehicle seen to drive off garage forecourt driver having failed to pay for petrol -female to be interviewed (PC Madams)

EAST KNOYLE 2nd ~ Following a 'road rage' incident on the A303, damage caused to stationary vehicle at traffic lights Two-Mile Down, male arrested and charged (PC Wilkins) 30th Juvenile female arrested and charged for misuse of the '999' system (PCs Mills & Steele)

KILMINGTON 2nd ~ Securely parked vehicle broken into and property stolen (Crime Desk) 5th ~ 2 x parked vehicles broken into and property stolen (Crime Desk) 13th ~ Securely parked vehicle broken into and property stolen (Crime Desk) [All attacked vehicles had been parked in Alfred's Tower area]

LUDWELL 15th ~ Securely parked vehicle forcibly entered and property stolen (Crime Desk)

MERE 7th ~ Property stolen from gardens (PC Mills) 7th ~ Criminal damage to fence panels (PC Steele) 12th ~ Petrol syphoned from vehicle overnight in Castle Street area (Crime Desk)
19th ~ Hanging baskets moved and smashed in cemetery (Crime Desk) 20th ~ Stone thrown at car causing damage (PC Mills) 20th ~ Ground floor window smashed to house on Salisbury Street (PC Mills) 27th ~ Securely parked car stolen overnight from public car park (PC Mills)

TISBURY 8th ~ Vehicle broken into and tools stolen overnight (PC Clark) 25th ~ Staddlestones stolen from driveway overnight - had been postcoded by Police (PC Steele)

SEMLEY 22nd ~ Cashbox stolen from telephone kiosk by masked raiders using an oxyacetylene torch (PC Clark)

STOURTON 12th ~ Locks to secure vehicle forced and property stolen (Crime Desk)

WEST KNOYLE 21st ~ Village Hall entered and items stolen (PC Wilkins) 24th ~ Handbag inadvertently left on table at Services stolen (Crime Desk)

ZEALS 14th ~ Diesel fuel stolen from smallholding (PC Pilley) 21st ~ Diesel fuel stolen from tanks in yard (Crime Desk)

Section crime stats by PC 1235 Jerry Wilkins (jerry.wilkins@wiltshire.police.uk)

The printing of this bulletin is sponsored by
PARTNERSHIP SECURITY LTD
40a WINCOMBE BUSINESS PARK SHAFTESBURY SP7 9QJ
Tel: 01747 858888

RECEIVE THIS BULLETIN FAST BY E-MAIL. CONTACT ME WITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS.

mark.steele@wiltshire.police.uk