RURAL WATCH / NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH UPDATE

Rob Sexton, who is responsible for the running of Neighbourhood Watch throughout the county, has asked me to pass on an update about the restructuring of Neighbourhood Watch, which of course forms the main part of Rural Watch. The idea is to restructure Neighbourhood Watch creating a more responsive and effective outfit.

“A Regional Co-ordinator has already been appointed, Mr. Brian Groundwell from Sutton Mandeville, and he has been working hard on preparing the ground by obtaining as much information as he can about what already exists. He has been cutting his teeth on his own area first and that is now fairly well under way. Next on the agenda will be all the parishes around Mere, where he intends to hold a meeting of the Area Co-ordinators in the near future. So you may not have heard anything, but it is happening gradually. Brian is a volunteer, just like all our other NHW people, so he can only give so much time. All he asks is that you be patient and he will get round to you in due course.”

WARNING FROM THE CONSTABULARY PRESS OFFICE

Wiltshire Police are keen to warn householders, especially those living in rural areas, about a recent increase in the number of burglaries in isolated, detached houses where items of furniture, clocks, ornaments and jewellery - often of high value - have been stolen.
Although the number of incidents remains low in Wiltshire compared with the rest of the UK, Police are making a link between the latest incidents that have occurred in all part of the county in recent months.
In each case a large vehicle, probably similar to a Ford Mondeo estate car, would have been used to convey the items away. Wiltshire Police are particularly asking local residents to notice if an unfamiliar large car or van is parked by a neighbouring house and, if so, to note down the registration number and alert the police immediately.
DS Simon Watson of Amesbury CID said: "We are asking people to be extra vigilant. It is impossible to remove many of the items without a large vehicle of some kind and this may well attract someone's attention. We also recommend householders to make a note and take photographs of valuable items in their home as these can help in subsequent identification and tracing ownership".

NEW BEAT OFFICER ON TISBURY SOUTH BEAT

PC Graham Briant has returned to the fold at Tisbury as he takes over the responsibility for the Tisbury South Beat. Some of you may recognise the name as Graham has served at both Tisbury and Mere over the past ten years or so. He has recently been undertaking work on the CID at Amesbury.
He takes over from Lucy Deakin who will continue to work at Tisbury but with a new role.

REPORTED CRIME FEBRUARY 2004

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, E HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officers: PCs Mark Littlewood and Mark Steele
6th Male from Tisbury arrested on suspicion of burglary and on warrant for failing to pay previous fines. Conveyed to court the following day to explain things to the Magistrate. (PC Mark Steele)
Two boys arrested in connection with a barn fire in Tisbury last month. The case continues. (PC Mark Littlewood)
8th Overnight four hub caps were stolen from a Citroen Xsara parked in the car park in The Avenue.
(PC Mark Littlewood)
19th Drunk male arrested in his home in Tisbury having headbutted his partner. (PC Graham Briant)

TISBURY NORTH BEAT
(BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKSGROVE, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, FOVANT, HINDON, RIDGE, SUTTON MANDEVILLE & SWALLOWCLIFFE)
Beat Officer: WPC Angela Carpenter
9th Two males were arrested for stealing petrol from local service stations on three occasions recently. They were also interviewed by Dorset Police in relation to several other matters and will appear in court in due course. (WPC Ange Carpenter)
27th Two men were disturbed in the act of burgling a room at The Lamb in Hindon. The made off when challenged and dropped the property that they were going to steal. (WPC Ange Carpenter)

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, ALVEDISTON, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL) Beat Officer PC Graham Briant.
6th A female employee was arrested at a local school following the theft of a purse from common room.
(WPC Lucy Deakin)
25th Overnight thieves stole a quantity of power tools from a stable block near Donhead St Mary.
(PC Graham Briant)

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PCs Gary Treherne & Pete Robins.
22nd Thief stole a ‘globe’ light form outside a house in Lovage Way Mere. (PC Gary Treherne)

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer PC Jerry Wilkins.
10th Female from Shaftesbury arrested for stealing property from a disabled man whilst she was employed as his carer in East Knoyle. Enquiries are continuing. (PC Graham Briant)

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS) Beat Officers: PC Steve Porter & PC Martin Faulkner
4th Male from Dorset arrested in Zeals for drink driving and driving whilst disqualified. (PC Martin Faulkner)
8th Red Landrover Discovery parked at Stourhead broken into (window smashed) in the early afternoon, CD player, CD’s and a carry case stolen. (Crime Desk)
14th Overnight thieves stole two antique urns from the gates of a house in Maiden Bradley. (PC Martin Faulkner)
16th Over the weekend £38,000 worth of aluminium panels were stolen from a building site in Stourton.
(PC Martin Faulkner)
22nd Green Peugeot 206 was broken into (drivers door lock drilled out) whilst parked in Alfred’s Tower car park during the afternoon. Wallet containing credit cards stolen. (Crime Desk)
25th Blue Fiat Bravo was broken into (door opened by unknown means) whilst parked in Alfred’s Tower car park. A rucksack containing a mobile phone and personal belongings was stolen. (Crime Desk)

If anyone has any information about any of the above listed crimes please give us a ring at Tisbury or Mere. Your help could lead to the apprehension of offenders or the recovery of property. If you would prefer to pass information anonymously (rewards are available) ring CRIMESTOPPERS.

CONTROL ROOM 01722-411444
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111