DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT

What would happen if you had your mobile phone stolen? Let me tell you what could happen. Your car or house is broken into; amongst other things your mobile phone is stolen. It’s irritating, to put it mildly. You decide to ring your newly stolen mobile phone and someone answers. After a brief exchange of views you get a volley of abuse and he hangs up on you - USING YOUR PHONE!! Sure he’ll change the SIM card (the brains of the phone) and hence the number but he’ll still be using your phone. More than likely he’ll sell it on and someone else will put a new SIM card in it. However, your service provider, that is Vodafone, Orange or whoever can block the phone from being used. But to do this they will need the phones unique number, or IMEI number. They will not have this number but if you take the following simple steps you will and you will be able to give it to them.
Type the following into your phone * # 0 6 #. A long number will appear on your phones screen. Write this number down and keep it somewhere at home. DO IT NOW. GO ON YOU’LL FORGET IF YOU DON’T.

‘Remember – if you think something is suspicious that’s good enough for us’

CASH POINT MACHINES - PLEASE BEWARE

Thefts of cash directly from cash point machines appear to be on the increase. This is not a new crime but methods are becoming more and more sophisticated. If and when you use a cash point machine beware of the following. Is there anyone watching you? For the theft to work someone needs to watch you put in your PIN. If someone is watching you don’t key in your PIN. If you think someone is watching you or behaving suspiciously near the machine ring us immediately. Is there anything that looks out of place on or near the machine? Some thieves are now using small covert cameras to watch PIN inputting.
If it doesn’t look right don’t use the machine and inform the bank or shop immediately.
In a nutshell please be careful, be suspicious don’t think it can’t happen out here.

'Don’t delay or they’ll get away’

FROM THE WEST TO YOUR GUTTER

Our colleagues in Devon & Cornwall Police have recently warned us about a group of conmen from their area who are suspected of travelling far and wide. They ‘cold call’ on people, usually the elderly and vulnerable and ‘specialise’ in replacing and fixing guttering and fascias. I don’t know whether they do a good job but I doubt it. They also specialise in charging extortionate amounts for their work but are obviously a kind bunch as they have been known to take elderly people to the bank so that they can withdraw large amounts of cash! Please be aware and keep an eye on elderly friends and neighbours. If you see someone tending to guttering or fascia boarding and you are concerned please ring us immediately so that we can have the opportunity of checking them out. Don’t leave it too late; we need to catch them in the act, before any money is handed over.

REPORTED CRIME & ARRESTS IN APRIL 2004

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, E HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officers: PCs Mark Littlewood and Mark Steele
During the 1st week in April thieves stole power tools from the building site in Church Street. (PC Mark Steele)
11th Male arrested on suspicion of assault. (PC Mark Steele)
21st Overnight thieves broke into a barn at Wardour and stole a quantity of power tools. (PC Mark Steele)
25th Overnight a thief broke into a car parked in Tuckingmill and stole amplifier and speakers. (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
12th Damage caused to two padlocks at Fonthill Cricket Club Ground. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
23rd Overnight a small ISEKI tractor was stolen from a farm in Chilmark. (WPC Ange Carpenter)
24th A chair was stolen during the evening from The Beckford Arms. (WPC Ange Carpenter)
29th During the morning thieves forced open a garage door at a house in Chicklade and stole a Mountfield lawnmower from within. (WPC Ange Carpenter)

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, ALVEDISTON, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL)
Beat Officer PC Graham Briant.
1st Burglars broke into a house in Tollard Royal during the afternoon whilst the owners were out and stole a quantity of jewellery and silverware. (PC Graham Briant)
During first week of April a mobile phone was lost on Ashcombe estate. It was subsequently found by someone who assumed ownership and sold it to someone else. (PC Graham Briant)
20th Damage was caused to a shed door in an attempted burglary in Donhead St Andrew. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
25th Male arrested in Shaftesbury for drink driving having left a pub in Donhead St Mary. (PC Graham Briant)

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PCs Gary Treherne & Pete Robins.
4th Male arrested for drink driving in Mere. (SPC Nathan Ricketts & PC Pete Robins)
9th Bricks were thrown onto a garage roof in Fennel Road, Mere smashing several slates. (PC Martin Faulkner)
14th Following an accident on Charnage Hill a male was arrested for drink driving. (PC Graham Briant)
21st Female arrested for assault which occurred in The Butt of Sherry on the 16th. (PC Martin Faulkner)

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer PC Jerry Wilkins.
10th Male struck car windscreen with a walking stick causing it to smash as car drove past him in East Knoyle. Local man arrested. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
14th Overnight thieves broke into the Wessex Water site on Hart Hill, Semley and stole wheels and lighting bar from a trailer. (PC Jerry Wilkins)

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS) Beat Officers: PC Steve Porter & PC Martin Faulkner
3rd A cast iron street lamp was stolen over the weekend from a garden in Maiden Bradley. (PC Steve Porter)
12th Porcelain statue stolen from display at Stourhead House. (PC Steve Porter)
21st Overnight thieves stole items from a crane left in a lay-by on the B3092 at Kilmington. (PC Martin Faulkner)
21st Male arrested having become violent when Police attended in response to a ‘999’ call from his wife who was fearful for her safety and for the safety of her children. (PC Graham Briant & PC Jerry Wilkins)
30th Male arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis. (SPC Nathan Ricketts & PC Graham Briant)

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