NEWS
		13/08/2010

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LATEST NEWS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP  OFFICER

13/08/10

POLICE SEIZE ONE UNINSURED VEHICLE EVERY HOUR
A crackdown on uninsured drivers by West Midlands Police saw the equivalent of one vehicle seized every hour during the month of July.
Force-wide campaign Operation Shinkami has been led by Operations Traffic officers working with local policing unit colleagues and partner organisations. In total, 770 vehicles were seized during July because of lack of insurance.
Among those were a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder sports car and a Hummer utility vehicle – both of which were promptly claimed by their owners. Other vehicles seized included a Mercedes C220 and two Audi S3s, a quad bike, three off-road motorcycles and three mini-motos. Thirty per cent of the vehicles have yet to be claimed and will be either auctioned or crushed depending on their value.
Force Traffic Manager Chief Inspector Chris Edwards said: “Operation Shinkami is an on-going enforcement initiative which will continue to run throughout the year. We regularly seize in excess of 650 vehicles a month, which reflects the commitment of our officers to this roads policing issue.”
The high profile campaign by West Midlands Police, working together with the Birmingham Road Safety Partnership, targets areas featured in a Motor Insurers’ Bureau list of the worst areas for uninsured drivers. Hotspots include Bordesley Green, Small Heath, Nechells Park, Handsworth, Aston, Lozells and Saltley in Birmingham, as well as Smethwick, Wolverhampton and Walsall.
Ch Insp Edwards said: “This isn’t all about enforcement, which we will continue to do. It is about working with drivers across the board – particularly younger drivers – to consider what their options are in terms of insuring their vehicles. The West Midlands Road Safety Partnerships will work with the MIB to identify a range of relevant audiences across the West Midlands to deliver a series of educational and awareness events.
“We will also use this as an opportunity to listen to drivers’ concerns around the difficulties they experience in funding high insurance premiums. We understand that this takes on a greater significance for younger and inexperienced drivers. This is likely to present MIB with some considerations that they can discuss with the insurance industry in the hope they can tailor appropriate insurance deals to ease the plight of younger motorists.”
Nationally, each year an average of 160 people are killed and 23,000 injured as a result of collisions involving uninsured drivers. Industry watchdogs say such motorists add £30 a year to premiums of law-abiding drivers.

23rd JUNE 2010

Be on the alert for known rogue traders who have been spotted in the Aldridge area offering to carry out roof repairs.  They are using a small white van registration number V231LOE which is associated with individuals who are known to commit rogue trader and distraction burglary offences.  If called upon by these men be vary wary about allowing them to work on your home.

Not A Survey  

Trading Standards have received reports from residents who have been contacted by a company carrying out a crime research survey.

The caller asks various questions regarding the level of security people have within their homes and whether they are members of Neighbourhood Watch before launching a sales pitch for a wireless alarm system, and asks if a representative could visit at home for a free consultation.

In most cases the alarm has been offered for sale at an extremely low price or free as part of a competition.

Further investigation has shown that the installation charges for these alarm systems and the monthly maintenance fees are extremely expensive and in some cases have run into thousands of pounds.

 If you receive a cold call from a company carrying out a crime survey, you are advised to not engage in conversation with them if possible, and do not agree to a company representative coming to your home for a consultation.

If you have received a call of this nature, or do so in the future, you can report it to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

  Members’ Alerts
The following has come from a NW co-ordinator who has asked me to warn others:

“We have today received an email titled HSBC ALERT, stating that multiple computers have tried to log on to our account and also that there have been multiple password failures. It then asks you to click on the link and confirm your account details!!!! 
Firstly, we are not customers with the HSBC, so clearly this is a mass email. I found it alarming how convincing it was. Please let others know.”

Another neighbourhood watcher rang in to tell us about a phone call his wife had taken, stating that she had been overcharged for an item recently purchased and in order for the balance to be paid back they needed her bank details. The lady did not fall for the ruse and asked us to warn others.

Please be aware!

A man with an Asian accent has just contacted one of our members and asked to speak to their IT manager, he said that he was undertaking a survey of the most used passwords in the area!

Obviously no information was given and the call was terminated.

I know you are thinking ‘who in their right mind would ’ but you never know so please make all of your staff aware and ensure no such information is divulged.

Stolen Bicycles: Observations Please

Please be on the look out for two bicycles which were stolen from a house in Chester Road, Aldridge, on the afternoon of Saturday 8 May.

The first is a Giant ' ROCK' bike. The image attached is of the style of bike but the bike stolen was white in colour with 'GIANT' written accross the frame in black. This is about 2 years old and worth £200.

The second bike is a GT Chucker which belongs to a 14 year old who had it as a present for his birthday in October. The image attached (bright blue bike) is the exact same bike as stolen except the stolen bike has a mud guard attached on the underside of the frame at the front.

If you have any information as to the whereabouts of these bikes please contact PC 20738 Becky Tricklebank of the Streetly and Pheasey Neighbourhood Policing Team on 0345 113 5000 extn 7881 6523, or e-mail streetlyandpheasey@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.   DO NOT approach or confront any persons connected with the cycles yourself.

The two stolen bikes are similar to the ones shown below:

Please be aware!

A man with an Asian accent has just contacted one of our members and asked to speak to their IT manager, he said that he was undertaking a survey of the most used passwords in the area!

Obviously no information was given and the call was terminated.

I know you are thinking ‘who in their right mind would ’ but you never know so please make all of your staff aware and ensure no such information is divulged.

There has been an increase in house burglaries across Streetly recently. Four burglaries have involved the theft of a car: these have taken place in Pagoda Close, Barley Close, Hardwick Road and Royal Meadow Way. The method used is to gain entry to the rear or side of the premises, smashing windows and forcing open doors. Property stolen includes high class vehicles, jewellery, cash and electrical items including TV's, computers and cameras. Many offences are taking place of an evening.

The police are taking a number of measures to reduce the number of burglaries in Streetly, including high-visibility patrols. You can help by ensuring that your own, and neighbouring homes are well secured: part-set your alarm at night if possible. Be on the look out for suspicious activity, if you see anything report it to the police immediately. We believe that the offenders are travelling to Streetly from other areas, so be on the alert for unknown vehicles and faces. If you have a desirable car, place the keys out of sight and if possible garage the vehicle overnight.

Crime in Streetly is still relatively low and with you help we can reduce it still further. Thank you for your assistance.

PLEASE   --  BE WARNED

A PERSON IN STREETLY HAS TODAY 08/04/10   RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE ON A MOBILE PHONE  PURPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SENT BY CAPITAL ONE BANK.

IT REQUESTED FOR THE PERSON TO PHONE A NUMBER WHICH CONTAINED LEADING NUMBERS AS  THAT OF THE BANK WITH LAST FOUR DIGITS DIFFERENT. ON PHONING THE BANK ON THE TRUE PHONE NUMBER  (AS FROM THE PERSONS STATEMENT) THE BANK ADVISED THAT NO SUCH MESSAGE HAD BEEN FORWARDED TO THE RECIPIENT OF THE MOBILE

AGAIN PLEASE BE CAREFUL BANKS NEVER EVER REQUEST FOR DETAILS BY  PHONE OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS - IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY WILL SEND A PERSONAL LETTER TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS.

NEVER ACT ON IMPULSE WHEN YOU RECEIVE  SUCH TEXT MESSAGES OR E MAILS.  

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JANUARY 02  2009