 November 2015
Banking on stopping scams
If you’re visiting your bank, keep an eye out for Havering Police Safer Transport Team’s
Banksafe information stand.
You can pick up a copy of the Little Black Bag of Big Scams to help you avoid becoming a victim
of scammers.
You can also have purse chains fitted, free of charge, to
deter pickpockets.
Banks taking part in the Banksafe Initiative are:
Barclays in Hornchurch and Romford
Halifax in Harold Hill, Hornchurch and Romford
Lloyds in Elm Park, Hornchurch and Romford
Santander in Hornchurch and Romford
TSB in Harold Hill.
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Secure your screws
Three in 10 thefts from motor vehicles in Havering are
stolen number plates, which are then used in other crimes, with the police
tracking them back to the original owner.
You can beat the thieves by using tamper-proof screws to fix
your number plates to your vehicle – they cost a couple of pounds but save a
lot of hassle and are cheaper than buying replacement number plates.
If your number plates do get stolen remember to report it
to the police so they can watch out for them on the wrong vehicle.
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Crime going down
in Havering
The latest police figures, for July 2015, show there were 26 fewer burglaries
at homes in Havering than in April 2014.
Over the same period there were 11 fewer violent crimes against people
and 60 fewer theft related offences, including 26 fewer motor vehicles stolen
and two less pedal cycles.
There were also 39 fewer cases of criminal damage and 28 less drugs
related offences.
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Get a Watch ticking
in your road
Neighbourhood Watch’s main aims are to
prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve safety.
Neighbourhood Watch acts as the eyes
and ears of the community. It has been shown that Neighbourhood Watch areas are
far less likely to be targeted by criminals.
For more information on how to join or
set up a Neighbourhood Watch Group, email Community Safety.
To receive local Neighbourhood Watch
newsletters sign up here.
Find out more
about Neighbourhood Watch here.
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Secure your cycle
Cycles are expensive to replace and some simple steps can make them secure.
PCSO Jackie Whitelock, from Havering Police Safer Transport Team, said: "When leaving your bike use a D-lock so it is
securely fastened to a cycle stand or similar object. If locking it to railings,
please make sure there is enough room for pedestrians to get past.
"Please make sure you’ve added your cycle to
the Bike Register so it can be returned to you if it is stolen and then
recovered.
"The easiest way to join the Bike Register
is by coming to a Mark it in the Market event on the first Saturday of each month, near Cycles UK in Romford Market."
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 Catching criminals
Crimestoppers is a confidential
way of providing information about known or suspected criminal activity.
When you pass anonymous
information to Crimestoppers, you're making a real difference in your community.
You can give information
on 0800 555 111 or through the Online
Form - both of these routes are completely anonymous and available
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Light up your home
Harold Wood Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT)
is reminding residents to use timers on lights and radios to make homes look
lived in, now that the nights are drawing in.
The peak time for burglaries is between 4pm and
8pm during the winter months. Lights and radios can deter criminals from
breaking in as they prefer empty houses.
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Shop safely this Christmas
When Christmas shopping we often lower our guard and make it
easier for thieves to target us, so please remember:
- When using an ATM protect your PIN so no-one can see it.
- Don’t count your cash at the machine but put it away securely, as quickly as
you can
- Fit ‘sleigh bells’ to your handbag fastener so they alert
you if someone is trying to open it
- Lock your car whenever you leave it, even when just for a
minute to get your parking ticket
- Lock valuables, including Christmas presents, out of sight
in the boot
- If shopping on line, make sure the site has the padlock icon
showing its secure before entering payment details
- If expecting deliveries when you are out, make arrangements
for them to be delivered to a trustworthy neighbour or to an alternative
location where you can collect them so they are not left on the doorstep.
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 Protect your home this winter
St Andrews SNT is running a crime
prevention advice stalls at Tesco, Elm Park on Monday 16 November,
11am - 12noon.
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Met Trace kits being delivered
Residents in parts of Brooklands and Pettits
Wards in Romford, as well as in parts of Rainham and Wennington, have been selected to receive Met
Trace, a property marking system which is being delivered free of
charge to help combat burglary.
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Stop thieves using
your mobile
Christmas is always
a busy time for pickpockets and mobile phones are among their top targets so
register your phone, free of charge, at Immobilise
to beat the thieves.
Immobilise:
- helps Police identify the owners of recovered property
thousands of times everyday.
- means property updates you make are immediately available to
the Police nationally.
- combats the sale of stolen gadgets & valuables; alert
the second-hand trade & publicly checkable stolen goods database CheckMEND
if an item goes missing.
- simplifies insurance claims and Police reports with
certificates of ownership.
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Havering Police now on Facebook
Havering Police can now be found on Facebook. The page includes details of events, convictions and crime
prevention advice. Click
here for more details.
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 Meet the SNT
Each part of Havering has its own Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) which holds meeting for residents. Some of the meetings are drop-in events where residents can
chat on a one-to-one basis, while other meetings are for residents of specific
streets.
Find
details of your local SNT and planned meetings here.
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 How special can you be?
There are more than 70 members of the Special Constabulary based in Havering and the Metropolitan Police is looking to recruit more.
Find out what being a Special Constable means here.
Pictured: Two members of Havering Special Constabulary on cycle patrol.
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 Cuppa with a Copper
Officers from Romford Town and Squirrels Heath Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be in Costa Coffee, 83 Main Road, Romford, RM2 5EL from 11am until
12pm on the last Monday of every month. Come along to
discuss any concerns or issues you may have over
a cuppa.
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Previous issues
Previous issues of
On the Beat can
be viewed here.
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