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NW Advice on Burglaries, run up to Christmas and Scams . |
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This is a message from Val McPherson Chair of Princes Risborough & District Neighbourhood Watch. Hello Coordinators I would like to thank all Coordinators across our area for passing crime related information on to your scheme members, family and friends. Please keep up the good work. Well ,the clocks have gone back and the evenings are darker earlier, and we are preparing for the next large event in our calendar year – Christmas but so are our opportunists “friends” especially where they can get things for free, and the scammers are out in force online especially before, on Black Friday deals and afterwards, so below I have added some information on how to stay safe at home, online, shopping etc. Burglaries are beginning to creep up in our area as well as in the Southern part of Buckinghamshire. One that happened recently where the burglars lifted up a wooden fence panel in order to get into the back garden, then broke into the property via the back door. An untidy search and jewellery and money taken. Reported to TVP. Advice: Secure fences, lock back gates and not just with a slide and lock across which is easy reach for any intruder to unlock. Install a security light at the back which is motion activated similar to the front of your property. Outbuildings/Garages should be locked and climbing aids such as ladders, tools locked away securely plus patio furniture should be put away (if possible) for the Winter. Hedges at the front of your property are often too high therefore giving the burglars easy areas to hide and work away at front doors or around the property. Intruder Alarms should be in a place as a visible deterrent and tested annually. CCTV/Video Doorbells will also act as a deterrent and will help you watch with your neighbours any unforeseen incidences. I appreciate a number of residents already have ring doorbells. Remember to get your Alarms tested and do not forget to put them on when you leave your house. Neighbours are important especially if you are planning on going away for Christmas /New Year ask them to pull your dustbins onto your property so it does not look as though you are away/ push letters/newspapers through your letter box/ take in parcels – a favour can always be returned! Please do not add on Social Media that you are away even for a short period of time. Vehicles should have ALL valuable removed and car locked . If parking on the road near your property or another area a physical device such as a steering lock or pedal box should be deployed as extra precaution. These items are simple to use, affordable and deter thieves from even attempting to steal your car. Time Switches for lights are important in any home as they make the property look occupied and when setting your time make sure you set it 30 minutes before sunset and can go off by 10.30pm or before you go to bed. Watch out: Phone Calls from Banks/ Building Society – how do you know it is real? STOP – Take a moment to think – Why would your bank/Building Society be ringing you to part with any money? CHALLENGE – Could it be false – It is okay to refuse or ignore the request. Put the phone down – you are not being rude. PROTECT – Contact your bank on another line immediately if you have been scammed and report to Action Fraud on: www. actionfraud.police.uk or ring 0300 123 2040 .If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details… …Stop, hang up, and call 159 to speak directly to your bank. 159 is the memorable, secure number that connects you directly to your bank if you think you are being scammed. Black Friday and beyond: Spot the signs – Have you seen a bargain – Scammers entice you in by stating “It is a limited offer “ or “likely to sell out” – do not rush into buying anything. A price that seems too good to be true. Do the listing pictures look the same or are they different. If paying for goods use a payment method that protects your money. Never send money upfront for good you have not physically seen. Especially around sales events like Black Friday and Christmas, sellers may inflate prices before offering a ‘discount’. Compare prices with other retailers to make sure you are really getting a great deal. Check websites properly Scammers put serious effort into creating fake online shops and social media profiles that look just like the real deal. Do not click on links from emails, texts, or posts — type the web address into your browser yourself. Check the spelling carefully, even a small difference can mean a bogus site. Latest Scam Gift Cards, easy to buy easy to steal. Over 1million lost every year. Be careful if you are contacted unexpectedly by someone who claims to know you and then say there is a problem that needs your urgent help. They ask you to buy gift cards and give them the codes, then they use the cards, and you lose your money! Never send money upfront for good you have not physically seen. We get texts from friends and family but when businesses start sending texts regarding their products, it starts becoming a problem. To stop this from an unknown sender send your message to your network provider or report a spam text, forward the text to 7726. You may get an automated response thanking you for the report and giving you further instructions if needed. You will not be charged for sending texts to 7726. Delivery scams Fraudsters send fake texts and emails pretending to be delivery companies, saying you owe a small fee before your parcel can be released or re-delivered. Keep track of what you have bought, and which courier is actually being used, so you can spot fakes. And Lastly: If you do not have a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your road/lane etc and would like to set one up please contact me on valpranddnhwatch@aol.com and I can send you further details. A scheme can be anything from 5 properties upwards and the main role of a Coordinator is to circulate the Alerts on crimes and scams to your neighbours either via email or posting on a WhatsApp or Facebook Group for your area. You will receive free signs, stickers, leaflets and discounts for your neighbours. Best wishes Val
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