NW Advice on Burglaries, run up to Christmas and Scams .

This is a message from Val McPherson covering South Buckinghamshire and Chilterns Neighbourhood Watch.

Hello Coordinators and all.

I would like to say thank you to all coordinators across the two areas for passing crime related messages to your 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 especially in our areas. One happened recently where the burglars lifted up a wooden fence panel to gain access into the back garden and then broke into the property via the back door and stole money and jewellery. The police were informed.

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 locked away safely, 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 the front doors or around the property.

Intruder Alarms/CCTV/Ring Doorbells should be in place as a place as a visible deterrent and tested annually. Remember 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 and take in any parcels -a favour can always be returned later.  Do not advertise on any social media platform that you will be away.

Vehicles should have ALL valuables removed and locked away. If parking on the road near your property  or anther 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,  are important in any home making it look occupied and when setting 30 minutes before sunset and can go off by 10.30 pm or before you go to bed.

Phone Calls from Banks/Building Society - how do you know it is real?

STOP - Take a moment to think - why would your Bank or 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 ae not being rude.

PROTECT - Contact your bank on another line immediately if you have been scammed and report to Action Frau on www.actionfraud.police.uk or ring 0300 123 2040.

So 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.

Spot the Signs Have you seen a bargain - Scammers entice you in by stating “ It is a limited offer" or ” likely to sell out fast" do not rush into buying anything , A price that seems too good to be true. Unrealistically low prices are a classic red flag., but fraudsters also list items at normal prices to avoid suspicion. 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 goods you have not physically seen. 

Do  not get fooled by fake discounts, especially around sale events like Black Friday or 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 any links from emails, texts or posts, type the web address into your browser yourself. Check the spelling carefully, even a tiny difference can mean a bogus site. Tools like www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite can help you confirm if a site is genuine.

Latest Scam Gift Cards, easy to buy easy to steal. Over 1 million 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 card and you lose the money.

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 to 7726. You may get an automated responses 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 a fake.

And lastly:

If you do mot have a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your road/street/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 by email or posting on WhatsApp or Facebook groups within your area. You will receive free stickers, signs leaflets and discounts for your neighbours.

I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year 2026.

Best wishes

Val