Safer Neighbourhoods by Sgt Nick Ellis Dear Local Resident, I thought you might be interested in a run through of some of the initiatives recently set up by Met Police. Following on from my last article on safeguarding your bikes, I am pleased to announce that there is going to be a major campaign with the Royal Borough of Kingston and Kingston First to further educate all bike owners on theft prevention. This launches in June and involves bike marking events and Dr Bike visits. We are pleased to have the help of the Safer Transport Task force and, together, we aim to decrease this opportunist theft. You may also be aware that Safer Neighbourhood teams have been supported by RBK staff and specialist police units in mounting ‘days of action’ entitled Operation Tenpin designed to address local ward concerns. St James and Old Malden’s turn was on March 21. This Tenpin operation, which focused on ward priority concerns of burglary, theft from, and
issues relating to, motor vehicles and local graffiti was the seventh since July 2011 and further events are planned until the end of the year. Thus far no crime has been reported on any ward during the hours of the Operation. The Old Malden and St James Safer Neighbourhood Teams, headed by Sergeant Rob Baker, backed by my team from Beverley, and SNTs from Grove, St Marks, and Surbiton Hill wards, as well as Council teams from traffic enforcement, were all involved. We visited one local address and made an arrest relating to the possession of cannabis, two cars were stopped during an ‘Automated Number Plate Reader’ operation for document offences, and three arrests were made on suspicion of theft of petrol and handling stolen goods. Over seventy residents visited the teams’ advice stall at the United Reformed Church, Malden Road. High visibility burglary patrols between 9 and 4pm, in addition to offering home security advice, saw three people stopped and asked to account for their presence in the area. A series of knife sweeps resulted in one knife found at the rear of McDonalds, New Malden. In addition bus routes were covered between the Fountain Roundabout and Worcester Park Train Station, a beggar spoken to, and a pedal cycle seized to confirm the ownership of the bike. No major issues were reported relating to the five licensed premises visited. As warmer weather approaches can I remind you to give some thought to a few simple tips to help safeguard your home. While the chances of being burgled in this area are statistically low we know that being burgled can be a distressing experience. While we are taking action to target and arrest those responsible, we remind home owners to take some simple measures which can further reduce the chance of you becoming a victim of burglary. Most burglaries tend to be opportunistic rather than planned. So if your home does not look secure, seems unlived in, or provides unobserved access, it could be at risk. Understanding what burglars look for when choosing their target will help you identify weak spots in your home's security. Our 10 Top Tips: •Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your house name. • Register items with a serial number at: www. immobilise.com • Do not leave your car keys or ID documents near doors, letterbox or windows.
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