CommunitySafe.gov.uk

Firstly, apologies for the recent absence of messages. This is partially due to the recent volcanic ash problems meaning I was stuck out of the country for over a month! WARD PANEL MEETING We recently held our regular ward panel meeting and decided on the priorities for the team. These are: Residential Burglary Thefts from Motor Vehicle Anti Social behaviour - Phipps Bridge Estate In the next update I will provide more detailed information on how we are tackling these issues and current crime figures. WILLOW LANE ESTATE BURGLARIES We have recently experienced a surge in crime on the Willow Lane Industrial Estate. We are currently offering crime prevention advice to the businesses on the Estate and have been patrolling the area when possible. We are working in close partnership with our local task force and burglary teams to provide more overnight cover for the area and to identify and arrest those responsible. Last week two men were arrested for thefts of diesel from the Estate and are currently on bail. NEW TEAM MEMBER We will soon be welcoming PC Dan Hopkins to the team. He is an experienced officer who has been working on one of Merton's response teams up until now. This brings us up to strength with Police officers and will be a huge benefit. DRIVING OUT VEHICLE CRIME Get your free car air freshener as part of an ongoing campaign to drive out vehicle crime in the Borough. Merton Police and Safer Merton are handing out free car air fresheners to motorists in the Borough with a crime prevention message written on it. The message on the air freshener is clear - STOP - All valuables have been removed whilst on the other side the message reminding motorists to remove all valuables appears. Merton Police Crime Reduction Advisor Pc Greg HUNT said, "The Partnership is committed to keeping crime low by reducing vehicle crime. Theft from motor vehicle is on the increase and all too often the thief steals property left out on open display in the vehicle. These air fresheners serve 2 purposes, firstly that all items of value have been removed from the vehicle whilst secondly acting as a reminder to remove items of value from the vehicle. Taking a few seconds to remove any valuables from your vehicle may save you hundreds of pounds in repairing a broken window and replacing your valuables. This runs alongside the vulnerable vehicle scheme already being run by your Safer Neighbourhood Teams. If officers out on patrol discover something of value left out on open display in a vehicle they will contact the registered keeper and warn them of the likelihood of returning to their vehicle and finding that property stolen. This will either be in person at the time or by the Teams writing to the registered keeper if not local. This information may well be shared with insurance companies in the event of an insurance claim which may affect that claim” The air fresheners are available free of charge at the vehicle crime road shows run by your local Safer Neighbourhood Teams or by contacting your local Safer Neighbourhood Team. For any further information please contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team via the main Met Police website by telephone or by e-mail. If you wish to become a member of Community safe and sign up to free crime alerts and news of what your local safer Neighbourhood Team is up to please contact them direct or join via www.communitysafe.gov.uk. As always the team can be contacted on 020 8649 3576. If you need to report a crime please call 0300 123 1212 or in an emergency call 999. Sergeant Dan Hutchings