CRIMEWATCH
DFAA HOMEWATCH CHESIL BANK WARD
Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team is Dorchester West
FROM PCSO SARAH PILCHER
I have been asked by one of “my” villagers if I could write a piece with regard to my role as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) from a personal perspective. I hope the following will serve.
When first starting my role as a PCSO assigned to the Dorchester Rural West beat I thought it would be quiet and not particularly busy. Now after four years I realise how wrong I was, there are just not enough hours in the day.
The area I cover is quite large and varied encompassing part of the Chesil Bank coastal area and inland areas including Cerne Valley, Frome Valley and the Maiden Newton and Martinstown areas. But I am blessed with ‘my’ lovely villages and villagers and I feel it is really quite a privilege to be able to ‘look after’ such a beautiful region.
My duties are diverse and, by necessity, fairly variable day-to-day. As well as foot patrol, which I feel I don’t do enough of sometimes, dealing with anti-social behaviour by any age group, gathering information from the community, dealing with abandoned and untaxed vehicles, and myriad other tasks.
There are also ever increasing community engagements. These may include one to one visiting with someone, PACT (Partners and Communities Together) surgeries, PACT van visits, village events, group talks, attending multi-agency meetings with housing associations, local councillors, community workers, etc.
With regard to crime I do get quite protective when I hear of break-ins etc happening in my area. I was speaking with a gentleman the other day and we agreed that due to the fantastic area we live in we can get quite complacent about leaving buildings unlocked, items in gardens on view and so on. But there are opportunist and professional thieves out there, so please, please do all you can all the time to secure your home and land. If you need any advice then do get in touch with myself or my colleagues and we will be happy to help. The various contact methods are listed below.
Thank- you for reading this little piece about me and my job and I look forward to catching up with you on my next visits.
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WEEKLY CRIME REPORT 19.1.12 - 26.1.12
DFAA Homewatch
Chesil Bank Ward
Crimes
A burglary occurred during the last weekend into an industrial unit situated in Bramdon Lane, Portesham and scrap metal was stolen. Crime No 3281 refers.
A magnetic table weighting approx 150-200kg and an old gearbox were stolen from New Barn Road, Abbotsbury between 7.00pm on Friday 20th and 10.00pm on Saturday 21st January. Crime No. 3205 refers.
Please contact Dorset Police on 101, or your Safer Neighbourhood Team, if you have any information that can help identify those responsible for these crimes, or can help recover any of the stolen property.
Crime Alert
Will you please pass the message around that there have been several sheds and outbuildings broken into during the past week, mainly in the rural area surrounding Dorchester. Dorchester police would like to remind everyone that it is important to check your securi t! y and to record serial numbers where applicable. It may also be appropriate to security mark your tools by painting your postcode followed by your house number or the first two letters of your house name. This may act as a deterrent, and may even assist in their recovery.
Crimestoppers
Crimestoppers UK (Trust) is a charity helping to prevent and solve crimes. The scheme allows you to give information anonymously abo u! t crimes that affect you and your local community. You can call Crimes toppers on 0800 555 111.
A reminder that your Safer Neighbourhood Police Officers are:-
Sgt Steve Yeoman, PC Jeremy Cuff and PCSO Sarah Pilcher
Call them at Dorset Police on: 101 or on our team mobile: 07500 816292
Please only use the numbers above for non-emergency calls. If a crime is in progress or life is in danger, please dial 999.
Jean Davenport (4142)
OPERATION COUNTRYSIDE
Operation Countryside has been launched, by Dorset Police, to drive down rural crime across the County of Dorset.
Rural crime cost the agricultural industry more than £49 million across the UK during 2010 and continuous to be a problem. A survey by the National Farmers Union showed that crime against agricultural industry was up by 17% on the previous year.
Last year in England and Wales 1975 tractors and other agricultural vehicles were stolen at a cost to the NFU Mutual in excess of £10 million. According to Farmers weekly the top 5 most stolen items are.
- Tools
- Quad Bikes
- Oil and Diesel
- Tractors
- Metals
Dorset Police are working with the rural community to raise the awareness of rural crime by promoting the importance of crime prevention and the necessity of the community reporting suspicious incidents as they happen.
West Dorset is a very safe place to live and work together we can make it even safer.
For more information, please contact Dorchester East Safer Neighbourhood Team:
Call: 01305 222 222
Mobile: 07500 816 291
Email: dorchester-rural-snt@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Only dial 999 if a life is in danger or a crime is in progress
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‘On the beat’ 
Who’s combating crime in your neighbourhood?
Other Watch Schemes
Most people will probably be aware of Home or Neighbourhood Watch, but many may not know that there are other sorts of Watch Scheme operating in Dorset, e.g. business, church, farm and horse watch schemes. These schemes echo the urban and rural nature of Dorset, and are tailored to meet the needs and interests of various groups within our area.
All of these schemes, in common with Home and Neighbourhood Watch, involve members of the community working in partnership with their local Safer Neighbourhood Team officers to endeavour to make their part of Dorset a safer place to live by reducing crime and helping build more robust communities.
The schemes often work in conjunction with the Dorset Police Community Messaging Service. This is an automated messaging system designed to improve the flow of information between the police and the community by sending messages to a group of people with just one call.
You can find out more about registering to join a Watch Scheme or receiving Community Messaging broadcasts, or more information about either by going to www.dorset.police.uk clicking Local Policing and then the appropriate heading on the left side of the web page, or by contacting your local Safer Neighbourhood Team.
NB Dorset Police are committed to reducing the theft of domestic heating oil from vulnerable rural locations. In an effort to combat this type of theft, we have been able to negotiate a 25% discount with a supplier of high quality fuel tank alarm systems. The alarm systems are relatively inexpensive and range in complexity and design. It is almost certain that a suitable system can be found to suit all needs. If you would like to find out more please see contact details below.
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101 NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER GOES LIVE IN DORSET
You can still also contact your local Dorchester Safer Neighbourhood Teams on the following number
Dorchester South (Town) Team mobile: 07500 816290
Dorchester East (Rural) Team mobile: 07500 816291
Dorchester North (Town) Team mobile: 07500 816287
Dorchester West (Rural) Team mobile: 07500 816292
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DISTRACTION BURGLARY - HELP YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE
The definition of distraction burglary is when a one burglar distracts the occupant of a house so that the other can quickly gain access and steal items.
What the definition does not do is describe the devastation this can leave behind for those who have become victims. However astute you are, it can happen to anyone of any age. It is the elderly and vulnerable who are particularly targeted and an incident of this kind can leave them with their confidence shattered and afraid to open the door.
As a family member, friend, carer or neighbour, you can really help the potentially vulnerable people you know from becoming a victim of this unpleasant crime.
Houses and gardens that are not cared for often indicate someone who is struggling to maintain their property and it is these places that are being sized up by distraction burglars.
If your friend or family member is in this position, you can help by offering to mow the lawn and tidy their garden or help get the house painted. You really can make a difference in preventing this crime.
Chains on the door are an essential and everyone should use a chain to answer the door if it is not someone they know. So often elderly people have come from a trusting generation where doors were left open and they are lonely and welcome a chat. These burglars are expert at offering a friendly word to distract your attention. Always make sure your back door and windows are shut and locked if you answer the front door.
Everyone should have a good quality chain and locks on their door and windows and don’t let anyone into the house unless you are sure they are genuine. Always ask for identification and then check the telephone number from the phone book before allowing anyone in. A genuine official won’t mind waiting while you phone to check they are in your area.
The Water Board does not exist any more, but the name is often used as a means of entry.
Tell your family and friends never to do business on the doorstep or agree to work being done for cash with no documents or time to consider. (You legally have 10 days to reconsider). Cash stored in the house is a bad idea – so encourage the people you know to put money in the bank or building society. If they are distance away – offer to drive them there when they need to withdraw money.
Elderly people are sometimes taken to their bank or building society by distraction burglars to withdraw large sums of money to repair a roof that does not need doing or tarmac a driveway. Most of the time they promise to return to do the work the next day and then take the money and run.
Regular phone calls and visits make all the difference and you can help remind people of these tips, particularly if they forget things easily. A notice by the front door can remind them to use the chain or check an identity.
Finally, Dorset Police is here to help. If you feel that you are being targeted by distraction burglars or feel threatened, dial 999 straight away. We have successfully returned thousands of pounds to victims because we have been notified in time.
If you have been a victim in the past - don’t feel foolish – it can happen to anyone. Call us on our non emergency number 01202/01305 22 22 22 and report it and you may save someone else from being a victim.
To download a copy of the notice to place by the door or hand to someone who is vulnerable click on the following link: http://www.dorset.police.uk/pdf/BeSureBeSafe.pdf
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