From the Suffolk Police
Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter
"DISTRACTION BURGLARIES: Two unusual styles
of MO for distraction burglaries have come to light recently.
The first relates to either 1 or 2 offenders approaching a victim
and stating that they have detained a person/youth/child nearby. They
then go onto say that the detained person has some sort of property
on them which may belong to the householder - they then accompany
the householder/victim into the house while the victim checks his/her
property. There may well be variations on this theme but it is basically
the same.
The second relates to an offender distracting the householder/victim
on his/her front doorstep while an accomplice breaks in at the rear
of the property."
Unfortunately this type of crime seems to be on the increase so what
can you do to safeguard against it and other forms of burglary? One
thing, if you are eligible, is to take advantage of the "Healthy
Homes" scheme.
Healthy Homes
"The vast majority of house burglaries are committed by opportunist
criminals who are usually deterred by a home with a good standard
of security".
The Healthy Homes scheme is run by St Edmundsbury Borough Council
in partnership with Suffolk Police. It aims to help people feel safe
and secure in their own home.
Who is eligible? Anyone, tenant of home owner, in the Borough Council's
area who is over 60 or in receipt of income support, housing benefit
or council tax benefit.
What do you get? An accredited security professional will check your
home and, if necessary, upgrade security by supplying and installing
door locks, window locks, smoke alarm, door chain, etc. Where appropriate,
a Memo Minder will also be provided - see below. Please note that
security of uPVC (plastic) doors and windows cannot usually be upgraded
although modern ones are usually supplied with good quality locking
systems.
What does it cost? It is completely free.
Does the Scheme work? When I first wrote about the Scheme in last
July's Scene I thought I ought to find out more about it so I put
my name down. Recently I was visited by the security advisers - I
was notified by letter that they would be coming, they phoned to arrange
the appointment and they produced identification when they arrived.
They carried out a thorough check and gave advice on general security
issues. Although I have uPVC doors and windows which are not eligible
for upgrading they did check that the locks were up to standard. They
did however fit a secure hasp, staple and lock to the shed as the
existing ones were not too good. As I already have a smoke alarm they
did not need to fit one but they did leave me a time switch to turn
on a light automatically and a Memo Minder - I would not normally
have been given one of these but they thought it would be useful to
demonstrate to others.
What is the Memo Minder? Do you use your door chain before you open
the door or do you often forget? Record a short message - "Put
the chain on" for example - on the Memo Minder (a box about the
size of a block of butter), leave the Memo Minder near the door and
each time you walk past it to go to the door it will speak the message.
The message you put on depends on what you want to be reminded of.
An elderly person living on their own might get a younger person to
record the message to give the impression that there is someone else
in the house. If you want to know more about the Memo Minder, give
me a ring.
What now? For more information about the Healthy Homes scheme or to
put your name down for it, phone 01284 757053.
Tree Surgery
The Parish Council is arranging for some of the trees around the village
to be cut back. It may be because there are dead branches which are
in danger of falling, because branches overhang the road or footpath
or because the tree is not thriving and needs help. No-one likes to
see trees cut back unnecessarily so be assured that any pruning will
be done properly, for the right reasons and only after proper advice
has been obtained.
Navigation
We all know the problem. You're out for a walk and a driver asks directions
to Meeting Green, Genesis Green or some other part of the village.
You give directions but have to rely on "… when you get
to the crossroads that it." In one or two places, Attleton Green
and Marrows Corner for example, you can say "… you'll see
the name on the signpost there". The Parish Council has asked
for more name boards to be erected but there are problems, not least
the availability of funds, so we must wait and see how successful
our bid is.
Historic Greens
Eleven village greens in one village is pretty unusual. The Parish
Council is looking into the possibility of erecting signs on the existing
greens and on the sites of the no-longer-existing ones. This would
be a costly operation but grants may be available and this is being
looked into. One possibility could be for the signs to be part of
wider scheme including a printed history of the village and the reasons
for its unusual layout. Anyone got any thoughts on this? If so contact
the Clerk.
Hedgerow Survey
Several villages have carried out surveys of their hedgerows or are
in the course of doing so. The surveys are to identify the type and
numbers of trees and bushes to build up an overall picture of the
population of the hedgerows which is important to the wellbeing of
wildlife. The Parish Council is looking into the possibility of carrying
out such a survey but it is a daunting task given the area of the
village and the length of hedgerows involved. As a starting point,
we would like to hear from landowners who would be prepared to carry
out a survey of their own hedgerows and from volunteers who would
be prepared to walk hedgerows for the survey. Teen Project
The Teen Project
I do not intend to say much about this as there is a full report elsewhere
in this issue. However I must appeal to users of the skatepark not
to introduce additional equipment such as jump-blocks, "home-made"
or portable ramps, etc. Such equipment contravenes the Parish Council's
insurance and will be removed. More seriously, if such equipment is
constantly brought into the skatepark it could lead to closure of
the facility - it has happened elsewhere.
Peter Miller - Parish Clerk
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