Tackling cycle theft

July 10, 2010 08:35
 

Dear Sir / Madam,

Tackling cycle theft

Crime across Westminster is decreasing. Westminster City Council’s Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Service work in very close partnership with the Knightsbridge & Belgravia local police Safer Neighbourhoods team (SNT), other agencies and local partners to tackle the concerns of the local community.

Cycling as a mode of transport in London is increasing and along with it the amount of and cycle theft issues. In order to help tackle these issues your local Knightsbridge and Belgravia SNT have carried out a set of cycle marking events across the ward. Once your cycle has been marked it is then registered with Bike Register (part of immobilize.com) making it much easier to trace, assisting the police in not only relocating your stolen cycle, but also targeting offenders. The Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Team also now have a dedicated cycle team.

Over the course of the 3 events the SNT marked over 150 cycles. Two of these events, one of which also had Dr Bike, took place at the Imperial College London which is a hot spot for offences. The other took place at Hyde Park Corner as part of a Westminster wide initiative in partnership with Transport for London aimed at educating and providing training for cyclists, raising awareness and the visibility of cyclists from higher level vehicles and the Highway Code. Dr Bike was also present at the Hyde Park Corner event.

Your information is vital to helping us address your local concerns. If you witness a crime incident or anti-social behaviour, please contact the local police non-emergency number on 0300 123 1212. If a crime is in progress, if you are in danger or there is an emergency, always dial 999.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Keiller Sergeant Gary Herrett
Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Safer Neighbourhoods team
Westminster City Council Metropolitan Police Service

Dear Sir / Madam,

Reduction in pick pocketing offences around Hyde Park Corner

Crime across Westminster is decreasing. Westminster City Council’s Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Service work in very close partnership with the Knightsbridge & Belgravia local police Safer Neighbourhoods team (SNT), other agencies and local partners to tackle the concerns of the local community.

Pick pocketing is an ongoing issue in the Hyde Park Corner area due it’s transient nature and the amount of tourists and buses routes that pass through day in day out.

However, as part of the Knightsbridge and Belgravia SNTs focus on this recent crime figures over the past month have dropped from 31 offences to just 6. This has been largely down to working with the larger local businesses in the area such as The Berkeley Hotel and providing training for staff, an increase of patrols in the area and raising awareness by engaging with the public and handing out multi lingual leaflets with crime prevention information.

Your information is vital to helping us address your local concerns. If you witness a crime incident or anti-social behaviour, please contact the local police non-emergency number on 0300 123 1212. If a crime is in progress, if you are in danger or there is an emergency, always dial 999.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Keiller Sergeant Gary Herrett
Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Safer Neighbourhoods team
Westminster City Council Metropolitan Police Service

Tackling fraud for local businesses

July 10, 2010 08:26
 

Dear Sir / Madam,

Tackling fraud for local businesses

Westminster City Council’s Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Service work in very close partnership with the Knightsbridge & Belgravia local police Safer Neighbourhoods team (SNT), other agencies and local partners to tackle the concerns of the local community.

In a survey carried out by the Knightsbridge and Belgravia SNT with local businesses on the ward, one of the main concerns highlighted was in relation to fraud. This has also been further backed up by some analysis provided by our Westminster City Council analyst that shows an increase in fraud offences over the last year.

In order to help tackle this issue a training seminar was held The Berkeley Hotel. 17 local businesses attended the session where a 1 hour presentation was given by a Detective Sergeant from the Economic and Specialist Crime Unit OCU. During the presentation crime prevention and other relevant information was given regarding credit cards, counterfeit currency, the recruitment of staff and vetting as well as raising general awareness and what to do should you suspect anyone committing this type of offence. The seminar was then followed by an open question and answer session. Further sessions are hoped to be planned, if you are interested in attending a training seminar then please contact the Knightsbridge and Belgravia SNT on 020 8721 2422.

Your information is vital to helping us address your local concerns. If you witness a crime incident or anti-social behaviour, please contact the local police non-emergency number on 0300 123 1212. If a crime is in progress, if you are in danger or there is an emergency, always dial 999.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Keiller Sergeant Gary Herrett
Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Safer Neighbourhoods team
Westminster City Council Metropolitan Police Service

June 2010

Dear Sir / Madam,

Year on year reductions in residential burglary and robbery

Crime across Westminster is decreasing. Westminster City Council’s Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Service work in very close partnership with the Knightsbridge & Belgravia local police Safer Neighbourhoods team (SNT), other agencies and local partners to tackle the concerns of the local community.

As a result of our joint working over the past year, recent crime figures show that there have been noticeable reductions in both residential burglary (44%) and robbery (46%).

This is largely down to the local police teams focus on; using DNA signage, working with security companies, carrying out reassurance visits, educating more vulnerable individuals travelling home at night and increased patrols in areas where people are more susceptible to this type of offence.

Your information is vital to helping us address your local concerns. If you witness a crime incident or anti-social behaviour, please contact the local police non-emergency number on 0300 123 1212. If a crime is in progress, if you are in danger or there is an emergency, always dial 999.

Sergeant Gary Herrett
Knightsbridge and Belgravia
Safer Neighbourhoods team

VEHICLE CRIME

June 16, 2010 08:03
 

VEHICLE CRIME

Dear residents and business contacts

We have had an ongoing rise in vehicle crime on the Knightsbridge and Belgravia ward.

Please see attached file regarding recent vehicle crime and the main affected areas.

Lorraine O'hara
PCSO 7788CW
Knightsbridge and Belgravia
Safer Neighbourhood Team

STOLEN PAINTING

June 09, 2010 09:35
 

Dear Knightsbridge and Belgravia residents and business contacts,

Please can you take time to look at the attched file containing a photograph of a painting (Girl Milking by Evelyn Dunbar) that was recently stolen from the Imperial College.

If you have any information on the location of this painting, please contact us.

Many thanks

Lorraine Ohara
PCSO 7788CW
Knightsbridge and Belgravia
Safer Neighbourhood Team

knightsbridge.belgravia.snt@met.police.uk

0208 721 2422

To all residents and business employees, please read the statement below, we have been passed this information and would like to share it with you, please dont let this happen to you.

The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm
calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge
number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual
purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your
VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an
Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company
based in London ?" When you say "No", the caller continues with,
"Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company
we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497,
just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before
your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your
address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I
will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you
should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-
VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control
Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need
me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then
says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask
you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are
7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are
the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card.
These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet
purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to
read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers,
he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has
not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you
have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then
thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and
hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell
you the Card number . But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card. Long story -short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them .
Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

No to Bike Tax Group Demonstration

April 21, 2010 07:52
 

'The No to Bike Tax group have stated that they will be demonstrating every Wednesday morning from 0800hrs. They will choose a location on the morning of the demo within an area and ride their motorbikes lawfully but in a way that causes maximum disruption.

They will not release the location until 0700hrs on the morning of te demonstration and their intention is to continue their protest until Westminster City Council stop charging Motorcycles to park.'

Message sent by Simon Baxter Westminster CT Focus Desk.

FREE BICYCLE SECURITY MARKING

February 02, 2010 20:16
 

Knightsbridge and Belgravia Safer Neighbourhood team would like to invite students and local residents to have there bicycles security marked.

For more info please see attached information.......

Vehicle Crime

January 30, 2010 15:55
 

To all local residents and businesses

Recently we have had a rise in theft from motor vehicle crime in the area.

On the 28th January 2010 - Prince consort Road, SW7, between 1800hrs - 2200hrs. 2 vehicles had the back window smashed and personal property stolen from within.

On the 27th January 2010 - Near, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7. between 17.50hrs - 22.30 hrs 2 vehicles had the rear window smashed and personal property stolen from within.

On the 21st January 2010 - outside Alexandra Gate, South Carriage Drive between 19.00hrs - 22.20hrs 1 vehicle had its rear window smashed and personal property stolen from within.

On the 20th January 2010 - Outside Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, SW7 1. Between 19.25hrs - 21.00hrs 1 vehicle had the back window smashed and personal property stolen from within.

On the 19th January 2010 - Prince consort Road, SW7, between 1800hrs - 2200hrs.
3 vehicles had the back window smashed and personal property stolen from within.

We have currently raised patrols in these areas, we have also posted signs around the areas concerned to warn residents and deter thieves.

Please help us to help you, do not leave personal belongings on show in your vehicle, these thieves are also gaining access to the boot via the back seats, so please try not to leave belongings in the boot when possible.

Award given to local school pupil

July 17, 2009 08:00
 

"Swap a knife for a life" project award for local youngster. . . Read on in attached publication. . . .