Author: News Team 1

Dear Watch Member,

We would remind residents to take care to protect their homes from burglaries as the clocks go back on Sunday 29^th October 2023.

There are some key things you can to do to keep your home secure this autumn:

• Make sure your home is secure when leaving by locking all doors and windows.
• Keep a light on if you go out especially during evening hours, or invest a plug light timer switch.
• Never leave your keys and valuables within view or reach of windows and letterboxes.
• Always lock your front door from inside – especially UPVC front doors that have handles even if you are home.
• Check your outside lighting is in good working order and replace any faulty equipment.
• Look out for your neighbours, if something doesn’t seem right, call police on 999.

 

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Sophie Dunford
Communications Officer and VAWG Lead
Email: [email protected]

Dear Watch Member,

Autumn is here, winter is coming, the clocks will soon go back, and with it all comes increasingly longer hours of darkness.

Darkness that burglars and car thieves will use to their advantage.

And with Navratri, Diwali, Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations over the coming weeks, it is possible there could be an increase in burglary offences.

Therefore it’s important to leave your home and its valuable contents secure whenever it’s unoccupied.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out:

• close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
• double-lock all doors
• make sure that any valuables are out of sight
• in the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on
• if you’re not home by sunset, it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn on lights and a radio during the dark evenings
• set your burglar alarm
• make sure the side gate is locked
• lock your shed or garage
• secure currency and jewellery inside a discreetly hidden safe anchored to the floor.

Car thieves will target keyless entry vehicles overnight when cars are on the driveway and keys are in the house.

That’s why it’s important to take the following car theft prevention measures:

• when at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
• put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Pouch, and check if the bag or pouch is still working every few months.
• turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.
• apply a steering-wheel lock
• install a driveway bollard
• install an Immobiliser that prevents a vehicle from starting unless the correct fob, key or activation process is used. They can be personalised so that you’re the only one who knows how to unset it via a number of dashboard controls.

For further crime prevention advice please click here.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Dear Watch Member,

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has published its annual assessment covering 2022-23 and its findings include:

• Phishing emails continue to be the most common way frauds are started
• Hacking (Social media and email) is the top cyber crime type
• Online Shopping and Auction Fraud is the top fraud type, which means people are buying goods that possibly don’t exist.
• Courier Fraud reports are DOWN but losses have INCREASED by 96%.

Across London we know residents are still being conned through telephone and online frauds, and the fraudsters can be persuasive, and manipulative.

If you receive a telephone call or email to say you are entitled to compensation, or you could help with a Police situation relating to your bank account, or your broadband / energy company / phone provider is giving you money back – it’s likely to be the start of a fraud as the criminal will try to hook you with something that seems too good to be true. Any reputable company you do business with would have your postal address and would send you a letter about any money owing to you – they really wouldn’t phone, text or email you.

If you, or a family member or friend has been a victim, please report to the Metropolitan Police by ringing 101 or online via www.met.police.uk/ro/report/fo/v1/fraud/.

Please forward any suspicious texts to Action Fraud at 7726 (spells SPAM on your keypad). Please report scams and attempted scams to Action Fraud.

Please visit www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/ for information about how you can stay one step ahead of the scammers.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team