Author: FVCA

Now more than ever we will all be spending more time at home which may mean purchasing games console, computers, tablets, games and other expensive items to keep everyone occupied at home. This means there are even more items to keep safe. The best way to do this is to follow our tips for keeping your home secure this festive period.

• Mark your property. We hold special bike marking events which are worth looking out for if you have got a new bicycle for Christmas. You can mark all your gifts including jewellery, tools etc and can place a sticker on your window to state that your property is parked. Marking your stuff makes it difficult for thieves to sell on, and so less desirable.
• Register all of you good on the Immobilise Property Marking Register here.
• Avoid posting photos of your gifts and purchases on social media and be careful not to identify your address in your posts.
• If you are going out for the whole of Christmas day to form a bubble as per the regulations, ask a trusted neighbour, family member or friend to keep an eye on your home, and do the same for them – don’t’ forget to leave your lights on a timer switch to make it look like someone is at home in the evening.
• Try and place your Christmas tree out of sight of street fronted windows
• When Christmas is all over don’t leave the boxes to your valuable gifts out by the rubbish bin, this lets burglars know what you have in your home. Take them directly to your local household recycling centre or think about keeping the broken-down boxes in a garage or loft
• Don’t keep presents in garden sheds etc and allow someone else to do their shopping at your expense.
• Do not leave house or car keys near to your letterbox.

Inspector Ram Aston said: “Burglars often target homes specifically and although we will still be patrolling and are here to help you, we urge you to take these steps to protect your home.

“This year has been difficult enough for all of us without coming home or waking up to find someone has stolen some of you valuables. Crime prevention is absolutely crucial and anything residents can do to help protect their home can help make a difference.

“If you leave you home for the day make sure the house is locked up before you go and the burglar alarm is set. Right now the advice during the pandemic is to keep a window open for ventilation but it is really important you take a couple of minutes to check these are closed before leaving your house. Hide any valuable items from view from the outside and don’t leave anything in the garden that could potentially be used to gain entry into your home. Be mindful of where you store your wheelie bin too and consider if it could be used for someone to climb on and access an upstairs window or used to climb over into the garden.  If you’re leaving the car at home and have a garage, park it in the garage while you’re away rather than on the drive and if you’ve got gates close and lock them with a good quality lock.

“If you are victim of a burglary and your property is stolen, if the items are Smart Water marked we can ensure they are returned to you if they are found. This is particularly important with high value items such as games consoles, computers and bikes. It is also incredibly useful to take photos of your valuables so if they are taken you can supply us with an accurate image, This is particularly helpful with jewellery and family heirlooms.”

For more advice on keeping your home safe from burglars visit the West Mercia Police website here and for more ways to secure your home visit Secure By Design here.

Criminals will use every opportunity they can to defraud innocent people. They will continue to exploit every angle of the Covid-19 pandemic as more people shop online this festive season.

Detective Sergeant Jon Cooper said: “I’m sure most of us will be ordering items online this month and we simply want people to be aware of the very simple steps they can take to protect themselves from handing over their money or personal details to criminals. I would ask the public to talk to each other; especially elderly and vulnerable friends and family and warn them of the risks and how they can protect themselves.

“Law enforcement, government and industry are working together to protect people, raise awareness, take down fraudulent websites and email addresses, and ultimately bring those responsible to justice.

“If you think you’ve been a victim of a scam, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cybercrime.

They provide a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime.

When you report to Action Fraud you will receive a police crime reference number. Reports taken are passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Steps you can take to prevent yourself from cyber crime

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment.

They can contact you by phone, email, text, on social media, or in person.

They will try to trick you into parting with your money, personal information, or buying goods or services that don’t exist.

If you are approached unexpectedly remember to:

• Stop: Taking a moment to think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
• Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
• Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
• The police, or your bank, will never ask you to withdraw money or transfer it to a different account. They will also never ask you to reveal your full banking password or PIN.
• Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails.
• Confirm requests are genuine by using a known number or email address to contact organisations directly.

To keep yourself secure online, ensure you are using the latest software, apps and operating systems on your phones, tablets and laptops. Update these regularly or set your devices to automatically update so you don’t have to worry.

More advice on how to keep prevent cybercrime is available here from the National Cyber Security Centre also here from Take Five to Stop Fraud

West Mercia Police, working closely with colleagues in the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) is pleased to be bring you The Little Book of Big Scams. This book has been reproduced with the kind permission of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Cyber Crime Unit.

The Regional Organised Crime Unit West Midlands Team leads the response for Serious and Organised Crime across the region, which includes Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.  The goal of the team is to reduce the impact of the most dangerous offenders and criminal groups in order to make our communities safer.

Detective Inspector Emma Wright who leads the fight against fraud for the Economic Crime Unit said: “Fraud has evolved over recent years and The Little Book of Big Scams seeks to address the challenges both the public and the police face in deterring and preventing these crimes.

“The book covers everything from fraud enablers, types of fraud and what to do if you get scammed. Many of the traditional frauds remain a threat to us all however the prevalence of the digital world now has opened the door to new types of online fraud and new types of risk.

“With organised criminals finding new ways to access our personal details and new ways to exploit most people’s inherent trust in other people and what they tell them, it is more important than ever that we all arm ourselves with the best and most up to date knowledge available. It is only through doing this and working together that we will combat fraud in all it’s forms.”

You can download the booklet by clicking here.

Still shopping online for those last minute gifts?

🛍 Remember to research retailers before making your purchase

🏆 If an offer seems too good to be true it probably is

💳 Consider paying with a credit card or PayPal for greater buyer protection

💻 Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date

🔐 Use strong passwords that differ across websites

Visit www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home for more advice on how to stay safe online this Christmas.

PC’s Bolton & Trowman from the We Don’t Buy Crime team highlight cycle security and how quick and easy it is to take your bike.

Mark your bicycle with SmartWater (Free kits available to properties in Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge – email admin@fvca.org.uk) and use a secure, sturdy lock.