community

Although theft from outbuildings and sheds is uncommon there have been a few over recent months across the West Mercia Police area. Therefore police are asking residents to remain vigilant.

Police have seen a number of sheds and outbuildings across Shropshire being targeted and the Police do need people to take precautions to protect their property. Please ensure you keep Valuable tools out of sight lock buildings, fit good security lights and alarms where possible.

If you have CCTV look at using it to cover your sheds and outbuilding as well as the house.

Whitewash the shed window or put a curtain across to stop any one looking inside the shed.

Fit good locks and attach the fittings with bolts. Cover the screw heads on hinges so they can’t be taken out.

Remember, sheds that are not attached to homes or are out of sight at the bottom of a garden can be quite vulnerable. Look at making sure that your boundary fences and hedges are in good condition and grow shrubs such as Firethorn or Hawthorne in your hedges. Don’t make it easy for the thief.

Put tools away and out of sight after use and don’t forget to lock the shed up before popping off to the shops.

There’s no place like home, and it’s important to make your home as protected as possible to ensure that it is a safe place for you, your property, and your loved ones. Follow our advice on keeping your home and property secure from most criminal threats:

Make sure all points of entry to your home or property have locks.

When you leave the property, no matter for how long, make sure that these entry points are all locked. Also make sure you lock up before going to bed at night.

There’s no point leaving your keys in an accessible place – don’t leave them in doors/windows or hanging within easy reach of the front door.

Think about further security measures – a fence, burglar alarm or security lights can be a good investment and are much more likely to deter burglars. They may also decrease your insurance payments.

When leaving the property to go on holiday, use timers on lights and radios to create an impression that someone is still in the property, or ask neighbours to make occasional visits to your property or park in your driveway.

Finally, to ensure you feel secure when answering your door, fit a “spy hole” so you can see who is calling. You should also fit a door chain. Don’t let anyone into the property that you feel unsure about, and always ask to see identification – if they don’t have any, do not let them in.

Who are Nottingham Knockers?

They are doorstep callers who target areas offering small household products for sale. These callers may claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways, however they are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.

Please warn your neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers or buy or sell on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.
Please keep in mind that if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.

How they work

The sellers may say that they are on a “rehabilitation course” arranged by probation services or other organisations trying to find people work. This is not the case and often they are known criminals. Probation services do not run such schemes.

They may show a card which claims to be a “Pedlars Licence” or work permit.

A bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) is supplied at a minimal sum by the person who employs them. Once they sell enough to cover the cost of the products they get to keep anything else earned.

Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.

They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam. Many people will purchase items and pay them something, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these lads can be very persistent and confrontational.

The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note; usually £10. The householder disappears to get the money, this is when the scam begins. When the note is handed over, the lad examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it. If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new, they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty, this is an indication that there is more in the property. Those addresses are noted. The addresses of elderly / vulnerable / gullible people are all noted.

These are handed to the employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each one.

These addresses are then sold in prisons and pubs. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds.

These lists are purchased by all sorts of people including; tarmaccers, tree workers, roofers, dodgy builders etc., and can be shared amongst the travelling community. Once on a list, your address could be sold on and on. Hence the repeat nature of these persistent callers.

TURN THEM AWAY

REMEMBER if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.

If you have any information about criminal activity and you know who is responsible but you feel that you can not go to the police because you are scared that it would mean going to court and giving evidence, or you are scared of what might happen to you or your family if those responsible find out? You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and tell them what you know. You will remain 100% anonymous.

Always!

Just tell them what you know, not who you are.

Contact Crimestoppers about crime anonymously:

Tel: 0800 555 111
Website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Twitter: @CrimestoppersUK