Longthornton News

November Ward Update

Some of the parents taking their children to Stanford school on Friday 15th November may have noticed their local policing team with two traffic officers carrying out enforcement for speeding and other road traffic offences during the morning rush hour. Officers were on a fixed point between 0800-1000 hrs. In total 2 speeding tickets were issued and there were 6 warnings given about speeding (this is where vehicles are travelling approximately 10% over the speed limit). There was one seizure for no insurance, 2 tickets for seat belt offences, 1 for road tax, 1 for faulty brake lights and a road worthy prohibition (banning the vehicle from being used on the road until the problem is fixed) for faulty tyres. Further operations will be carried out focusing on speed and safe carriage of children. Crime figures for November 2013 compared to 2012 show that overall crime is up from 61 to 71 reported crimes. Burglaries have seen a increase with 11 reported in November and 1 attempted compared to last year which had 5 and 3 attempted. Motor vehicle crime is down from 12 last year to 7 this year and we have had a 100% drop in robberies this month having 0 compared to 4 last November. people committing the offence of cycling on the pavement and many youths who have been given words of advice regarding their use of the pavement and safety measures they need to adhere to. Officers whilst on patrol stopped a group of males who were drinking on the street near Hassocks Road, which resulted in one male being arrested and the others had their alcohol disposed of and strong words of advice given.

Contents
Ward update Door Security

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Winter festivities

Catalytic converter thefts Ward Sessions

If residents have any information regarding antisocial behaviour, drinking or any other offences please let us know by Officers have continued to calling either 999 if it is patrol the streets of Longan emergency or you can thornton and have been call either 101 (nonstopping people with reemergency) or gards to the controlled 02087212742 drinking zone and cycling on (Longthornton SNT) the pavements. You may We would like to wish all have noticed some of the residents a peaceful posters up and round Christmas and a safe Rowan Road. Fixed penalty 2014. Thank you for notices have been issued to your continued support.

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Crime Prevention: Door Security

Longthornton has been experiencing an increase in burglaries and one of the noticeable methods of entry has been through UPVC front doors, which have not been secured properly. We are asking all residents to ensure that they check, shut and lock all doors and windows before going out, overnight and when any room is unoccupied. This includes key locking doors with handle operated locking systems, pulling the handle up is not enough to prevent entry. The key must be used to actually lock the door.

UPVC and aluminium doors should have multi-locking systems. Additional mortice deadlocks and/or key operated throw bolts can be fitted to provide additional security and reduce the leverage points. Do not leave your keys in the door or anywhere near the letterbox such as a side table or shelf where they could possibly be fished out by using implements or tools, but keep them in a safe place ready for use in case of an emergency to exit the house. Always lift the handle and lock with a key to prevent burglars reaching in through the letterbox to open the door. Internal letterbox cages and shields also help to prevent car or house keys being fished through the letterbox.

Wooden front doors should be solid timber, with a British Standard 5-lever mortice lock one third of the way up and an automatic deadlocking latch rim one third of the way down.

Wooden back doors should be solid timber, with a BS 5-lever mortice lock and two mortice rack bolts.

Frames can be reinforced with metal strips called London and Birmingham bars.

Hinge bolts should be fitted to outward opening doors. Glass panels in doors should be replaced with laminated glass of reinforced internally with security film or grilles.

When moving into an older home, consider changing the locks on your doors to make sure that you have the only keys. If you have a door entry system, make sure that it is used properly.

Patio doors should have a minimum of three locking points with an anti-lift device to prevent them from being lifted from their runners. Extra surface

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Crime Prevention: Winter festivities

Christmas is a busy time of year for everyone, including the criminal. A high percentage of crime is opportunistic and can be prevented by taking some simple precautions. Dont let the criminal enjoy Christmas at your expense. well lit area or in an attended car park. ultra violet pen, or use a forensic marking solution such as Smartwater. Register bike frame numbers, mobile phone IMEI numbers and other identifying details on Immobilise, the free, national property registration scheme. The police recover hundreds of stolen items every year, and its much easier to prove that an item is stolen and return it to the rightful owner if its been registered with Immobilise or security marked. Dont carry large

Your home Keep doors and windows locked at all times, even when you are in the house. Keep presents out of sight. Large piles of gift wrapped goodies under Top tips to avoid the tree that are visible becoming a victim through a door or window are tempting for the Your car burglar. Dont leave presents in Dont leave empty boxes full view on the back seat on display outside. when out shopping. These Discarded packaging can be tempting to an advertises all the new offender. Lock them away goods you have indoors. out of sight in the boot. Dont leave car keys and

Always lock your car and make sure windows are closed, even if youre away from your vehicle for just a few minutes. Never leave your keys in the ignition whilst your vehicle is unattended, even for a few minutes. Opportunistic thieves will often steal cars that have been left with the engine running to defrost the windows. Dont leave any valuables in the glove compartment. Take bank cards, mobile phones and satellite navigation systems with you. These items are on a car thieves shopping list. Make sure you park in a

handbags lying around on view. Make it look like someone is at home when youre going out for the evening. Leave lights on and close the curtains. If you have a burglar alarm, set it. If youre going on holiday over the festive period, ask a friend, relative or neighbour to keep an eye on your house and invite them to park their vehicle on your drive. Your property Make sure all valuable property is marked. You can either postcode mark your property with an

amounts of money on you when you go out. Be alert, and make sure your purse or wallet is secure and hidden from view. Never keep your chequebook and card together. Keep your PIN confidential and dont write it down. Check that your home insurance adequately covers you for the value of goods in your home.

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Longthornton SNT Mitcham Police Station Mitcham CR4 4LA Phone: 0208 721 2742 Email: Longthornton.snt@met.police.uk In case of emergency always call 999 Non-emergency call 101 Twitter: @mpsmitchamsgt THE
MET ROPO L ITA N PO L ICE DO ES NOT

Useful Numbers

Fly-Tipping: 0208 545 3025 Noise Pollution and Statutory Nuisance: 0208 545 3025 or out of hours 0208 543 9750 Stray and Lost dogs: 0208 545 3170 or out of hours 0844 499 6063 Anti-Social Behaviour: 0208 274 4907 Citizen Advice Bureau: 0844 243 8430

Drop in/Street Sessions

A CCEP T A NY LEG A L R ES PONS IB IL IT Y F OR THE A DV ICE G IV EN ; IT IS G IV EN F REE A N D W ITHO UT THE IN TEN T ION O F CREA T ING A CONT RA CT IT IS B A S E D ON C URR ENT CR IME TREN DS IN T HE ME T A REA .

Wednesday 4th December at Isabels deli, Rowan Road between 11am12noon Saturday 28th December at Lidls, Rowan Road between 6pm7pm

Theft of Catalytic Converters

Catalytic Converters are widely known by thieves to have a high scrap valuable as the metal coating contains precious metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium. Marking a Catalytic Converter is difficult as the heat and steam will remove ordinary UV markings or stickers. The kit designed specifically for this purpose, it works by marking the metal shell of the convertor with a unique mark so if it is stolen and recovered it will be easier to trace back to a vehicle. On diesel cars, the diesel oxidation catalyst is often integrated with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and there is anecdotal evidence that these are being stolen for their scrap value too. Reduce risk To reduce the risk of theft of your car's catalytic converter: Garage your car whenever possible Park in well-lit busy areas Look out for people working under cars If the car's high risk consider marking the metal shell of the converter with a unique mark, so that if it is removed by thieves it will be easier to trace back to your vehicle Marking system Companies offer a kit consisting of a virtually indestructible sticker, metal marking fluid and a window sticker (to warn thieves that the catalytic converter carries an identification mark). Each mark contains a seven digit code and a 24 hour telephone number for the International Security Register which stores the code against vehicle details. Secure marking Even if a thief removes the label, the etched mark remains in place meaning that if the item is stolen the identity of the vehicle to which it belongs can be verified immediately by calling the ISR-International Security Register