Garden sheds are often an easy target for burglars who will steal tools, lawnmowers and electrical goods. Even if you don't keep anything of value in your shed, burglars can use garden tools to break into your home. Sheds are not designed for safe storage.Think about the security of your property from the point of view of a burglar who will not want to steal identifiable property
It's worth marking your gardening tools and equipment permanently with your postcode followed by the number of your house. This will help the police identify your property even if it is found in another part of the country. You could also consider purchasing an alarm. These can be purchased for as little as £10 from local DIY stores.

A GOOD RESULT!

Following a number of reports regarding thefts of car badges in the Histon and Impington area, an arrest has now been made.

As a result of good observation and descriptions noted by witnesses, Police were able to swiftly arrest a numbrer of persons in connection with the robbery at Cottenham last Sunday morning.

The Local Consultation Group, jointly organised by the Police Authority and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, were in attendance at the Tesco Superstore on Sunday 25th November. Members of the public were asked to complete questionnaires on their perception of crime within the Sector and their level of satisfaction on general policing matters. This was an opportunity for local residents to meet members of the Police Authority and community beat officers from their area. Members of the Cambridgeshire Area Crime Prevention Panel were on hand with a variety of leaflets and handouts etc.

PC Phil Shulver held a successful police surgery in Fen Ditton Post Office on the morning of Thursday 22nd November. He met with local residents and was available to answer their queries and hear their concerns.

We have been doing our bit, here at Histon,this month for Children in Need. £50 was raised in contributions to a Swear Box.

We also took part in a fund raising event initiated by Roltech Limited, a company based in Bar Hill. Their Operations Manager, Mark Savage, volunteering to do anything to raise money (!) dressed himself up as a fairy that day. He found himself in police custody until a ransom was paid. To date, Roltech have raised £1,390 and the final figure is expected to reach £1,500. A brilliant effort by Roltech, I am sure you will agree.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest, most successful crime prevention initiatives ever. An active partnership with the police, it aims to:

- cut crime and the opportunities for crime
- help and reassure those who live in fear of
crime
- encourage neighbourliness and closer
communities

Histon Police are looking for volunteers to start new schemes right across the sector - would you consider starting a scheme in your area? Neighbourhood Watch schemes can be large, covering for example most of the houses on an estate or they could be a group of just a few houses. Schemes are usually led by one volunteer co-ordinator who generally organises things. Sometimes a committee is formed to consider and discuss community problems and what action to take - the idea is to keep in close contact with the police to share information, advice and ideas.

Over recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in burglaries and suspicious incidents at sheltered housing accommodation occupied by senior citizens.

In conjunction with South Cambridgeshire District Council Housing Dept, we are looking into initiating an 'early warning' scheme to warn potential victims of suspicious persons, vehicles etc.

In the meantime, if you lived in sheltered housing accommodation, we would ask you to be extra vigilant and security conscious. If you see anything suspicious, then please report it to the Police on 01223 358966.

PARKING PROBLEMS

Just to highlight that there are ongoing parking problems outside most schools in the area.

Problems are mainly arising where parents are parking or stopping to drop children off, on the stretch of road or lay-by marked with yellow zig-zags and the wording 'Keep Clear'. It is essential that these areas are kept clear for the safety of school children. For example, at Cottenham Primary School there is a lay-by marked for buses only where parents are pulling up, so that the buses cannot pull in safely. If this area is not kept clear, bus drivers have to double-park in the road which obviously can be hazardous.

Please remember that these parking restrictions are there for the safety of all children. If you take your children to school by car, perhaps you could leave a few minutes earlier to give yourself time to find somewhere safe to park.

There have been a few requests for 'updates' regards crimes and detections. Having discussed this with senior officers, this is not something that can be achieved at the present time for individual crimes. Some detection rates for the whole of Southern Division however, are shown below, for the period April-October 2001.

Should you need to address a specific incident,and require an update for a particular reason, we may however, may be able to assist.

The figures below relate to reported crimes for Histon Sector for the period
1st November-30th November 2001.

If you have an e-mail address please let me know and it can be sent to you via this method.

On the subject of Robberies, the latest being Monday teatime at Longstanton Post Office, please be extra vigilant at vulnerable locations. This is the 'season' for such crimes which usually take place in rural locations, frequently targetting Post Offices or other small shops with high takings, late afternoon - evening times. We do NOT WANT any heroics, but please take note of any suspicious vehicles or persons seen in the vicinity.

There have been a spate of shed burglaries in the Caldecote area last week

Car crime has increased in Milton village. Target property has been Laptop Computers.

* You wouldn't leave £1000 in cash on the back seat of a car - yet people leave Laptops in full view!! *

Bogus Callers

Most callers are probably quite genuine, but some are not. Here are some simple steps you should take to ensure that you don't become the victim of a bogus caller:

• Fix a security chain and door viewer and use them when answering the door.
• Do not allow anyone in your home that you do not know or doesn't have identification that you can verify.
• Ask the caller for identification and verify it by telephoning the company that they purport to work for - do not ring the telephone number on the ID card that they supply - use a telephone directory.
• Most of the major utility companies will ensure that their staff come equipped with your customer reference number, so ask them to read it to you, so that you can confirm that they are genuine callers.
• Do not be pressured into buying products or services that you do not want.
• If you are still not happy, phone the police - dial 999 - and tell them what's happened. Also remember to tell your neighbours - particularly the elderly - who are often the target of bogus callers.

If you would like any free literature or door stickers giving more information about bogus callers, please contact the Community Safety Department on: (01223 358966)