Neighbourhood Watch newsletter
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SUMMER 2009 NEWSLETTER
News Items/Alerts
Please be aware there have been a spate of attempted thefts and thefts of vehicles throughout Aberdeenshire (cars and motorcycles) – ensure that your car is secure, property is kept out of sight and motorcycles are kept in a secure garage or shed. Anyone seeing any suspicious activity near to cars, garages or motorcycles are urged to contact Grampian Police.
Rogue Traders. Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards are experiencing an increase in the number of reports of bogus workmen/rogue traders within the area. Please see the information below on how to deal with unwanted callers. Help protect vulnerable neighbours.
Aberdeenshire Council are working with Grampian Police to further reduce vandalism at schools – please contact Grampian Police if you see any suspicious activity within school grounds during the summer holidays day or night. Where possible note details of clothing worn/hair colour/how they travelled.
Useful Information
APPEAL FROM GRAMPIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION
The following information was supplied by Grampian Neighbourhood Watch Association who are trying to re-establish some of the watches and introduce the concept of youth engagement. I will shortly be sending an email to confirm that you are happy for your details to be passed on to the GNWA.
"Since it began in Scotland nearly 30 years ago, Neighbourhood Watch has grown into a formidable presence in the area of community safety. There is now a Scottish Association, fully supported by the Scottish Government, as well as four regional associations and many smaller, more local associations.
Grampian Neighbourhood Watch Association encompasses all watches in the north east, new watches are starting up almost on a weekly basis. The information passed onto Grampian Police and other agencies is always noted, and does help in creating the bigger picture of safer communities.
However, very often, a Watch is started because of a particular problem, and when that problem is solved, or diluted, or just goes away, some Watches quietly slip into disuse and inactivity. This can also be caused by co-ordinators moving away, retiring or even just losing interest. The result of this is a loss of communication with the area, and no cohesive structure in place.
GNWA are offering to help re-vitalise existing Watches with a simple programme of training and presentation in order to help Watches, both large and small, maintain a safer community. GNWA works with several partners in the community, and has moved forward considerably since the days of being regarded as ‘curtain twitchers’. One of the main policies of GNWA is community and youth engagement, and we would be delighted to hear from watches that feel they need to progress their awareness of their community for the benefit of all."
Remember you can contact GNWA via email on the website link www.grampiannwa.org.uk
BOGUS CALLERS/WORKMEN/ROGUE TRADERS
Individuals involved in 'doorstep crime' can be split into four main groups. These are:
bogus callers
bogus workman
rogue traders
high pressures sales people
Bogus Workman will identify themselves as from legitimate service provider i.e. gas or water utility supplier. They will tell householder they require access to check meter, check for leak etc. Again they will distract victim and steal valuables or cash.
Rogue Traders will offer to carry out work i.e. roofing repairs, driveway resurfacing or landscaping. They will require cash up front and where they do carry out any work it may be shoddy and sub standard, or grossly over-charged.
High Pressure Sales will use pressurising, scaremongering or aggressive tactics to get victim to part with money for goods or sign up to some service they do not require.
Follow this simple advice:
Do not let strangers into your home
Verify the identity of anyone person calling at your home purporting to be an official representative of a company or agency. (Most utility providers operate a password scheme for vulnerable customers)
Never pay for goods or services at your door by cash.
Obtain receipt and note details of vehicles etc.
Never sign up to something on the doorstep. If you are interested ask for someone to contact you to arrange a suitable time for a visit. Make sure you have someone with you at this time.
Never divulge personal details to callers i.e. full name, d.o.b. bank details etc.
If in doubt keep door locked and contact the police.
Where the matter does not appear to be criminal information should be passed to Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards by e-mail HYPERLINK "mailto:trading.standards@aberdeenshire.gov.uk" trading.standards@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or by phone 01467 628323.
Consumer advice can also be obtained through the above contact.
Consumer Advice - Know your rights
Cooling Off Period
If the goods and services you buy cost more than £35, and you did not invite the seller to call, then you generally have seven days to change your mind and cancel the contract. Responding to an advertisement in the paper or a leaflet dropped through your letterbox counts as inviting the seller to call.
If you agree to a visit after the seller rings you up or sends someone round to ask if he or she can visit, you still have the right to cancel within seven days.
Your right to cancel
By law, the seller must give you written details of your right to cancel (there are exceptions to this rule). Failure to do this is a criminal offence, and the contract cannot be enforced against you. Details of the right to cancel may be set out in the body of the contract, or you may be given a separate form.
If you are entitled to cancellation rights but are not given details in writing then the agreement cannot be enforced and you don’t have to pay a penny, even if goods or services have already been supplied.
If you do cancel the contract, and goods have already been delivered, you must keep them safe and let the seller collect them.
If you are given written details of your rights and decide to cancel the contract, you can get back any money you paid. But if you have received certain goods or services which would be awkward or virtually impossible to hand back (eg perishable goods or home improvement services), then you will have to pay for what you have received, even if you cancel the contract.
If you make the first contact with the seller, and invite them to call, you have no legal right to change your mind and cancel the contract. There are two exceptions: 1. if the contract specifically gives you cancellation rights; 2. if you bought the goods or service on credit in which case you will generally have five days to cancel.
BICYCLE SECURITY
BIKE WEEK 2009
(13th – 21st June 2009)
For information on Bike Week 2009 events in your area visit www.bikeweek.org.uk
STOP THIEVES TAKING YOUR BIKE FOR A RIDE
Returning to where you left your bike to find it stolen is a depressing experience. Throughout Grampian in 2008 over 400 mountain bikes were stolen. These thefts occurred both from public places and within sheds and garages.
The good news is that with a few simple precautions the majority of these thefts can be prevented and a little work now could greatly increase the chances of getting your bike back if the worst should happen. Please see below for some security advice.
KEEPING HOLD OF YOUR BIKE
Get a good quality bike lock – the more expensive your bike, the more you should spend, a good guide is to spend 10-20% of the cost of the bike on the lock. Solid 'D' locks offer good protection
Use the lock! – even if popping into the shops for 2 minutes, many thefts are opportunistic
Lock to the best solid object you can find such as a cycle stand, railing or other street furniture.
Leave your bike where it can easily be seen by others or under CCTV surveillance
Remove anything that cant be secured, lamps, pumps, quick release saddles etc
Secure quick release wheels with your main lock or a separate cable
If you store the bike in a shed or garage fit a ground or wall anchor and lock your bike to it.
WHO'S BIKE IS IT?
The above tips should help keep your bike safe, but should the worst happen, having a good description can increase the chances of getting your bike back. Stolen bikes are recovered but the sad fact is most are never reclaimed. Across Grampian the Police dealt with over 1,000 lost and found bikes in 2008. Only 98 found their way back to their owners.
Permanently security mark your bike to improve the chances of recovery, use your postcode and house number. Keep a note of the frame or serial number and where you have security marked.
Record details of your bike now experience shows its hard to produce an accurate description when its gone. Why not use our 'Bike Passport'
Paper Version - Print, Fill in and keep safe - Bike Passport Electronic Version - Save on your own PC - Bike Identification Form If you can, keep a photograph of your bike with it.
As well as keeping your own record of your bike why not register your bike and any other valuable property on-line at the Police backed www.immobilise.com or alternatively at www.bikeregister.com
SUMMER HOLIDAY SEASON
Before you go away on holiday please remember the following points:
Make your home look like someone is living in it. Don't close curtains - in daytime this shows the house is empty. Consider using automatic timer switches to turn your lights on when it goes dark.
Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries.
Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that burglars could hide behind.
Uncollected mail is a sign that you are away. Consider the Royal Mail's 'Keepsafe' service.
Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination.
Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your absence from home.
Lock all outside doors and windows, and if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set.
Sneak in Thefts will be on the increase the in summer months, security concerns are often abandoned in favour of sun screen, hat and an hour or two at the bottom of the garden. Do not be complacent, if you cannot see the door or window it should be locked!
Allison Todd
Crime Reduction
Aberdeenshire.
CONTACTING GRAMPIAN POLICE
If you wish to discuss any security matter, please contact Aberdeenshire
Crime Reduction Unit on (01224) 304035 or via e-mail at CrimeReductionShire@grampian.pnn.police.uk .
DO NOT report crimes to this Crime Reduction Unit – instead:
telephone 0845 600 5 700
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
or only in case of emergency call 999.