RURAL UCKFIELD

Community Contact Wealden Tuesday 05 August to Thursday 14 August 2008

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Please remember that if you are a victim or witness to a crime please contact Police on either 999 or the non emergency number 0845 6070999 as I can not record crimes or take immediate action.

APPEALS, MESSAGES AND NEWS

Good News

Male arrested

Sometime between 12:15pm on Tuesday 29th July and 1:00am a male was arrested in Lewes Road, Ridgewood park, Uckfield. The male was seen to be damage a Vauxhall Movano motor vehicle with a pick axe.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident they are asked to contact PC Micheala Pearce at Uckfield Police Station on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 47 of 29/07/08 or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 

Press Release

Fuel Thefts

Wealden district is currently suffering an increase in thefts of oil throughout the district. This appears to have increased since the recent rises in prices of oil. The problem is not just confined to Wealden, and is Country-wide. Within Wealden, we have had a spate of thefts of diesel from vehicle where either a fuel line is cut, or the fuel tank is actually drilled into in order to steal the fuel. Two vehicles were recently attacked in a car park in Mayfield, and as a result the Fire Brigade had to be called to deal with the residual spilled fuel that had been left behind.

Domestic heating oil tanks have also been targeted. These are especially vulnerable, as they are often sited out of view, and in rural locations. Owners of such tanks are advised to consider fitting security lighting to the area of the tank, and additional locks. CCTV is another option.

Vehicle owners are asked to consider where they park their vehicles at night. If possible, park in a well lit area, and avoid places where the vehicle is not in public view.

If anyone has any information about the people responsible for stealing oil, they are asked to contact Sussex police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Sometime over the weekend of the 5th July, a blue Volkswagon van parked in Selby Road was subjected to criminal damage. A rear number plate was stolen from the van and two scratches were made along the passenger side of the vehicle. If anyone has any information regarding this incident they are asked to contact Pc Desouza DD108 at Uckfield Police Station on 0845 60 70 999 ,quoting serial 397 of 21/07/08 or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 

Public Order – Uckfield

Around 4.35pm on the 28th July 2008 an incident occurred in the car park at the rear of the Somerfield Store in Uckfield were a male was seen to be brandishing a knife . No- one was injured and the incident is not connected to any previous incidents.  Update: This male has now been arrested and charged.

Burglary - Uckfield
Between Wednesday 23rd July and Saturday 2nd August a house in New Barn Lane, Uckfield was broken into. Various items were taken including pieces of solid silverware including a plain solid silver square box approximately 6"x 6" in size, three solid silver match holders, one is plain and two are textured approximately 2" x 3" in size.  Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Sam Morgan-Smith at Uckfield Police station on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 1728 of 02/08/08 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Messages

Fraud Scams – from Mina O’Brien at Trading Standards
We have had a report from a local business being contacted by email posing as a prospective customer from abroad.  Whilst some custom by email will be genuine, be wary of emails asking unusual questions (i.e. questions which do not relate to the goods or services on offer!).

Please see:  http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/section/cashback_fraud.htm

Inland Revenue Scams
It has come to our attention that bogus Inland Revenue emails are in circulation.  Please see: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/spoofs.htm

Advertising/Publishing Scam
We are today in receipt of information that a company are calling local businesses and mentioning an association with the Police.  When questioned the caller hangs up.  Businesses are reminded to wary of sales calls that hold themselves out as working with any Emergency Service or Charity.  A guidance leaflet giving is available with some useful questions to ask.  

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards/
detail.aspx?ref=165516&class=Eng%3bBusi%3bAdv%3bFT
&date=01/10/2007%2014:43:44

Scam from Trading Standards

East Sussex Trading Standards have received information from some local electrical retailers. An elderly man in Eastbourne area was cold called last week, it was a recorded message stating that the analogue service was being switched off tomorrow & they gave a telephone number to call for more info.

This was a scam - on further investigation it was realised that the phone number given to the consumer was a premium rate number.

Switchover will start in the Meridian TV region in 2011. If you live in this region, you need to make sure every TV set in your home is ready for switchover. You will be told nearer the time the exact date for the switchover and further information will be sent well in advance to help consumers get ready for the switchover.  For further information please see http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when/meridian

If you have any information about this scam or feel that you may be a victim of a scam please contact 08454 040506

Top up phone card deception – from PCSO McApsurn

This is a message directed at shops that sell mobile phone top up cards.

In the last week a cunning incident was brought to the attention of Rother Police. Someone has gone into a shop and asked to buy a mobile phone top up card, the person then hands the card back to the seller saying that they no longer wish to buy said card. However it turns out that the wily ‘buyer’ has taken a photograph of the card with a mobile phone, thereby obtaining the necessary code numbers to gain the phone credit without them having to spend a penny. The loser in this case is both the shop owner and the next person who legitimately buys the card as they will not be able to get the credit that they have paid for as the code number has been used.

Watch out for this if you own or work in a premises that sells mobile phone top up cards.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Community Safety Partnership Grant

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is delighted to be able to invite applications to the Community Safety Partnership Grant. The grant is a new scheme that is being trialled by the Service as means of encouraging activity by voluntary organisations that supports our community safety objectives.

Community Safety Objectives:

·         Reducing Fires & the extent of fires in properties and the number of people killed or injured in them.

·         Reducing the number of anti-social deliberate fires.

·         Reducing the number of road traffic collisions and the number of people killed or injured in them.

·         Reducing the number of malicious calls for fire & rescue services.

·         Contributing to the reduction of fire-related crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

The Service invites applications for one-off grants that are within the range of £1,000 to £2,000. The scheme will be evaluated and subject to success consideration will be given to operating the scheme in future years.

The closing date for receipt of applications at East Sussex Fire & Rescue Headquarters, 20 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1EU will be 4pm Friday 26th September 2008.

For more details and application form please visit www.esfrs.org and click on the link to the Community Safety Partnership Grant.

CRIME REPORT

Vehicle Crime

Contact Information

In an emergency dial 999
For less urgent matters call the Sussex Police Call Handling Centre on 0845 60 70 999 (open 24 x 7).
E-mail Sussex Police to report crime, click on http://www.sussex.police.uk/contact_us.asp
Please quote the relevant serial number and date if you are responding to a reported crime, if not, ask to report a crime and request the serial number.

Information about any type of crime can be given anonymously by calling CRIMESTOPPERS (open 24x7) 0800 555111 or email www.crimestoppers-uk.org/

To find out who your local Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers are and how to contact them go to http://www.sussex.police.uk type in your post code and you’ll now find the names of all your local neighbourhood officers. Click on their pictures and you’ll see their personal profiles and contact details.

Free Home Fire Safety Visits by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fire Safety advice available at http://www.esfrs.org/

Other Contacts
Safer Wealden Partnership : Dave Law Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator 0845 6070999 ext. 33231 Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Trading Standards: 01323 418200 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
British Transport Police: 0800 405040

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