Useful Contacts
The Neighbourhood Watch office is manned
full-time by Mel Clarke in Bromsgrove
Police
Station. The telephone number is:
0300 333 3000
Local Contacts:
Geoff Elwell
 Blakedown (A456 West)
News from
Neighbourhood Watch
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New phone scam to be aware of:
I
received a call from a 'representative' of BT, informing me that he was
disconnecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment
immediately of £31.00, or it would be £118.00 to re-connect at a later
date.
The guy wasn't even fazed
when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly VM have to pay BT a
percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name - the
very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone
number - 0800 0800 152.
Obviously the fella realized
I wasn't believing his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was
from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning
someone - he would disconnect my phone to prevent this.
AND HE DID!!
My phone was dead - no
engaged tone, nothing - until he phoned me again.
Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he
was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made & he said
credit card, there & then.
I said that I didn't know
how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I
didn't believe his name or that he worked for BT.
He hung up.
Did 1471 & phoned his
fictitious 0800 number was not recognised.
I phoned the police to let
them know, I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently but it
is escalating.
Their advice was to let as
many people know by word of mouth of this scam. The fact that the phone
does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please
let as many friends & family aware of this.
This is good but not that
clever. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800
800152 which takes you through to BT Business. The cutting
off of the line is very simple , he stays on the line with the mute
button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying.
(This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to
terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls
back. You could almost be convinced! The sad thing is that it is so
simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.
Obviously, if this scam is real, once they have your credit/debit card
details, there is nothing to stop them cleaning out your account.
NHW ALERT12/07/10
BLAKEDOWN
Suspicious
Activity - Belbroughton Road - On Sunday 11th July at approximately
8.30pm three males were seen walking along the belbroughton road (top
end) towards hackmans gate. Approximately 2 minutes later they were
seen climbing over a gate onto a property. The owners went out to the
males who made out they were looking at the trees and hedging. They
then made off towards Hackmans Gate shouting and swearing
Waggon Lane - a field along waggon lane that houses horses, has had a
shed broken into and tack stolen from within. However on further
inspection these items were found hidden in the field (thieves probably
to return to collect at a later date). Have you seen anyone acting
suspiciously in this area?
NHW ALERT 04/07/10
BLAKEDOWN
Vehicle
Crime - sometime overnight a vehicle parked on a driveway on mill lane
has had a rock thrown through the back windscreen. If anyone has any
information that might help police with their enquiries please call
0300 333 3000 quoting 346s070710
NHW ALERT 29/06/10
CHURCHILL
Two
vehicles parked in the car park of Winston court, stakenbridge lane,
have been broken into sometime overnight 25/26 june. They were driven
up the road and then left abandoned further up the road. Again if you
have any information that can help police please call 0300 333 3000 and
quote 190s260610
NHW ALERT 24/06/10
BLAKEDOWN
Suspicious Circumstances - We have had some reports from mill lane,
lynwood drive and belbroughton road of people acting
suspiciously. Late on Sunday (20th) night in Lynwood Drive we had
reports of a car parked outside a property with four youths inside with
torches. They were seen going into the hedges by the railway track, in
the direction of the yard. On Monday (21st) three males were seen near
to Broome Mill, along the Belbroughton Road. This was about 5.30am -
they were seen running down the road towards the post office. One was
wearing a black leather jacket. On Wednesday (23rd) very early hours
people were heard at the rear of properties in Mill Close (which back
onto the rectory). Glass and branches were heard breaking. It is
thought a name of Mike was heard being said
If you see or hear anyone acting suspiciously please call police imediately
CHURCHILL
Theft - A barn has been broken into and a generator, strimmer and an
Ifor Williams trailer registration M979 NVP have been stolen. Horses
were in the barn at the time. A 4x4 vehicle was seen leaving the scene
NHW ALERT 15/06/10
BLAKEDOWN
Playing
Fields and Blakedown Primary school - we have had reports of anti
social behaviour in these areas over the weekend. If you see anyone
acting in this manner or know who they are please report it to police
on 0300 333 3000
NHW ALERT 10/06/10
BLAKEDOWN
We
have had reports of eggs being thrown at properties in Mill Close, and
a report of a large plant pot being up-turned with damage being cause
to the plants
If you have experienced this please inform the police on 0300 333 3000
NHW ALERT 10/06/10
We
have received a couple of reports from a NHW co-ordinator of criminal
damage that has taken place in Mill Close over the last few days. This
includes eggs being thrown at properties, and garden furniture being
vandalised in the front garden.
I have been in contact with all of the people that have experienced
these incidents, but would like to urge you all to report anything like
this to the police on the 0300 333 3000 number (preferably as it is
happening). This is classed as anti social behaviour and in some cases
criminal damage, which we take very seriously.
Mill Close is a cul-de-sac with no through access/ exit so people
coming into the close have to enter and leave the same way. Have you
seen anyone acting suspiciously in the close?
NHW ALERT 01/06/10
BLAKEDOWN
BURGLARY - Blakedown Sports Centre - Sometime overnight on 29/5/10 the
centre has had a break-in, front and back doors damaged to gain entry.
Water tanks, boiler and 3 trestle tables stolen from within
BURGLARY - Mill Lane - A garage has been entered and various items
including a jigsaw, audio eqpt, sports eqpt and a Nintendo wii have
been taken from within. This has happened overnight on 29/5/10
Did you see or hear anything suspicious?
CLENT/BROOME
BURGLARY - Between 8.30am and 16.15pm on Friday 28th may a house has
been broken into. Entry gained from rear of building. Two laptops and
jewellery taken from within
Please ensure that all garages, sheds and outbuildings are locked and
secure at all times. Mark your property where possible making it easily
identifiable to you
NHW ALERT 17/05/10
Blakedown Burglary
There has been a burglary in Wheatmill Close. Entry has been gained by
forcing the patio doors on a conservatory at the rear of the property.
This property is currently empty and the burglary could have happened
any time in the last four weeks. A tidy search has been made, and it is
believed that only costume jewellry has been taken at this time.
Please remember to leave light timer switches on in your property when you go out in the evening.
Criminal Damage
We have had a report of a tent being pitched on the sports ground at
the rear of the school. The tent was actually on the pitch, and had to
be moved by footballers who wanted to use the pitch for a match. When
the tent was removed it was noticed that the grass around it has been
burnt causing damage to the pitch.
Did you see this tent and anyone with it?
Telephone Kate Easthope: 01562 828290 Ext. 3914
NHW ALERT 4/05/10
Police are appealing for information after a sundial was stolen from a Kidderminster School earlier this week.
The sundial, which has a stone base and a brass dial on top, was taken
from the school field at Blakedown C of E Primary School in Birmingham
Road, Blakedown, between 5 pm on Monday 26th April and 8am on Tuesday
27th April.
Anyone with information about the theft or current whereabouts of the
sundial is asked to call Kidderminster police on 0300 333 3000 (quoting
incident 235-S-300410) or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555
111
NHW ALERT 22/04/10
BURGLARY - BLAKEDOWN
There has been a burglary in
Sculthorpe Road. Various items have been
stolen, including tv,
jewellery, laptop, and cash.
This has taken place between 21.00hrs
21/4/09 and 6.45am 22/4/09
Did you see anyone or any vehicle
acting suspiciously in this area?
Any information please call 0300 333
3000 and quote incident number 047s220410
NHW ALERT 20/04/10
BLAKEDOWN - ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Reports are being received by members
of the public of motorbikes and mini
moto's being ridden around the
playing fields. We are in the process of
getting statements regarding
this anti social behviour and will be taking
action to seize these
bikes if necessary.
If you see these bikes please call police
immediately on 0300 333 3000
ALERT 15/4/10
SUSPICIOUS MALE - BLAKEDOWN
On Monday evening at approximately
19.45pm a male was seen taking photographs of horse in a field
belonging to a farm. When the male was spotted by the owner he ran off,
later returning to the area again at 20.30pm. We are awaiting a
description of the male at this time. However should you see anyone
acting in a suspicious manner please call in immediately on 0300 333 300
NHW ALERT 14/04/10
SUSPICIOUS CALLS/ EMAILS
We have been made aware of people
receiving calls from people
(such as utility suppliers) asking for
their name, address, date of birth and
security details. Please be
careful of passing any personal information over
the telephone. If in
doubt ask for the callers name, and extension number
and tell them that
you will call them back off the number on the
paperwork the company
have issued you with originally.
There is also an email being sent out
by what looks like the
Inland Revenue (HMRC).
This is stating that the
recipient is due a tax rebate of up to £1000.
It asks you to open a
link, which will ask you for your bank details and
confirmation of your
personal details etc.
Please don't open this email it is a scam
Disc harrow stolen
Police
are appealing for information following the theft of ploughing
equipment from a field in the Blakedown area of Kidderminster.
A disc harrow, worth around £2,500,
was stolen between Friday 2 April and
Thursday 8 April from a field
just off the A456, just outside Blakedown.
It is described as around 3 metres in length and is thought to weigh around
three tonnes, so would have been difficult to move.
A police spokesman said: “It would
seem that whoever stole the disc harrow
left behind a load of garden
waste and branches to make room for it on their
vehicle, and we’re
appealing to anyone who noticed this being dumped or
the harrow being
loaded into a vehicle just of the A456, to get in touch
with us at the
earliest opportunity.”
Police are also urging farmers and
those in more rural locations to be
extra vigilant and to give careful
consideration to the security of their
own equipment.
Anyone with information is asked to
contact Kidderminster police on
0300 333 3000 (quoting incident
245-S-080410) or Crimestoppers
anonymously on 0800 555 111.
NHW ALERT 06/04/10
VEHICLE CRIME - BLAKEDOWN
A Red Vauxhall Nova, registration number H112 FPH, has been taken from
a
back garden off Mill Lane, Blakedown . The vehicle was not road
worthy
and would have needed a trailer or similar to transport it.
Did you see this car being towed away?
If you see this vehicle please call police on 0300 333 3000
and quote reference number 496s060410
NHW ALERT 27/03/10
BLAKEDOWN
Criminal Damage - reports from residents in sculthorpe road
(bungalows) that fences had been damaged, garden furniture
moved around, and footprints found in soil. This has happened
overnight Friday (26/03/10)
Luckily nothing reported stolen at this time. Please ensure that sheds
and gates are secure, and don’t leave items of value out in your
gardens overnight. If you see anyone acting suspiciously
please call police on 0300 333 3000
NHW ALERT 22/03/10
WOLVERLEY
Suspicious Vehicle - Birds Barn Lane - A silver mitsubishi carisma
sport
registration number W894 WAD was seen driving onto a field where
horses
are stabled.
Two males inside the vehicle stated they were lost
and looking for the
main road.
They are described as white, irish
accents, aged 30yrs, clean shaven
with dark hair.
If you see this
vehicle acting suspiciously in your area
please call 0300 333 3000
STONE
Theft - Stanklyn Lane - 6 fence panels, 5ft high have been stolen from
a
property sometime between 11pm 15/03/10 and 7.30am 16/03/10,
Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in this area?
If you have any information please call 0300 333 3000
Police warning following burglaries 17/03/2010
Police
in North Worcestershire are reminding residents to be extra vigilant
regarding their home security following a number of burglaries and
attempted burglaries across the area in recent days.
The majority of properties targeted had windows or doors left insecure.
In the latest incident, which took place at around 5.10am this morning
(Wednesday 17 March) an offender has entered a house in Baldwin Road in
Kidderminster through an unlocked door but left empty-handed after
being
disturbed by occupants.
A property in Old Station Road in Bromsgrove was also targeted between
1.30pm on Friday 12 March and 2.15pm on Monday 15 March when
offenders
went in through an insecure door and stole cash and other items.
Detective Inspector Terry Shore said: “We want to highlight these
burglaries so that householders will think twice about the security of
their
own properties.
“It’s
vital that people get into the habit of closing windows in
unoccupied
rooms and locking external doors, even when they are at
home. It’s also
important to double-check all doors are locked before
you go to bed at night.
“We know all too well that thieves are opportunist – and will look for the
easiest option.
“If your house is fully secure, and access to your back garden is
restricted
through a locked gate or fence, offenders may well move on
to an easier
target.“Thankfully burglary across North Worcestershire remains low and
while
we do not want to alarm people, we do want to encourage them to
give
proper consideration to their home security, especially as some
insurance companies will not pay out where householders have failed to
lock doors or secure windows.”
Police say that they are appealing to anyone with information relating
to
either burglary or anyone noticing any suspicious activity in their
neighbourhood to call them on 0300 333 3000, ideally as they see it
happening. Anyone not wanting to give their name can pass on
information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Bicycles stolen in Harvington 17/03/2010
Police are appealing for witnesses and information after
two bicycles were stolen from a property off the
Stourbridge Road in Harvington near Kidderminster.
The incident happened at about 9.30am on
Sunday, March 7.
The bicycles, a green GT bike worth about £200
and a gold Raleigh Burner BMX worth about £300,
were taken from the rear garden.
PC Keppel said: “The Raleigh Burner is quite a distinctive
bike as it is an original and it is therefore quite likely
that someone may try to sell it on.
“If anyone is offered a bicycle like either of the ones stolen
we would ask them to call us as soon as possible.
“Police are also reminding cyclists to use a good quality
bike lock to secure their bike to a fixed object every
time they leave their bike unattended.”
Anyone with information about the stolen bicycles
should call police at Kidderminster (quoting incident no 0189-S-070310)
on 0300 333 3000 or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Blakedown
Reports of motobikes being driven around the sportsfield.
One of the bikes is described as being bright yellow in colour.
The riders were wearing black jackets and jeans.
If you know who these people were or can help us with our enquiries
Please contact Kate on 0300 333 3000 Ext. 394
Two arrested on suspicion of arson at Blakedown
Two men
have been arrested following a blaze at a disused
garden centre at
Blakedown, near Kidderminster,
last night (Thursday, February 18).
Police were called at about 11.15pm after the fire broke out in a
storage building at the former garden centre off Belbroughton Road.
It
is not known at this time if there was any property stored in the
unit,
which was badly damaged.
The blaze was dealt with by the fire brigade.
A search was conducted by West Mercia Police officers and a short time
later two men were arrested nearby on suspicion of arson and criminal
damage.
They were taken to Kidderminster Police Station and remain in custody
today (Friday, February 19) helping officers with their inquiries.
Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident should call
police at Kidderminster on 0300 333 3000, quoting reference
735-S-180210,
or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
NHW ALERT 18/02/10
Suspicious Vehicle - Churchill
Over the last few weeks a white ford transit van with a michellin
motiff on the front registration number S*95 VOG has been seen acting
supsiciously along churchill lane.
A farm along this road, has reported to police of theft of diesel from
their site.
If you see this vehicle acting in what you consider to be a suspicious
manner please ring police on 0300 333 3000.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ALERT
A
sit on lawn mower has been stolen from a shed in the Blakeshall area
of
Wolverley.
The make is a Husqvarna CTH250, bright orange in
colour and the battery
cover is broken.
Anyone with information, please call police on 0300 333 3000
quoting reference 167s110210 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Jennifer Hughes 6365
Community Support Officer
Cookley and Wolverley
01562 828290 Ext 3914
jennifer.hughes@westmercia.pnn.police.uk
Neighbourhood Watch alert
Wolverley Sebright First School, Wolverley, have had lead stolen from their
roof overnight.
It is believed offenders were disturbed by the milkman between
0200 and
0300 hours, and the school milk has been strewn across the road.
Milk cartons have been found in Mill Lane, Wolverley, so we suspect the
vehicle used may have been parked in this vicinity.
Anyone with information, please call police on 0300 333 3000
quoting reference 31-S-050210, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY
During the
late morning of 2nd February 2010 several counterfeit £20 Bank
of
England notes were passed in shops in Bewdley town centre. The notes
are poor copies with obvious defects when examined, which are
highlighted
on the poster below.
Counterfeit currency should be surrendered to a Bank for destruction,
unless the person(s) in possession of it are seen, in which case the
police
should be informed immediately.
It is illegal to attempt to pass on counterfeit currency to any other person.
Please forward this information to members of your respective organisations.
Crime Prevention advice is free upon request.
Rural Local Policing Team
0300 333 3000
NHW ALERT 01/02/2010
BURGLARY
Staite
Drive - Cookley. Sometime between 3pm on 29/01/10 and 3pm
on 31/01/10,
a property has been broken into and items stolen from
within. These
include jewellery and a computer. Entry gained through
kitchen window.
If you have any information that
can help with our enquiries please
call 0300 333 3000 quoting
reference number 365s310110
ATTEMPT THEFT
New
Wood Lane - Blakedown. On 21st January 2010 at 23.15pm an attempt
was
made to gain entry to an outbuilding where a Quad bike was stored.
The
owner was alerted by security lights going on and off. A male was
seen
running away from the scene, wearing dark clothing.
He got into a
vehicle that was pulling a small trailer.
If you noticed anyone acting
suspiciously in this area please call
0300 333 300 quoting reference
number 081N300110
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Member Streets
Forge Lane
Swan Close
Sculthorpe Road
Mill Close
Belbroughton Road
Lynwood Drive
Birmingham Road
Forge Lane
Churchill Lane
Stakenbridge Lane
Swan Close
Wannerton Road
Brookside Close
Elm Drive
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