Neighbourhood Watch Newsletters are now not routinely issued but only when something major happens. Surrey Police now issue advices via "Active Citizens" and when received, these will be published here on this page.

Credit Card Fraud Warning

Police Initiative on Vehicle Crime

Rogues Gallery launched to name and shame convicted burglars and ask for information on those 'Most Wanted'

Thefts from Motor Vehicles

Police Warning

Credit Card Fraud Warning (9th Feb 2012)

Please be aware that yesterday in Dorking we experienced incidents where older members of the community were targeted by fraudsters attempting to steal credit and debit cards and the contents of their bank accounts. The MO below outlines how they usually proceed.

During evening hours have telephoned victim stating they were calling from Mastercard and due to a recent rise in card fraud the company are in the process of renewing cards and have requested personal details have verified correct answers and have asked victim to confirm the pin by touch tone on the telephone and have arranged for a courier to attend to collect credit cards. Courier has arrived at victim's home address on the same day and knocked on the back door avoiding the camera and key button entry system. Have stepped inside victim's home address having been invited in and have taken from the victim both credit cards and left on foot.

• Never give personal or account details, or passwords, to anyone who contacts you by phone - even if they claim to be from your bank. A bank will never ask for your PIN or your password.

• Use different passwords and PINs for different accounts.

• Don't use obvious passwords, such as your date of birth or your mother's maiden name.

• Memorise passwords and PINs if possible. Try and avoid keeping written copies of them.

• Never keep a copy of your password and PINs in your purse or wallet.

Any suspicious incidents should be reported to the police on 101 quoting the Crime reference number as appropriate.

Police Initiative on Vehicle Crime

Surrey Police has launched an initiative this week to tackle vehicle crime across the county. Activity will include neighbourhood officers and extra patrol teams focussing on the hot spot areas within Surrey and offenders known to be linked to vehicle crime. The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) team will also be stopping vehicles which are known to have been stolen or have links to offenders. The overall aim is to reduce the offences of theft from and theft of motor vehicles.

In addition to these operational activites, innovative 'Fixed Police Notices' containing crime prevention advice will also be put on cars in vulnerable areas or where vehicle crime has recently taken place.

Inspector Richard Mallet of Surrey Police Roads Policing Unit advises the following steps to reduce vehicle crime;

Always lock your car when you leave it, even if it's just for a few moments. Make sure windows and sunroofs are shut and locked too.

Never leave any personal possessions in your car. Thieves love to steal sat navs, laptops and mobile phones. But less obvious items such as clothes and loose change are also appealing.

Don't leave valuables hidden in your boot or under car seats. Thieves know where to look.

Don't store driving or vehicle documents in your glove box. Keep them stored safely at home.

If your car doesn't have an alarm, get one fitted or use a steering lock to deter thieves.

Look after your car keys. Keep them on you when out and about. When at home keep them hidden and not in view of a window, door or letterbox.

Secure your number plate with clutch head screws to avoid becoming a victim of 'car cloning'.

Keep your eye out for potential car criminals. If you see someone looking inside cars or trying door handles call Surrey Police on 101. In an emergency always call 999.

For more details on how to protect your vehicle visit www.surrey.police.uk/vehiclecrime

Rogues Gallery launched to name and shame convicted burglars and ask for information on those 'Most Wanted'

SURREY Police has launched a new section on the Force's website today to trace those both wanted and suspected of being involved in various burglary offences across the county. The section also names and shames those recently put behind bars.

http://www.surrey.police.uk/media/rogues_gallery.asp

The Rogues Gallery is split into three sections - 'Behind Bars', 'Most Wanted', and 'Do you know these people?' and it will run for an initial three month trial period. The Rogues Gallery will be updated on a regular basis with new convictions to highlight how the public have helped Surrey Police put criminals 'Behind Bars'. It will also be updated regularly with those 'Most Wanted' or suspected of being involved in burglaries.

Anyone with information can call Surrey Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 if they don't want to give their name.
Visit www.surrey.police.uk to view the Rogues Gallery.

Thefts from Motor Vehicles

The following warning has been received from Surrey Police:-

During the summer months, we tend to see a "spike" in the number of thefts from unattended motor vehicles, mainly parked in beauty spot car parks across Mole Valley. The issue tends to decrease as the weather gets worse but recent milder weather has meant that over the past weekend we received two reports of theft of high value items taken from the boots of unattended vehicles.

All officers working on Mole Valley conduct regular high visibility patrols at these locations and also note the registration numbers of any vehicles which are seen with items of value clearly on view. The registered owner is then sent a letter to advise them that they have placed themselves at risk of having their vehicle targeted by would-be thieves.

It takes only seconds to gain entry to a vehicle and to make off with items that have been either left on view, or concealed under the seats or in the boot. This type of crime is very hard to detect, principally because CCTV is rarely present and there are unlikely to be any witnesses to the offence being committed.

The same risks apply if vehicles are left in town centre car parks with valuables either on view or in the boot. People doing shopping for Christmas sometimes off-load shopping into their cars and then leave them unattended to do more shopping or to go for lunch.

Police Warning

We have received reports in connection with people receiving "cold calls" from a company called G1 Security, who are trying to persuade people to purchase home security systems. 

The calls are usually from someone purporting to be from Crime Prevention UK and there is sometimes a suggestion that the company is responding to recent crimes in the area.  In particular, the company tends to target elderly and/or vulnerable people.  If the offer is accepted the company then progresses to using "hard sell" tactics to get people to sign up to monitoring systems. 

Prices quoted vary from "free" to a small selection of addresses as an advertisement for the company to £5000 - £6000 or more.  If the system is offered "free", there is still an administration charge. 

G1 Security is not registered with any of the Security Industry Regulatory organisations.  Sometimes they provide a genuine police incident number to give the impression that they are authorised by the local police.  This is not the case as police never recommend specific companies as this would be totally unethical. 

We would always advise people to research any system requirements for themselves and not respond to cold calling.  If a salesperson turns up at an address and refuses to leave at the residents' request, they are committing a criminal offence and police can be contacted. 

If you would like totally impartial and free advice about your home security, you can always call 101 and ask to speak with our Crime Reduction Advisor, Mike Bessent.  Mike is happy to make home visits by appointment and to give a professionally qualified assessment of security needs that is cost-effective, appropriate and realistic to individual needs. 

Thank you and please feel free to pass this information on to your friends, family and neighbours. 

Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team