Crime Prevention Panel Activity August/September 2010

Members of the Panel assisted the Police by issuing a questionnaire covering various subjects to members of the general public. The Panel members attended at Milngavie Precinct; Fraser Centre, Milngavie; Asda, Bearsden; and Westerton Gala Day. The public were most cooperative and the general opinion was that they were satisfied with the service provided by the Police, although more Police on the street was a main concern.

A new question introduced on this year's questionnaire regarding the use of Taser Guns resulted in general agreement of their use, but only when in the hands of highly trained officers.

Doris Sofio
Chair, CPP

Suspect Telephone Calls

'Crime Awareness':

1. This is a growth area amongst con merchants &c. We heard recently of a phone call from a company named as "Crime Awareness". The purpose of this call being to have a member of their staff visit your home, and advise on 'security'. On enquiring where the caller obtained the person's telephone number, the reply was that 'they' procured 'phone numbers from an outside agency'. This was dealt with by the member of the Panel who had been contacted. Please ensure that no information is given out, no further discussion should take place, end the call and check your 'caller display', and if the caller's number is given, take note and report it to the Police.

'Burglar Alarms':

2. Another call - a person said she was phoning on behalf of her next door neighbour who had received a call to ask if he had a burglar alarm. The Panel member receiving the call asked if the neighbour was present and could he speak on the telephone. The caller brought the gentleman to the phone, but is was obvious he did not want to give further information. He said that 'someone was at the door' and terminated the call. This type of call is suspicious, try to obtain some information without giving any information out, and report if to the Police.

'Home Fix':

3. Yet another call - supposedly from an organisation called 'Home Fix' claiming they had offered an annual service contract costing £60, to sort any problems experienced in using Sky TV Service, on a previous phone call to the house and now required credit card details. When our Panel member contacted Sky TV Service, the Bank, the Police and other agencies it transpired that no one had every heard of this company. The Panel member phoned this 'organisation' back and told them she would place the matter in the hands of the Police. She was then informed that the contract had been cancelled.

In the words of a Lieutenant in an old US TV Crime Programme - "let's be careful out there!"

Do not give out personal information to telephone requests of this type without first checking with relevant agencies. And do let the Police know about these issues. If possible, check the telephone number of the caller and pass this on to the Police, and if necessary contact BT.

Doris Sofio

Chair, CPP

British Transport Police

In January 2010 Constable Peter Quinn of British Transport Police was invited to address Panel members. He gave a very interesting talk which covered the early days of the British Transport Police right up to the present time. Surprisingly he spoke, without notes, for about forty-five minutes. His talk invited a number of questions, especially covering the historical period he had outlined. Nowadays of course there is little difference between the regular police and the transport police, even in uniform and equipment, and the only difference in car markings is the names of their service and relevant identification numbers. Later in the year we heard, as is common in all police service nowadays, that Peter had been transferred to another area. We hope he writes a book on the history of the service in due course!

Doris Sofio
Chair, CPP

Farewell to Inspector Ross

In February 2010 Bearsden and Milngavie Crime Prevention Panel organised a farewell event for Inspector Bill Ross who was in charge of Milngavie Police Office, and was a well respected officer who worked closley with the Crime Prevention Panel. He was to be transferred to other duties outside the area. He addressed various representatives from local Community Councils, Residents Associations, Des McNulty (local MSP), members of his own community policing team, and invited guests, on his view of community policing and how the Crime Prevention Panel could help continue what he had started. Our youngest member, a pupil at Douglas Academy, Milngavie, presented him with a framed certificate thanking him for his work within the area.

A buffet was provided and a good evening was had by all. The staff at Kilmardinny House, Bearsden, did a sterling job for us on this occasion.

Doris Sofio
Chair, CPP

Storage of Tools

Tradesmen and DIY houseowners are inclined to leave shovels, bricks, bags of sand and aggregate around their garages or towards the rear of their home. These items may not attract thieves in themselves, but they provide useful means of entering a house by breaking a window &c. Please tidy away any gear which could make life easy for a house/shed breakin merchant.

Doris Sofio
Chair, CPP

Copper and Lead

The second hand value of copper and lead is attractive to thieves at the moment, those who live outside the main towns should be aware that lead may be stripped from their roofs, and copper may also be stripped out, particulary if they are away on holiday, or work away from home all day.

Doris Sofio,
Chair, CPP

White Goods

With the increase in second hand prices given for metal, white goods left out for local authorities to remove are being 'removed' overnight by opportunists following the metal money. Just check that no damage has been done to your property when these items (usually quite heavy) are removed in such a manner.

Doris Sofio
Chair, CPP