The Little Book of BIG Scams

Fraud costs the British economy £73 billion a year and criminals use a number of sophisticated scams to try and snare victims.

To ensure the public are informed about these scams to allow them to spot them, Thames Valley Police has produced a booklet which aims to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud.

The Little Book of Big Scams, which includes a foreword from Esther Rantzen, includes sections on identity fraud, scam mail, door to door scams and internet scams.

As well as details on different types of frauds, there are a number of helpful hints, 10 golden rules to avoid becoming a victim, and case studies.

The booklet also gives details on where to go to get help and how to report fraud if you do become a victim.

The booklet is is available to download

More Church thefts

Offender(s) have forced doors and windows to gain entry. On one occasion it is believed the offender(s) may have hid in the church whilst it was open then waited for persons to leave. Safes have been targeted.

 

A description has been given of a suspect seen on two separate occasions in the South Oxfordshire area.

 

The suspect is described as a white male, aged in his 50’s, of medium build, with a receding/balding hair line. He was wearing dark clothing and was seen walking away from churches pushing a bike.

 

Recent churches broken into in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse area are as follows:

 

St Helens Church - Berrick Salome, Wallingford

Between 30/12/12 & 06/01/13

Attempt made to enter safe in vestry

 

St Peters Church – Little Wittenham, Abingdon

5/1/13 – Between 10am & 4.20pm

Vestry broken into and attempt made to enter safe

 

All Saints Church – Church Street, Faringdon

Between 2/1/13 & 3/1/13

Internal doors forced open

 

St Edmunds Church – Radley Road, Abingdon

Between 3/1/13 & 4/1/13

Community Centre entered by smashing a rear window

 

If you have any information relating to this message please contact Sgt. Shane Harrison at Didcot police station via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

Thefts from Churches

There have been a number of burglaries to churches over the past few weeks in the Thames Valley Police area. Offender(s) have forced doors and windows to gain entry. Safes have been targeted.

 

Recent incidents in the South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse area are as follows, although no property was stolen:

 

St James Church – Church Hill, Little Milton, Thame

Between 24/12/12 & 31/12/12

 

Harpsden Parish Church – Harpsden Road, Harpsden, Henley

28/12/12 – between 2.00pm & 4.10pm

 

Our Lady of Lourdes – Crown Road, Wheatley

Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12

 

St Marys Church – Church Road, Wheatley

Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12

 

St Thomas of Canterbury – Manor Road, Goring

Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12

 

Methodist Chapel – Conduit Road, Abingdon

31/12/12 – Between 11.00am & 7.00pm

 

Please be extra vigilant. If you see anyone acting suspiciously in or around churches or see any suspicious looking vehicles in the area please call the police on 101 as soon as possible or call 999 for crime in progress. Try to obtain descriptions and vehicle details, including colour, make/model and registration number.

 

Drink Driving

Thousands of people are tested for drink and drug driving across the Thames Valley and Hampshire throughout the year. Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary will be pouring time and resources into drink-drive operations in a bid to slash alcohol-related driving incidents on our roads.

You can do your bit by remembering this number, 101 and calling it if you suspect anyone of drink-driving. You could save someone's life.

For their part, during the Christmas period they will be running operations day and night taking every opportunity to breathalyse individuals where possible. If you drink alcohol or take drugs and drive, you put yourself, your loved ones and other road users at risk, don’t take a chance, it isn’t worth it. Drink and drug driving is totally unacceptable and is a serious crime. Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary works to tackle drink and drug driving all year round. Supt Chris Brown, for Thames Valley and Hampshire, said: “Drinking and driving wrecks lives, most obviously the hundreds of victims and their loved ones who are killed each year. “But it also changes the lives of the people who are selfish or stupid enough to drive when they are not fit to do so.” You cannot calculate your alcohol limit, so do not try – it depends on the amount and type of drink, your weight, sex, age, and metabolism. Drinking any alcohol – even a small drink – makes you a worse driver because you do not judge speed and distance as well and you do not react as quickly. The only safe way is to not drink alcohol at all.

If you are convicted for a drink or drug drive offence, you:

• Will lose your licence for a minimum of one year.
• Will have a criminal record. May go to prison for up to six months.
• May have to pay a fine of up to £5,000.
• May lose your job (15 per cent of those convicted do).
• Face very high insurance costs once you get your licence back.
• Will have difficulty hiring a car within ten years of your conviction.

Supt Brown said: “How will you live your life having killed your girlfriend or somebody else’s loved one? Supt Brown said: “How will you cope with a lengthy spell in prison? And even if you don’t have a crash and we catch you driving when you are over the limit, you will find yourself in a cell with enough time to contemplate the next 12 months without your driving licence.”

Please take note of the following advice:

• If you are planning a night out, think about how you are going to get home.
• Do not drive to the venue – you may be tempted to drive home after drinking. Drink soft drinks until you get home.
• Book a taxi to take you home – if you believe that you can’t afford to do this, think about whether you can afford to kill yourself, an innocent person or lose your driving licence.
• Use public transport to get home, or stay overnight.
• Never offer an alcoholic drink to someone who you know is driving.

Ows about this then

With all the talk about you know who in the papers over the last month, how exactly do you go about keeping your children safe?

Did you know about The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.

It allows parents. carers, guardians and other interested party to ask the police to check if an individual who has contact with a child has a record for child sexual offences.

The police will only disclose information if it is lawful, necessary and proportionate to do so in the interests of protecting the child or children from harm.

go to http://www.parentsprotect.co.uk/ for more information.

How to report Fraud or Internet Crime

From 3 December 2012, all reports of fraud in the Thames Valley will be recorded by Action Fraud and individual police forces in the south east will no longer take any fraud reports. They will now be recorded centrally by Action Fraud.

If you want to report a fraud, please call the number above (0300 123 2040), or visit the Action Fraud website at

www.actionfraud.police.uk

 

Thames Valley Police will continue to respond to reports of frauds in progress, but any other calls to report a fraud, including financially motivated e-crime, will be referred to Action Fraud. When a person calls to report a fraud, they will be provided with the Action Fraud phone number or website address.

 

The new process will have a number of benefits for victims of crime, including having a central point of contact to report all fraud; an effective and efficient way to bulk report fraud; and an increased chance of identifying repeat and vulnerable victims.

 

The scheme has already been piloted successfully in five forces, and will be rolled-out nationwide by March 2013.

 

Action Fraud leaflet (1).pdf

Cold Callers

 

Police have received reports of an alarm company cold calling on residents in our area. The most recent incidents were reported yesterday (22/11) from residents in Shrivenham, near Faringdon, stating the callers said they were working with the police and offering free alarms systems.

 

These systems are NOT free; there is usually a £300 installation fee plus a monthly fee. The police do not work with any companies who cold call.

 

If you are interested in receiving free advice on home security please contact the police on 101 and ask to speak to a member of your local neighbourhood team who will be happy to carry out a free home security survey of your home.

Lists of approved alarm companies can be obtained through the Trading Standards buy with confidence scheme, please call 0845 051 0845 or visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk for details.