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Please be aware of a recent increase
in domestic oil thefts. They appear to be happening across
the area and usually over night. Large amounts have been
stolen indicating the use of a vehicle being involved.
Please ask everyone to check the
security of their storage tanks and to remain vigilant for
any suspicious persons or vehicles, they may well be driving
round during the day looking for potential targets?
Please do call the police if any
sightings of suspicious activity/ persons
There is an on-going problem in
the last few months of power tools being stolen from vehicles.
A lot have been taken over night which can be prevented
by removing these items from the vehicles.
Please security mark your tools
and make notes of serial numbers etc.
Can we reassure residents we are
aware of the increase in thefts and are increasing patrols
and looking at other possible measures to help detect/ prevent
these on going thefts in the area.
There seems to be quite a few thefts
from motor vehicles in and around the Woodley estate.
Grab a refrigerator magnet on your
way out the door, we all have tons of them!
Always take a small magnet on your
vacation , they come in handy at the end of it. This is
pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing
anything other than an access code for the room!
Ever wonder what is on your magnetic
key card? Answer:
 a.
Customer's name b. Customer's partial home
address c. Hotel room number d.
Check-in date and out dates e. Customer's
credit card number and expiration date!
When you turn them in to the front
desk your personal information is there for any employee
to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner..
An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using
a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop
computer and go shopping at your expense. Simply put, hotels
do not erase the information on these cards until an employee
reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time,
the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten'
on the card and the previous guest's information is erased
in the overwriting process.
But until the card is rewritten
for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the
front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!
The bottom line is: Keep the cards,
take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them
behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them
into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will
not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be
sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information
on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning
device card reader.
For the same reason, if you arrive
at the airport and discover you still have the card key
in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket.
Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially
through the electronic information strip!
If you have a small magnet, pass
it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it
in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the
card.
Information courtesy of: Metropolitan
Police Service.
Where it’s portable keep it
safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and
suction pads, with you when you leave the car.
Remember to wipe away any suction
pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves
will look out for these.
Don’t leave the equipment
in the glove compartment – thieves will usually check
there first.
You can also help by following these
tips:
• Mark your satellite navigation
equipment system with your postcode and house number or
your vehicle registration number or another unique number,
using special security markers. These are available at local
Police Stations.
• Making a note of the make,
model and serial number of the equipment and keeping the
note somewhere safe – not in the car. Consider recording
this information on one of the commercially available asset
registers.
• Don’t leave anything
on view in your car. Thieves are opportunists and it only
takes them moments to break into your car.
• Lock all doors and windows,
not forgetting the sunroof, when leaving your car.
• Never leave the keys in
the ignition when the car is unattended, even while you’re
paying for petrol.
Don’t lose your satellite
navigation equipment to thieves.
Fraud Alert
Credit and Debit Card Fraud Card
fraud includes the use of stolen cards to make direct purchases
and the use of compromised card details to buy items over
the phone or via the Internet, in ‘Card Not Present’
or CNP fraud. Protecting your card details is important.
Do not write your PIN number down or disclose it to other
people. Dispose of statements or slips which contain your
card details securely by shredding with a cross cut (confetti)
shredder. Do not let others see your PIN number, cover your
hand when entering it in any machine. Check your statements
regularly, including low value transactions. Notify your
card company immediately if you suspect fraud. Use a CREDIT
card in preference to a DEBIT card, especially if you are
not sure about the location at which you are using the card.
Debit cards are linked to your bank
account and fraud can result in you becoming overdrawn and
not able to withdraw cash. Credit Card companies are very
good at spotting unusual transaction patterns. Cash Machines
- ATM (Automated Teller Machine) Be aware that cash machines
(ATM’s) may have been modified in order to: Copy or ‘Skim’
card details and PIN numbers using hidden cameras. Trap
the card in the machine. After the cardholder leaves, the
criminal removes the device, along with the card. Be mindful
of people behind you at cash machines: They may be ‘Shoulder
surfing’ for your PIN Number. Attempt to steal the
card using distraction techniques or pick pocketing. Talk
you into re-entering the PIN while the criminal watches.
If you suspect a device has been placed on an ATM do not
attempt to move it. The suspects may be nearby and use violence
if their device is likely to be interfered with. Call the
police or contact the bank, if it is open, immediately.
Help us to help you prevent burglary
Hampshire is cracking down on burglary. We understand that
it can be financially costly and emotionally devastating
for victims and their families. However, by taking just
a few simple measures you can dramatically reduce the chances
of it happening to you. Most burglaries tend to be opportunistic
rather than planned. So if your home does not look secure,
seems unlived in, or provides unobserved access, it could
be at risk. Understanding what burglars look for when choosing
their target will help you identify weak spots in your home's
security. Our 10 Top Tips: Mark or etch your property with
your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters
of your house name. Register items with a serial number
at:
www.immobilise.com
Do not leave your car keys or ID documents near doors, letterbox
or windows. Always check who’s at the door and don’t
open it if you feel anxious. Close and lock all your doors
and windows, even if you are only going out for a few minutes.
Keep your valuables out of sight. Leave some lights on if
it will be dark before you get home. Install a visible burglar
alarm. Always keep sheds and outbuildings locked. Cancel
milk or other deliveries if you will be away for days or
weeks at a time. How does a burglar's mind work? Burglary,
on the whole, is an opportunist crime. A burglar will select
his target because it offers him the best opportunity to
carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number
of obstacles in his way. A building that presents itself
as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted
than one which is properly secured: Side gates open Accessible
windows open Ladders left out, allowing access to otherwise
inaccessible windows Garden tools available to force entry
Untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance
Each of these makes access to the building far simpler and
is an indication to the prospective burglar that it's
worth a second look. Residents of multi occupancy dwellings
or flats should be mindful not to grant entry to people
via an entry phone system, if they do not know them, and
to be cautious of people seeking to 'tailgate' them
into buildings. The question is, are the occupants in? Milk
bottles or parcels on the doorstep Newspapers and mail in
the letter box Unlit houses after dark All windows shut
in very hot weather These are signs telling the burglar
that he is unlikely to be disturbed in the course of his
work. Naturally, circumstances may arise when such situations
may be unavoidable. If we can take measures that tell the
burglar that this building is too difficult or too risky
a target, he will hopefully move on.
TO STOP A BURGLAR YOU NEED TO
THINK LIKE ONE. To a burglar, a stuffed letter box is
a dead giveaway when you’re not at home. Ask a neighbour
to remove your post while you are away. Are you leaving
a thief the key to your house? Never leave a spare key concealed
anywhere near the front door - burglars know all the hiding
places Prevent letterbox burglaries by storing keys away
from the front door Do not label your house keys in case
you lose them and they fall into the wrong hands. Remove
temptation Where possible, try to keep valuables out of
sight from windows. Make it look as though your house is
occupied Install timers which switch lights or radios on
and off automatically. Have a neighbour or friend pop round
to clear your letter box or doorstep. Encourage a neighbour
to park on your drive. If going out after dark, draw the
curtains, leave some lights on and a radio playing.
To a burglar, a dark doorway is
an opportunity to hide. Fit a security light over your front
door to deter burglars. If you are away for extended periods
Cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers Disconnect the
telephone answering machine, or re-word your greeting message
to give the impression that you are only temporarily unable
to answer. Enlist the help of a neighbour, friend or relative
to keep a regular eye on your property and keep the front
door clear of deliveries. If you are prepared to leave a
key with a willing neighbour/relative, ask for curtains
to be drawn and lights to be put on at night. If snow is
on the ground a few footprints will make the house appear
inhabited. Check your insurance policy. Some insurance policies
for contents don't cover you if you are away for more
than 30 days. Set your burglar alarm. If you do not have
an alarm, consider investing a few pounds in a dummy alarm
box. It may well deter the opportunist thief.
METAL THEFT
·Ensure access to roofs is restricted,
for example using splayed guards around rainwater downpipes
to prevent climbing. Ensure trees and signs are not within
close proximity to the building. If recommending anti-climb
measures, ensure you advice signage must be put up (Occupiers
Liability Act 1984). · Maximise surveillance by neighbouring
properties. · Keep wheelie bins locked up or in rear gardens,
as these can often be used to transport the metal and used
to assist climbing. · Ensure ladders are locked away or
chained up. · Consider using alternatives to lead and copper
where possible. · Ensure perimeter security is sufficient.
e-mail:
christine.plascott@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
With the ever rising price of heating
oil, storage tanks have become a favoured target for thieves.
Worst of all the price of replacing the stolen oil can just
be the beginning of the cost…
With winter approaching many of
us are increasingly using our central heating. If you are
a householder or business with an above ground oil storage
tank which fuels your heating, the Environment Agency would
like you to consider how well protected your oil tank is
from theft or vandalism.
Each year the Environment Agency
is contacted by homeowners about leaking heating oil tanks.
Worryingly this can be caused during the theft of the oil
itself as the tank or pipe work is often damaged. If thieves
have taken all the oil they can, or are disturbed during
the theft, anything left in the tank will usually be left
draining to the ground potentially leading to serious pollution.
Cleaning up oil spills is difficult,
especially if it enters groundwater, and can be very expensive –
easily costing thousands of pounds. It is against the law
to cause pollution so you’ll have to take action to
clean up any serious spill or leak even where it has been
caused by theft or vandalism. Some insurance policies will
cover these costs – but often they do not so it is
far better to prevent pollution at the outset.
Spilt oil can pollute your local
streams, rivers and (if it soaks through the soil and rock)
groundwater supplies. In the South East of England we rely
heavily on groundwater to supply our drinking water so we
must protect it from pollution. Oil is toxic, harmful to
plants and animals and is a threat to their habitats.
The oil in your tank is valuable;
to help prevent its theft you should consider the following
security measures:
Use locks and/or lockable valves –
un-secured taps and valves will make oil theft much easier.
Remember to ensure that the key/combination is available
for refilling, better still, be present for the delivery
so that you can see if the correct amount is dispensed without
overfilling.
Screening the tank – use plants,
shrubs or fencing to make the tank less visible. Ensure
that there is still room to access all of the way around
the tank so that you can check for signs of leaks or damage.
About 2 feet or 600mm should be sufficient to maintain access.
Re-locate your tank – if you
need a new tank, or are thinking about moving your existing
tank, consider how you can make it less obvious. Can you
move it away from the roadside or to the back garden? Remember,
the tank must still be positioned to minimise the risk of
pollution and not near to watercourses, loose-fitting manhole
covers, wells or boreholes.
Check your tank regularly –
look for signs of tampering with the tank which could be
signs of attempted theft – you may still be vulnerable
to theft on another occasion. Also, when checking your tank,
look for any signs of corrosion, bulging or staining which
indicate it has, or is likely, to leak. However, leaks are
not always easy to see – especially if they occur
from underground pipework leading into your property, so
keep a check on your oil consumption.
If the worst happens and you have
a leak or spill:
• Contact your oil supplier
for advice and help in removing the remaining oil
• Call our Environment Agency
Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours)
• You may also wish to check
your insurance policy to see if it covers your oil tank
and any spillages.
For more information on how to look
after your oil storage tank and avoid pollution please visit
the oil bank line website at:
www.oilbankline.org.uk
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