Dear all,
I was going to start this bulletin by saying good morning, but I think it could be quite lengthy before I finish it so hello to you all.
First bit of news that really pleased me was that two Officers from Andover Police Station called in the other morning, they were really enthusiastic about Neighbourhood Watch which was reassuring. The Officers were asking if we could all just keep our eyes open for strangers that we don’t recognise or cars where the occupants just look a bit suspicious. Local Officers use Social Media and can be contacted there, I think that’s Facebook but now we are some way out of my comfort zone. Anyway, the Officers are Katie and David and they work out of Andover.
Your local Andover Police can be found on FaceBook HERE
The local crime map can be found HERE
Courier scams are very much in vogue at the moment, mainly targeting older residents. The Scammer telephones the victim and purports to be a Police Officer or the Representative of a Bank. He or she, asks the victim to assist in the investigation of a potential crime and to go to their bank and withdraw a large sum of money or make a purchase of a high value item like jewellery or similar, and then to expect a visit from a courier to collect the cash or item. That will be the last the victim sees of the property. It is a SCAM, do not have anything to do with it.
I have had it suggested to me that when the phone rings in our homes and IT IS A NUMBER THAT WE DO NOT RECOGNISE, we should pick the phone up as if to answer, but then do not speak for 10 seconds. That is quite a long silence and an actual friend or a genuine caller will speak and say hello or something, but a Scammer WILL SAY NOTHING, so put the phone down.
Abbotts Ann has again escaped any recorded crime so that is very pleasing. St Mary Bourne though had a mini crime wave with a couple of cases of criminal damage and four thefts of, or from, motor vehicles.
Motor vehicle crime continues to dominate and my advice, at the risk of being totally boring, is do not leave items on view when you leave your car unattended. Always lock it and make sure you fully turn on the alarm if you have one.
Finally, can I recommend to you the Blue Lamp Trust. They will respond to requests for security advice if you are over 60 years of age or particularly vulnerable. They do not charge for their visits. The advice is basic but I thought it was quite sensible. We got a front door chain fitted and a small movement sensitive alarm stuck on the glass of the patio door. Although all is free they gladly accept a donation to the Trust if you can afford it.
Thank you all for kindly accepting my messages, if you have friends or neighbours who are not on my mailing list but would like to be included in the Neighbourhood Watch please ask them to let me have their Email address.
Kind regards
Alan Burt
Abbotts Ann VILLAGE SHOP
