Fortunately robbery is a rare occurrence in South Norwood. Therefore it was disappointing when two young people were robbed of their mobile telephones around High Street area whilst travelling home from school in the middle of March. As a result, the South Norwood Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) conducted high visibility patrols in the area. The officers have built up a good rapport with many of the school pupils who travel along the High Street and they spoke to them in search of information that could help identify the culprits. The officers realised that two of those involved were girls who had been dispersed from the area the previous Friday afternoon. As a result of these enquiries, officers from the SNT arrested three girls for this offence of robbery. All three were subsequently charged and will be appearing at Court soon. One of the girls was also charged with a further offence that morning .
The following Sunday evening the SNT were alerted to another street robbery in High Street. The officers responded quickly and using their local knowledge of possible suspects and their location quickly arrested three of the four robbers and recovered all of the property. The fourth culprit was identified and arrested the following day. It transpired that the youngsters had also committed another robbery.
An eighth robber was identified and arrested by the SNT last week. It is hoped that these successes, continuing partnership work with staff and pupils of local schools and high visibility patrols will deter any further offending.
These offences were typical of most robbery cases, i.e. young victims, young offenders and theft of mobile telephones. For these nine offences the youngest victim was ten years old with the oldest being thirteen; whilst the youngest robber was eleven years and the oldest was fifteen years old. Mobile telephones were the target in all cases.
We hope that our continued work with the staff and pupils at local schools will help to improve their safety and assist us in quickly identifying those few young people who are anti-social or commit crime.
Mobile telephones can be registered free of charge at www.immobilise.com. Typing *#06# into your phone will reveal the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This will be needed to register your phone and helps us to identify the owner should it be lost or stolen.
There has been further good news in relation to burglary in South Norwood during February. There was one burglary and two attempted burglaries reported which meant that South Norwood was ‘below average*’ (* Met. Police Crime Mapping) for February. The SNT has been encouraging greater awareness of burglary prevention by taking simple steps to check that windows, doors, gates, sheds and garages have good locks that are kept secured. I hope that this simple advice together with SNT high visibility patrolling of ‘hot spot’ areas, reassurance visits and specific crime prevention advice to victims and potential victims of burglary together with arrests made by the SNT have contributed to the decline in burglary.
Sadly, a different picture is apparent in respect to motor vehicle crime. South Norwood has a higher than average level motor vehicle crime. There are no particular ‘hot spots’. Some of the crimes involve theft of number plates or damage caused by trying to remove them. Secure fixings for number plates can be bought from car spares suppliers. Many cases of other damage to vehicles have been reported.
Where there has been a theft from a vehicle in most cases the property stolen has been on display. Although Sat-Navs are a target for thieves, CDs, money and tools are also popular items. Sometimes it is not sufficient to hide Sat-Navs and other valuables in the glove box or under seats; thieves are wise to this. If it can be removed from your vehicle please take it with you and leave your vehicle locked and secure.
The South Norwood SNT will be choosing certain areas to patrol and increase awareness with the intention of reducing the level of car crime. If you have any information on these or other crimes please call ‘Crimestoppers’ anonymously on 0800 555 111 or the South Norwood SNT.
Last month a group of ‘builders’ cold called at a house and enquired about doing some roofing work at a gentleman’s house. They convinced him that there was something wrong with his roof and he allowed them into his house where they went into his loft. They returned with some damp material which further convinced him that urgent work was needed. He agreed to pay them £3,000 for the work and offered to write a cheque. Needless to say, if any work was required it would not have cost anywhere near that amount of money. The ‘builders’ refused to accept a cheque and demanded payment in cash and offered to wait at his address whilst the gentleman went to his bank in the High Street to withdraw the cash.
The South Norwood SNT work in partnership with Croydon Trading Standards who are very proactive in tackling this type of deception. They have encouraged banks to ask questions of customers who request large amounts of cash. Realising a possible scam, the bank cahier alerted the SNT who attended the bank and immediately sent officers to the gentleman’s address. However, unbeknown to the gentleman or the officers, the rogue builders had followed him to the bank and made off upon seeing police and unfortunately evaded capture. However the good work of Croydon Trading Standards, the alertness of the bank cashier and the prompt attendance of the SNT prevented the gentleman from losing £3,000 to rogue traders.
The South Norwood SNT urges people to be suspicious of visitors who cold call for business such as building or roofing work. If you have any suspicions please do not let them into your home. You can call the police or Croydon Trading Standards on 020 8407 1311. The SNT will give crime prevention advice to help guard against rogue traders or distraction burglars.
If you require police attendance in an emergency, call 999. For other non-urgent requests for police attendance or to report a crime, the non-emergency police number is 0300 123 1212.
Cliff Baxter | Sergeant - South Norwood Safer Neighbourhoods Team
MetPhone 31323 Telephone 020 8649 1323
email
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Address South Norwood Police Station, 11 Oliver Grove, South Norwood SE25 6ED
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