PD

Owl Notifications - June/July 2023

Motor Vehicle Crime

7th July 2023- Theft from Motor Vehicle – High Street

A theft from a motor vehicle occurred between 00:15am and 00:20am hours on Wednesday 5th July
2023.

The vehicle was van parked on the Hight Street, Harefield, the suspect/s has pulled the side door of the vehicle door open in order to gain entry.

A quantity of various power tools were stolen.

Two males were seen getting into a blue Peugeot and leaving the scene.

Did you see or hear anything suspicious? You can let us know via OWL, or by ringing 101 and quoting crime reference 0915173/23. You can also provide information anonymously to CrimeStoppers on Freephone 0800 555 111.

30th June 2023 - Ram Raiders

Four members of an organised crime group (OCG) have been jailed following a series of burglaries on commercial premises where the gang stole jewellery or cash boxes. The raids took place over a wide area in the South East including Hillingdon Borough.

Following a number of raids near Uxbridge and a raid on a store at Harefield, suspicious activity was reported by residents to their local Neighbourhood Watch team, which was then further developed by CCTV imagery submitted by residents who are members of "CCTV Watch" on OWL. All information and imagery was passed directly to detectives investigating the series. One night as the investigation was progressing the gang came into Hillingdon again and were caught on a resident's CCTV system stealing a car's number plates in the early hours, these were subsequently used in a burglary.

On another night a member of the gang was caught scoping a commercial premises on our Borough, whilst the rest of the gang sat watching from a stolen vehicle, again all captured on CCTV.

Retired Police Officer Brian Walters, a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer, said: "It was a real pleasure to work with such professional officers over many weeks and to see how well they worked with individual residents within our community, who stepped forward with CCTV evidence to help catch this gang.

The Commissioner is keen to see his officers working with members of the community, and this was achieved to a gold standard in my book. It was nice to receive a message directly from the detectives working on the case, thanking members of Neighbourhood Watch across the Borough for coming forward with CCTV evidence and thanking everyone for their help."

If you have a CCTV system that you have not yet made the police aware of, you can register this securely on OWL by emailing hillingdoncctv@gmail.com.

30th June 2023

Several elderly Pinner residents have reported receiving a phone call from fraudsters claiming to be a police officer.

They claim that one of your relatives has been arrested in Central London whilst in possession of your bank cards and will proceed to ask you for personal information to help assist them with their investigation.
To verify their identity the fraudster has been instructing people to call the emergency 999 number and quote the name and shoulder number they give you.

However, to help sound convincing the fraudsters will say what police station they are calling from.
At the moment they are claiming to be calling from either Chelmsford or Charing Cross police station, although the location does vary. In the past fraudsters have even claimed to be calling from Pinner police station!
Remember, police officers will NEVER tell you to call the emergency 999 number to verify their identification. If an officer unexpectedly contacts you and you wish to confirm their details, please call the non-emergency 101 number.
For more information about the methods fraudsters use to con you out of your money, and how to protect yourself, please read pages 22 -24 of the attached ‘Little Book of Big Scams’, which is worth a thorough read through.

Thankfully, all the residents who contacted us were wise enough not to fall victim to these recent scam attempts.

However, if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cybercrime, you should report this directly to Action Fraud by telephone number 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk.

JB asked those present that if they have any generic issues that they feel HTRA need to raise with the Hillingdon superintendent please let her know and she will check it against/add it to her list. Need to receive before 17th July 2023.

Cllr. Jane Palmer - asked JB to raise the point about no police cars available to get up to the ward.

Member – Contacting local PCSO to be told that because of where they live, they need to contact
Ickenham.

Widewater Place

Letter sent to Police Borough Commander to express the villages dissatisfaction with the policing presence at Widewater Place over the 4 days around 8th June 2023 during the Harefield First protest of the development.

JB having a virtual “Hillingdon Chairs” meeting (date to be confirmed) when the Police Superintendent for Hillingdon, Supt Anthony Bennett will be present. She will raise the issues expressed by members:  speed enforcement, police splitting of Harefield, over presence at Widewater Place, time of response at knifing/ threatening behaviour, mode of police transport + other issues presented.