Cookham Discussion Board

FIRST: A warning to be aware of from Ian:

Hi Jeff,

I thought it might be useful to let you and your readers know about an attempted wallet-snatch last Friday at the Taplow Shopping Centre.

I didn’t notice until I arrived a little later in Reading and reached for my wallet in the rear pocket of my jeans (where so many of use of course keep wallets!)

I realised pretty quickly that something was wrong, as the wallet could “almost” have slipped out of a vertical “slash” which had been cut into the pocket.

I hadn’t felt anything of course…

Anyway – It seems I was lucky: I think the wallet with all it’s cards etc. may have just been a little too bulky, to fit easily through the slit.

Thought you’d like to be aware…

Looks like I’ll have to start doing what I always do when either in London / a crowded city/place and when abroad in an overtly touristey are – That is to keep my “slimmed down” wallet in a front trouser pocket…

Cheers and kind regards

Ian

Many thanks Ian – we all need to be aware of where to place things – particularly as the dippers in our Town Centres are really good – and during the Horse Show and Platinum Jubilee Celebrations – will be out in force !


NEXT: An issue with bogus builders:

Dear Jeff,
 
I thought I should mention an incident that occurred last Sunday.

Unfortunately, your suggestion “I am sorry, i do not buy goods and services at the door.  Then firmly but politely close and lock the front door.” didn't work out too well !

I'm sharing this with you in case you want to share it with the broader community for your newsletters, perhaps as a warning, but I'm not sure what anyone could actually do differently, in this situation.

The events happened as follows.  I was working out in my front garden trimming some shrubbery.  A man came up my front path and asked me if I wanted the soffits painting.

He indicated that he thought this was a good idea, because he was doing the same for my next door neighbour (semi-detached adjoining house).  When I spoke to my next door neighbour, this was a lie, but I did not know this at the time.

Anyway, I used your “I am sorry, I do not buy goods and services at the door” approach.

At this point, he started to become slightly aggressive, and kept saying “calm down, calm down” to me.  I responded that I was perfectly calm, but I just didn't wish to buy the service he was offering.

He kept repeating “calm down, calm down” in a more aggressive tone.  Then (and maybe my reaction was not wise), I suggested that he did not need to be rude, or words to that effect.  His response, was to say “do you want a slap” repeatedly

I did not respond to this, but resumed my gardening activities and he got into his van (and I'm afraid I did not get the number because it all happened too quickly) and pulled away, almost hitting a vehicle coming down the road who hooted at him rather aggressively.

I don't know what you want to do with this story, but I thought I would let you have the facts anyway. I don't imagine for one minute that that guy will turn up again, but if he does I will inform him that I shall be calling the police.

Allan

It is a very tricky situation.  They hear the mantra so often, they are not getting any business – and that makes them angry.

We have to look after our neighbour, friends, relatives and work colleagues who do not receive Alerts.  Keep an eye on them and teach them about bogus builders / tarmaccers / tree and garden people.  If a builders van pulls up or is parked / or a skip is delivered outside a neighbour’s house, who is vulnerable or elderly, ring us.  Let us know - you are passing on intelligence about a possibly vulnerable person.  We will get a PCSO / RBWM Community Warden to happen to walk by on patrol.  They will knock on the door and ask what they are having done out of interest – could they look at the contract / paperwork / have the name of the building firm / have they handed over any money !  We will never reveal, that we have been pointed in their direction.

Never believe the old story – we are working for one of your neighbour’s down the road – that is never true !

Help us to prevent your neighbours having to face the confrontation Allan had to suffer.

NEXT:  From RBWM - We’re making £150 payments from Government to help residents with energy costs
 
Residents in the Royal Borough, who pay Council Tax by Direct Debit and live in Band A to D properties, are starting to receive their £150 energy rebate payments from this week.

Most households in Council Tax Bands A to D are getting a one-off award of £150 from the Government in 2022/23 to help with increased energy costs. The money does not have to be repaid.

The process for making these payments is different depending on whether an eligible resident pays Council Tax by Direct Debit or not.

Direct Debit payers (Bands A to D) – no action needed

No action is needed for the 72 per cent of all Band A to D households in the Royal Borough who pay by Direct Debit. The council is using Direct Debit details to pay the money automatically into people’s bank accounts, unless there is a query due to the liable party name being different.

This payment process is expected to run for up to two weeks. No confirmation of payment will be issued so please check the account you use to pay your Direct Debit.

Non Direct Debit payers (Bands A to D) – complete the form

If you live in a Band A to D property and do not pay Council Tax by Direct Debit, please complete an online grant form to provide bank account and other requested details. You will be asked to input you property reference number and Council Tax account number from your Council Tax bill.

https://www.grantapproval.co.uk/

NEXT:  Highway measures for Royal Windsor Horse Show

We're looking forward to this year's Royal Windsor Horse Show, taking place next week (Wednesday 11 May to Sunday 15 May). This is a great event for the Royal Borough which will bring lots of visitors to the area.

To help ensure the smooth flow of traffic, and to ensure the safety of all road users, please be aware that several temporary highway measures will be in place. These include:

No vehicles, except coaches, will be allowed to make a right turn onto the B470 King Edward VII Avenue from any gateway off the Home Park (public) between 3pm and 10.30pm each day
No vehicles will be allowed to make a left turn onto the B470 King Edward VII Avenue from the King Edward VII Avenue Car Park from 3pm until 10.30pm each day

Vehicles will not be allowed to drive westbound along the B470 Windsor Road, from its junction with Queens Road, Datchet to its junction with the B470 King Edward VII Avenue, except with official permission, between 10.30pm and midnight each day.

NEXT:  We are all being put though a training programme – Staying Safe online:

PASSWORDS:
Strong passwords are essential to securing online accounts, especially if you use the same password across several or all accounts.  If you believe any of them have been compromised, you must change your user name and passwords on each and every one.  Substitute various letters with the numbers that look like them ???  For more information https://serocu.police.uk/passwords/

SMART DEVICES:
Do you have any Smart devices in your home that could be accessed remotely and / or could be used to monitor your whereabouts ?  Keep Smart devices safe by changing the passwords regularly and carrying out the regular updates that come though.  These update the virus protection for new viruses the companies become aware of.  For more information:
https://www,ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/smart-devices-in-the-home

SPYWARE & LOCATION SERVICES:
There are different ways a person can follow your movements through your devices.  The most common way is through your devices.  GPS trackers or Sat Nav Apps.  You can minimise this risk, by turning them off, when not using them.

Another way your movements can be monitored is through ‘Spyware’, which is a type of malicious software that can monitor activity on your devices without you knowing, including stealing your passwords.  Anyone who has access to your devices can downloads it without knowing.  The best way to remove Spyware if you thing someone has installed it, is to restore your device to its factory settings and install anti-virus / anti –spyware software

Keeping your device software and apps updated will also help secure them, as they ‘Patch’ security vulnerabilities that can be exploited.  Turn on ‘automatic updates’, so that you don’t have to worry.

SOCIAL MEDIA FOOTPRINT:
Social media can still be used safely if you secure your accounts
Create strong passwords on all Social media Accounts – see above.
Review devices logged into your accounts in your ‘Settings’ and remove any devices you do not recognise.
Strong ‘Privacy Settings’ are crucial – you want to make sure you know who you are sharing personal information with.
Review your ‘Friends’ / ‘Followers’ in your social media accounts.  If you don’t recognise anyone – delete them.
Report any abuse to the Social Media Provider
If necessary, delete all accounts and create new profiles under an ‘new’ name – or identifier.
For more information:
https://www.bcsc.gov.uk/guidance/social-media-how-to-use-it-safely

REVENGE PORN
‘Revenge Porn’, is where an individual discloses private sexual photos / videos / information, with the intent to cause distress.  It is also a criminal offence. to threaten to disclose such images / videos / information.  If you feel you have been a victim of this, report it to the police on the 101 number.
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/safety/notwithoutmyconsent
and
https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/

CRIME

I have attached reference numbers to each crime report. If you live in the vicinity of any of the crimes mentioned and have CCTV or a video doorbell, can you please check the footage. If you have any that might be of interest to the police, can you please make contact with us, quoting reference number given.

Alternatively you can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or email - www.crimestoppers-uk.org


MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.police.uk
11/6  Wednesday 3 p.m. / 4 p.m.  Grenfell Place.  Locked up bike stolen.  A dark red, Muddy Fox bike.  Ref. No:  43220204815

RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
13/5  Friday 1.30 a.m.  Lonsdale Close / Ray Meadow.  A report of illegal fishing in the lake where a licence is required.  Ref. No:  43220206272

MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
10/5 – 11/5  Tuesday 6.30 p.m. /  Wednesday 7.30 a.m.  Choseley Road, Knowl Hill.  CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS – laptop stolen.
11/5  Wednesday Dealership, High Street, Cookham.  Yamaha motorbike stolen reported on Wednesday.  This has now been recovered from Hungerford drive.  The lock barrel had been removed.

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK
11/5  Wednesday 10.50 p.m.  Brunel Road.  The owner alerted by their video doorbell that a suspicious man was on their driveway.  Ref. No:  43220204400

OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.