Cookham Discussion Board

FIRST :– Thank you to all those that sent video doorbell footage of the suspicious man ringing doorbells across Maidenhead that I put out yesterday.  He has now been located and spoken to.  It appears he is just vulnerable and experiencing an unfortunate episode.

NEXT: I have received this from Richard:

Hi Jeff,
I really appreciate the information provided in these emails. Well done!

Do you have any plans to provide thoughts on the use of ‘Key Safes’, similar to what you've done for Video Doorbells ?

Many thanks

Richard

Thanks Richard – Absolutely - If anyone needs support agencies to access their home and cannot access the front door easily when the doorbell rings, think about buying a ‘key safe’.  These are secure metal boxes, with keypads attached – discretely- to the front of a house, near the front door.  We don’t want vulnerable people trying to get to their front door quickly and risk a fall.  These go outside the front door and support agencies have the access code, to access front door keys inside.
We do not want anyone sitting inside and leaving their front door open, for support agencies.

Many thanks Richard

NEXT:  THIS HAPPENED IN OLD WINDSOR – BUT IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE:

25/5  Tuesday 5 p.m.  Petrol Station, Straight Road.  The aggrieved purchased an iPhone on Facebook Market Place.  The seller agreed to meet at the petrol station for the exchange.  The seller handed over an envelope with the cash inside, but due to a mix up, the envelope was switched for one containing sheets of blank paper !!!  Ref. No:  43210226499

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.

I have added a new email address below.  The first email address is directly to your local Neighbourhood Team.  The second is to our investigation team.  Please use it to send any intelligence / video doorbell / CCTV footage you may have, which is relevant to any of the crimes lists below - quoting the reference number.

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

MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.
25/4  Tuesday 9.30 p.m.  Station Approach.  Two locked up bikes stolen.  1.  A Carrera Hellcat bike.  2. A bike.  Ref. No:  43210226786

RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
24/5  Monday 3.20 p.m.  Golf Club Car Park, Grange Lane, Cookham.  Side door of camper van forced open and Golf Clubs stolen.  Ref. No:  43210224389
25/5 – 26/5  Tuesday 4 p.m. / Wednesday 10 a.m.  Restaurant, Bisham Road, Bisham.  2 electric bikes stolen the bike rack on a car.  Ref. No:  43210227471

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
25/5  Tuesday 5.40 p.m. Malvern Road / St. Peters Road.  Van break.  The owner was working nearby – tools stolen.  Ref. No:  43210226434

MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK
23/5 – 25/6  Sunday noon / Tuesday 3.10 p.m.  Palmer’s Close – Garage break in remote block.  ENTRY BY UNKNOWN MEANS – Untidy search of boxes inside – mini fridge, tool kit, tool supplies, bottle of olive oil, model cases and old fashioned picnic basket stolen.  Ref. No:  432102226227
25/5  Tuesday 7.20 p.m.  Barley Mead / Cannon Lane.  A witness reported 3 men with an angle grinder cutting the chain, securing a bike to a lamp post. Ref. No:  432102226596

OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.


MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:

FIRST:  I have been asked by Nigel – one of our Ceremonial Wardens, currently volunteering at vaccination centres to publicise Op Elysium, in support of Army Veterans, who have served their country and later committed suicide.

They will be kayaking 280 miles, along 3 major UK canals from Liverpool to London, raising funds to erect a memorial in the National Arboretum, for veterans who have lost their lives to suicide.

The Op takes place between 17th – 30th August 2021.  A team of British Soldiers & Veterans – 6 soldiers, 3 kayaks, 280 miles of canals 187 locks !

For more information go to:

www.elysiummemorial.co.uk
www.canalsonline.uk
www.canalradio.uk

NEXT:  a Visa Card fraud from Roger:

Hi Jeffrey

I thought you would be interested to know that my ‘Utility Warehouse Visa Card’ number was hacked for £28.95 on 17th May, by a games company in Cyprus, who remotely obtained the card number by unknown means as it never left my wallet !

I reported this immediately to the Utility Warehouse who put a stop on the card and are going to send me a replacement. They are dealing with the fraud and will let me know the outcome.

In the meantime, could you make people aware of this through Police Alert so they can watch out for it.

Thank you for all your good work with the Alerts which I read all the time.

Regards.

Roger

Thanks Roger – Done !

NEXT: FROM DAISY – A HERMES DELIVERY SCAM:

Dear Jeff,

I hope this email finds you well.
Kennel Ride, is ,fingers crossed , all calm and quiet ...

We all anticipate our parcels arriving on time and we can get quite confused with the variety of delivery services, sellers are using, it could be UPS, Hermes, DPD, even the Post Office etc..

Anyhow, I received a text from Hermes today, but am not expecting a delivery from them, though I am expecting deliveries.

The text appears genuine and links to what appears to be, a valid website.  I did not receive any prior warning of the intended delivery and neither was a note put through my door. You are unable to contact Hermes, unless you have a ‘tracking delivery number’ which would be located on the card,  if they put one through your letter box – if you are not in.

I did click on the link and it finally requested all my bank details - to pay for re delivery !!

Alarm bells immediately rang.
Is this normal practice ? Or are we dealing with an advanced scam ?
I am not expecting a Hermes package that I am aware of.

Yours sincerely

Miss Daisy

Many thanks Daisy – I would wait and see whether your other expected parcels arrive.  You should never get a request for a re-delivery charge in any event !  Normally, you get a tracking email, letting you know exactly where your package is in the process and an idea of when it will be delivered.  The email does have a tracking number, you can check progress.

NEXT:  NI number scam from Richard

Hi Jeff

Received this last night and have ignored it. I will not click the link as I believe it to be a scam.

Regards

Richard

The email states that the government has disabled Richards NI number due to fraudulent activity.  This is very common post Brexit and NI numbers have been the target for identity theft.

Richard must click on the link and complete new forms – which includes all his personal identification data and – all his financial information including tax returns and bank accounts !!!

STOP – THINK – BREATHE – THEN BIN IT !

NEXT:  A possible DHL scam from Suzanne:

Hi Jeff,
I have received two letters, supposedly from DHL, to my address addressed to a company not me – at this address.

I have never heard of this company and I suspect it to be a scam, so I'm passing it on to you.

I haven't replied.

Suzanne

The letter is apparently from DHL and informs the company that there is an import tax £106.36 to pay, before the items can be delivered.  It goes on with the usual scam identifiers:
Follow the link to get more details
To pay – go to
You must pay this immediately within 7 days or
Our legal department will take court action and litigation against you.
A debt recovery company will be instructed to pursue the debt
STOP – THINK – BREATHE – BIN IT

NEXT:  The Census scam from Ainsley:

Hi Jeff,

My wife received a text today saying we would be fined £1,000, if we didn't complete our Census return.
My wife knew she had completely it correctly for everyone in the family and had a confirmation email to say so.
We are guessing therefore, this is a scam.  We didn't click on the link in the text.
Just worried that someone less sure they had completed the forms correctly, being drawn into the scam.

Best regards,

Ainsley.

Thanks Ainsley - Done

NEXT:  A DVLA SCAM FROM BILL:

Hi Jeff,

For your information and circulation should you wish. Needless to say I am not responding.

I actually have confirmation from the DVLA of my vehicle tax.

Best regards

Bill

Thanks bill, the email addressed to his email address, not personally.  It goes on to say that payment for his car tax has now failed twice and as a result, it has now been totally cancelled – his car is no longer taxed !

The email comes from the Enforcement Officer.

ONCE AGAIN – STOP – THINK – BREATHE – THEN BIN IT !