We are pushing video doorbells at the moment, as we are receiving brilliant footage from people who have them. I put out a week or so ago, about a resident asleep in bed, who was woken up by a message from their video doorbell, with footage of someone in their rear garden. They could shout out through the doorbell camera, to ‘get out of the garden’, which the person did immediately. In a potential burglary in Datchet, the family were at home, when the camera alerted them, to the fact that a car had reversed onto their driveway. They were again able to shout at the men, who immediately made off. As a ‘Crime Prevention Tool’, this proactive active protection approach, appears to be a leap forward, from traditional CCTV, which simply passively records 24 hours a day. It is also a fraction the cost !
I also mention this, because we have had a series of theft from cars in the Cox Green Area over the last week or so. Richard has been tracking the thefts and has come up with the route set out below, the opportunist thieves may be taking. Someone is definitely out and about ! If you have a video doorbell, can you please check your footage and send any potentially suspicious footage to Sgt Marion Woods who is investigating this series. Her email is:
Marion.Woods@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk If you don’t have one - this would be an ideal time to consider a purchase. In a month or so - we shall start the summer burglary campaign - windows and doors left open for ventilation. It would be really reassuring if you are not at home if any suspicious footage, comes directly to your mobile phone !
Hi
Just a bit of extra background information for you, regarding the car damage/content thefts, in Cox Green.
Looks like the offenders did a complete clockwise loop of Cox Green (West) on Sunday night/Monday morning, later passing through The Fairway - I've got one of them on my security cameras, trying door handles on 2x vehicles on my drive, and looking though the car windows with a torch at 3:40 a.m. on Monday morning. I've got about 6 seconds of footage matching the previous description (incl. beanie hat) but no clear face shot (he seemed un-phased by either cameras, or security lights).
Suggested route (based upon the timings and your descriptions): Wessex Way area , St Adrians Close, onto Highfield Lane (towards Shoppenhangars roundabout), cut through to Heynes Green (near the roundabout), into Loosen Drive, then Lillibrooke Cresent (incl Palmers Close and Beaumont Close) then maybe Lowbrook Drive, cut back down the footpath in Bedford Close, through The Fairway and then back to Wessex Way area afterwards. A 5 hour walking crime spree !
Its not the first time this has happened around here ...... and it won’t be the last, for sure. Maybe the same offender as last time, who has now progressed to actually smashing windows, rather than just opening unlocked doors ?
It’s just a bit of additional background info ..... sadly (as I said) no decent facial picture ...... looks like I need to add another camera to my current (4 camera) setup to get facial close ups on the drive .....
I really appreciate your emails and I would not have checked my own CCTV, without them,
Kind regards,
Richard
We are really grateful to Richard, for passing on his local knowledge. The police just get a list of reported crimes, which we map. Sometimes a possible route taken by an opportunist thief becomes obvious from the times and locations of the offences. What we don’t know is how many others were targeted, but no crime actually committed as the opportunist may have been observed / the resident’s security was adequate. We need every piece of footage out there, to check times and routes. Lots of our convicted criminals are on curfews or have ankle tags, so we know where they are
NEXT- A potential possible Fraud or Scam.
A resident went to their bank to transfer £15,000 to an unsecured offshore account. The bank were suspicious and instigated the ‘Banking Protocol’.
The resident is elderly and revealed that he had received a phone call from a financial advisor, who explained the benefits and fast returns, of investing in Bit Coin. Without any further investigation, the resident had transferred £50,000 to the ‘advisor’. He has now received another phone-call from the overseas advisor, that his investment had increased to £92,000.
The Advisor was leaving the company he worked for and was setting up on his own and asked the resident if he would like to move with him, in which case the £92,000, would have to be transferred to a new account. In order to do that, the resident would have to send another £15,000 to facilitate that - and that was why they were at the bank to transfer those funds.
The bank after initiating the Banking Protocol, explained that without further investigation of the investment company, that would be unwise.
The resident was of the view that the risk of losing the money to a scammer was worth it, if he had in fact increased his initial investment to £92,000 and insisted the bank proceed with the transfer. He could not be persuaded that this was possibly a scam and needed further investigation before proceeding.
The resident was unwilling to do that and insisted the transfer take place immediately. After consultation, the bank felt there was a strong likelihood that this was a scam from what they had been told by the resident and suspended the account temporarily, pending further investigation.
The bank hopes everything is OK and that the resident has not already lost £50,000, but can everyone be aware, THESE SCAMMERS ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AND ARE REALLY CONVINCING.
If an investment seems too good to be true, it probably is and will need a full investigation of the investment company- particularly if it is abroad - before sending any money !! This potential victim, has sufficient funds on hand and is mentally fully competent and willing to take the risk !
DON’T LET IT BE YOU.
CRIME
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk3/3 - 4/3 Tuesday 9 p.m. / Wednesday 4.15 a.m. Shop, Queensway. Offenders smashed the glass in the shop window to gain entry. Shop searched, tills broken into and float stolen.
4/3 Wednesday 8.20 a.m. Qyueensway. Car rear windscreen smashed with a brick, which is still in the car. Nothing taken and the car was not searched.
2/3 Monday 11.45 a.m. Supermarket, St. Cloud Way. A woman was walking along when she was approached by 2 men. They asked her to pick up an envelope from the floor for them as they could not bend down. She did so. Later she found her purse was missing.
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBISHAM,
COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
2/3 - 3/3 Monday 4.30 p.m. / Tuesday 7.40 a.m. Maidenhead Road, Cookham. Garage break. Door forced - braker, disc cutter, 2 drills and laser stolen.
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
3/3 Tuesday 0.30 a.m. / 8.30 a.m. The Fairway. Car broken into and items stolen from the boot and centre console.
2/3 Tuesday 7.20 p.m. / 8.50 p.m. Lillibrook Crescent. Car window smashed - mobile phone stolen.
2/3 Tuesday 7.20 p.m. / 8.50 p.m. Windsor Road. Car rear windscreen smashed - back pack and contents stolen including a Laptop and purse with contents stolen.
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
2/3 - 3/3 Monday 8 p.m. / Tuesday 7 a.m. Ferry End, Ferry Road, Bray. Car rear windscreen smashed - Mulberry briefcase and contents stolen.
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
FIRST: From Mark:
Hi
I've been the unsuccessful target of a ‘phishing’ scam that I've not seen before.
It purports to be from ‘Euro Lottery’ about an unclaimed prize.
Needless to say, I rarely do the Euro Lottery and so it's extremely unlikely that I have an unclaimed prize !
I didn't open the mail, as I didn't want to be exposed to any threat and I transferred it directly to junk mail and flagged it as phishing, so I can provide no more details on its content.
Exactly the right thing to do - BIN THEM
NEXT: From Gillian
Dear
I received an e-mail earlier in the week from HMRC. I knew it had to be a scam, since I have never contacted HMRC and all the signs were there (hotmail address etc.).
I must admit that I did read it twice, before deciding it was.
I hope that less savvy people don't get tempted, it DOES look convincing. I have also forwarded it to Action Fraud.
Thank you,
Gillian
The email is not addressed to anyone and thanks them for making contact with HMRC to claim a refund of GBP 515.44. It then askes the recipient to complete and return the money claim form, using the LINK !!!
BIN IT - DON’T DO IT - DON’T LET IT BE YOU !
NEXT: From Hazel:
Hi
One for your collection from EE.
Apparently EE was unable to collect this month’s payment. To make sure they have the correct bank details - click on the Link and re-enter all the correct bank details etc. !!!
I didn’t as I'm not with EE.
Hazel
Well done Hazel
BIN IT - DON’T DO IT - DON’T LET IT BE YOU !
AND: From Alan:
Hi
I’m forwarding this e-mail to you more for amusement, than anything else.
It might just be the worst phishing e-mail I’ve ever seen !
So, wrong TV licence price, wrong renewal date, wrong e-mail address (my old moribund one) and from “ahmed-7860@hotmail.co.uk”. So, nothing suspicious there then!
Feel free to share.
Alan
The email says that his TV Licence has expired etc.…….To renew ….Click on the LINK !!!
Thanks Alan
There have been hundreds of these ! If there are that many going out – it must be working !!!
BIN IT - DON’T DO IT - DON’T LET IT BE YOU !
NEXT: From Chris
Hi
Another example of current scam for you to be aware of Jeff
Kind regards
Chris
This one relates to a ‘Service Agreement’ supplied with all Microsoft products. For more information as to what is included - CLICK ON THE LINK
BIN IT - DON’T DO IT - DON’T LET IT BE YOU !
