AS A RESULT OF CAR CRIME LEVELS AND CARS PARKED UP AND LEFT UNLOCKED WE ORGANISED ADDITIONAL POLICE PATROLS IN TARGETED AREAS AND LOOKED ALONG ROADS OF PARKED CARS.
The officers were doing 2 things:
Checking cars for items left on display
Cars left unlocked
If they found either, they would check online for the address of the owner and then knock on their front door and offer advice !
We have had Christmas presents stolen from the boots of cars, as well as laptops, wallets, handbags, sunglasses and loose change from the centre console.
PLEASE WE DO NOT WANT ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF CRIME OVER CHRISTMAS.
You know it makes sense even if you park behind locked gates LOCK YOUR CAR AND LEAVE NOTHING ON DISPLAY.
This was the advice I put out a few weeks ago:
Some cars automatically lock after 3 minutes, if the owner forgets to lock it, - but they did find a beautiful new Porsche parked up but still left unlocked !!!. If cars do have automatic locking how can thieves get in ?
There are 2 types of locking mechanisms in cars normal fob locking and keyless fobs.
NORMAL CAR FOBS
The signal from normal car key fobs cannot be copied. All car fobs and other remote devices, work on the same principle. The fob sends a set of random numbers to the computer under the bonnet. If it recognises the string of numbers, it will lock / unlock the car. The computer changes the string of numbers every time ensuring they cannot be copied.
What therefore happens if two people press their fobs at the same time ? As they all work on the same principle, the car receives a jumbled set of numbers from 2 fobs ! It doesnt recognise its own set so it does nothing. You will not be able to lock or unlock your car. We have all experienced this, when we have to press our fob several times, before the car responds.
As I mentioned, all remote devices work on this same principle and can be used as a jamming device, mixing up the sets of numbers. Car fobs are generally restricted to a short distance from the car to stop this happening, but other devices such as an automatic up and over garage door fob, has a much wider range ! If you car fails to lock when you press the fob look around !
If your fob wont work at all, it may be someone is simply holding down their device for a long period of time, blocking all signals. If you use your key to lock the car that is fine, the car is locked, but generally it will not seet the immobiliser nor the alarm !
KEYLESS FOBS:
Here the situation is more complicated. The keyless car fob emits a signal, which is always the same and that signal can be copied. It is the same as the hologram of contactless credit cards.
Some of our opportunist thieves, do have a gadget that can copy the signal emanating from keyless car fobs. The device sends out a signal and if it locates a keyless fob, is saves the code embedded in that signal. If they then approach the car the computer under the bonnet recognises that code and the car opens this can also be used of course to steal the car as it will accept the signal and permit the car to start !
How to prevent this happening ?
Keyless fobs were meant to make life easier, but the manufacturers did not consider crime. Criminals are always very adept and often a step ahead, at taking advantage of any flaws in systems. If you have a keyless fob, you must keep it at all times in what is called a Faraday Cage. A small metal box, which prevents the signal being reached and copied. Manufacturers now make purses / wallets and even handbags, which contain a metal mesh, preventing the signal from being copied.
At home, fobs must not be placed near the front door, but as far away as possible in their metal container. It appears an old metal biscuit tin is not sufficient. I did recommend keeping them in a microwave which is a obvious Faraday cage in every home none of the microwaves can escape until someone forgot they were in there and used the microwave blowing up both the microwave and the keys !!! The fridge though will do, if you dont have one of those small card cases.
PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER, LOTS OF MODERN CARS RETRACT THEIR WING MIRRORS ONCE THE CAR IS LOCKED IF THEY ARE STILL OUT THE CAR IS UNLOCKED !!! That can be seen from a distance anywhere.
BE SMART WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THE SOLUTION.
LOCK YOUR CAR AND KEEP THE KEYS SAFE
NEXT: I now have had an Update re Community Speed Watch from Police HQ.
Community Speed Watch can resume, when an area is classified as Tier 1 !
As we are going up to Tier 3 from the weekend in RBWM, it will remain on hold for the time being.
If you feel people are speeding in, your or near your road, just let me know the name of the road, time and day of the week and I will pass it onto your Neighbourhood Team, to record for the time being.
NEXT: CAN I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR PHONING THROUGH SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE AND CARS, OUT AND ABOUT IN THE EARLY HOURS. This enables us to task our resources effectively, rather than just sending them out to circulate. We need those Shift Response Teams, to be patrolling where they are going to be most needed and able to respond to a call as quickly as possible. The intelligence we receive from you enables us to do that. As a result, we are patrolling areas targeted by Opportunist Offenders and seeing a disruption of their offending.
Many thanks to everyone that called keep the intelligence coming. IT HELPS US TO HELP YOU AND REDUCES THE NUMBERS OF VICTIMS OF CRIME.
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.orgMAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk16/12 17/12 Wednesday 11 p.m. / Thursday 6 a.m. Station Approach. A black & white Apollo Transfer, hybrid, mans, bike stolen. Ref. No 43200428287
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
17/12 Thursday 0.30 a.m. / 7 a.m. Westwood Green, Cookham. Shed break. 2 bikes and a pressure washer stolen. 1. A black Trek Marlin bike WITH FRAME NUMBER. 2. A grey Trek Marlin bike WITH FRAME NUMBER. Ref. No: 43200428044
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
17/12 Thursday 7 p.m. Howe Lane, Paley Street. Generator cable stolen. Ref. No: 43200429210
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
16/12 17/12 Wednesday 5 p.m. / Thursday 7 a.m. Fane Way. Car side window smashed no search and nothing stolen. Recorded as criminal damage. Ref. No: 43200428077
17/12 Thursday 6 p.m. / 8 p.m. Northumbria Road. A grey Landrover Evoque index LS ** AFO stolen from outside a house. Ref. No: 43200429289
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
