FIRST A WARNING FROM PC MIKE THOMAS, THE TOWN CENTRE GEOGRAPHIC TEAM, WHO HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING CASES OF ‘FAKE BANK ACCOUNT / STATEMENT GENERATORS’
If you are buying items online, you need to be extremely careful and only use authenticated payment procedures. If you are buying through Amazon / Ebay, this is usually Paypal / your credit cards.
If you are not on a major site, where items are sold, people sell items and wait until the purchaser confirms payment, by showing a screenshot from their bank account, showing the payment has been made, before sending the item.
It now appears, that anyone can obtain and download software, to produce a fake bank account / bank statement – which looks absolutely genuine and shows that the payment has been made – even though that bank account does not actually exist. Just do a Google search for ‘FAKE BANK ACCOUNT / STATEMENT GENERATORS’ and you will see what I mean.
The answer – never – NEVER release an item, until you have checked with your bank / Paypal, / building society whatever – to ensure the funds are actually in your account.
Thanks Mike for this warning.
NEXT: VIDEO DOORBELLS.
We are receiving lots of footage from members, for which we are really grateful and the image quality is brilliant. Simon, sent me footage of a man walking onto his drive in the early hours to check out the two cars parked there. Suddenly, the security lights come on and he skulks away. A few seconds later, you can see the security lights coming on, at the house opposite !!
This is a link to the video footage Simon sent to me. He has given his consent, for me to share it with you:
https://ring.com/share/de106e86-cdb8-4df8-acec-75ac122f0fa2If you have footage you are happy to share with me and our members – to show them they need to lock their cars and remain alert and how these opportunists operate – send it to me with your consent to share it in an Alert message. Seeing how these opportunist thieves work, will help everyone.
Modern technology is brilliant, much cheaper than it used to be and we should all take full advantage of it. The clip contained some really good Crime prevention messages:
Get security lights – In the past, these were a deterrent on their own, but opportunist thieves wore hoodies and knew how to avoid them. Now, they have the added advantage, that our opportunist thieves, believe they are connected to video doorbells and they will be videoed floodlit !!! Brilliant
On the video, you can hear the crunch of his feet on the gravel drive, so – if there are two of them, you will record any conversation – always very useful, when we are trying to identify someone – they may use each others names !!!
Most systems will send you an alert warning– even in the middle of the night, if someone breaks the sensor beam. That way you can disturb them, before any crime takes place.
And – most of these systems have speakers, as well as microphones – so you can tell anyone wo is not supposed to be on your drive in the early hours – that they have been video recorded, you have called the police and forwarded the footage to them – and to ‘go away !
Video doorbells have virtually replaced the CCTV market, at the bottom of the cost scales. You can have them at the front and rear of your home and add as many additional cameras as you feel you need, inside as well as outside your home. Many people keep them inside, to watch and talk to their dogs / cats / pets during the day. You can of course use them to watch over elderly / vulnerable relatives at home as well.
We promote them – because they work and we have a NHW Guru – if you need help choosing, from the many on the market.
NEXT: FAKE CURRENCY BEING PASSED:
The police received a report that a youth attempted to buy a phone from the aggrieved, which was advertised on ‘MARKET PLACE’.
When the aggrieved checked the notes that the youth used to pay for the phone, using a UV light. This light showed that the note were fake.
The aggrieved informed the youth of this, he apologised and after a brief time left.
The aggrieved, then called Police and gave a description of the youth and added that he had said he would be getting the bus home.
Police attended immediately and found a youth matching the description given at a bus stop. He was very compliant and honest. He said that he had been told the notes were fake and added that the notes were given to him, when he sold a mobile phone recently. He did notice the ink on them didn't look very real, but the seller assured him they were genuine and they seemed ok to him so he took them.
He then learned from the aggrieved that they were fake, but he wasn't surprised by this, as he had had his own suspicions, but wasn’t sure.
The youth was very apologetic and was happy to surrender the notes to Police and wanted to apologise to the aggrieved for the whole thing.
It was deemed proportionate given the circumstances, to deal with the matter by way of a community resolution.
There are a lot of fake notes in circulation – if you are selling anything to a stranger for cash – check all the notes carefully. All shops should have a specific UV pen / light with the correct frequency, to check notes.
NEXT: THE RBWM YOUTH COUNCIL:
Youth Matters:
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, and Achieving for Children, are looking for young people to join our Youth Council.
The Youth Council supports young people to help them get involved in their communities, and ensure they have a say in decisions affecting them.
To join the Youth Council, you must be aged between 14 and 19, and either live, or go to school, in the Royal Borough.
For more details visit the Achieving for Children website, or email Elaine Keating, youth engagement officer, before Monday 31 May.
Kind regards,
Elaine
Elaine Keating
Youth Engagement Officer
Mobile: 07824865297
Email:
elaine.keating@achievingforchildren.org.uk4 Marlow Road Youth Centre, Maidenhead, SL67YR
NEXT: This was part of my message to Ascot today – the advice applies to everywhere !!!
4/5 Tuesday 4 a.m. / 4.10 a.m. Hancocks Mount. CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS – nothing stolen. This was caught on video doorbell. The offender walked along the road, just trying car door handles. Ref. No: 43210190881
4/5 Tuesday 3.50 p.m. Bagshot Road. The owner’s video doorbell has footage of a man walking along the road, trying car door handles. Ref. No: 43210190284
5/5 Wednesday 0.10 a.m. Cavendish Meads. Several reports from residents that their video doorbells, have footage of a man walking along trying car door handles. One house had two cars on their drive. BOTH ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS – and ransacked. Loose change stolen from both. Ref. No: 43210190908. Can I remind everyone, cars left unlocked act as a Crime Attractor – even if it is only for a few pounds of loose change, or a pair of designer sunglasses. Last week, one of these opportunist thieves found a handbag in a car which had the house keys inside. Being an opportunist ……. They then used them to open the front door and enter the house, to see what they could take from there. PLEASE – DON’T LET THIS BE YOU – AND – PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY, BY NOT LEAVING YOUR CAR UNLOCKED – EVEN BEHIND GATES – AND ATTRACTING OPPORTUNIST THIEVES INTO YOUR ROAD.
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.uk5/5 Wednesday 8 a.m. / 5 p.m. York Court, Moorbridge Road. Bike wheel stole, while bike locked up in a car park. Ref. No: 43210192485
4/5 Tuesday 6.20 p.m. / 7.10 p.m. Grenfell Avenue. Locked up bike stolen. A grey Giant bike. Ref. No: 43210190713
6/5 Thursday – over last 3 weeks.Lea House, Kidwells Close. Locked up bike stolen from a communal bike cage. An army green, Carerra bike. Ref. No: 43210194054
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:
6/5 Thursday 10.05 a.m. Dean Lane, Cookham. Rear house door forced setting off the burglar alarm. The offenders immediately made off. No entry gained and nothing stolen. Ref. No: 43210194451
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
4/5 Tuesday midnight / 6 a.m. Bushnell Place. Car passenger window smashed – purse containing loose change stolen from the passenger seat. Ref. No: 43210189731
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
4/5 Wednesday 12.30 p.m. Stamford Road. A victim’s daughter – on behalf of her mother who is elderly and vulnerable, reported that three men came to the victim’s door and offered to clear her gutters. Having gone up onto the roof of her house, the ‘builders’ told her that her roof needed repairs and it would cost £2800. They demanded the victim give them a cheque for £2000 up front for materials – which she did. The daughter called and found out about all this and immediately cancelled the cheque. We have visited and given advice. Ref. No: 43210189761 What can we all do to protect people who are elderly or vulnerable ? If you know you have someone like this in your road and you see a builders van pull up / skip appear outside their house – let us know. We will arrange for someone to happen to walk past on patrol and call in to make sure everything is above board. They will ask for copies of any contract and details of the builders. Never think you will be interfering, we deal with these issues extremely discretely. If everything is above board, nothing is lost. If not, we can protect that person’s life savings !!!
6/5 Thursday 5.40 a.m. Avenue Road. A witness reported a man walking along the road trying car door handles. He is described as wearing a white and red track suit – in case you check your video doorbell footage ! Ref. No: 43210192857
4/5 Wednesday 10.20 p.m. Boyn Valley Road. A witness heard a noise and went to investigate. They saw a car jacked up and something being removed. They immediately got back in their car and made off. Ref. No: 432310190817
4/5 Tuesday Boyn Valley Road X 3. 1. A witness reported a silver car stealing catalytic converters stolen from under cars. 2. Catalytic converter stolen from under a Toyota Prius. Ref. No: 43210191001. 3. Catalytic converter stolen from under a Lexus CT. Ref. No: 43210191414
6/5 Thursday 10 p.m. Bloomfield Road. Car window smashed – purse and loose change stolen Ref. No: 43210194440
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
6/5 Thursday Fifield Lane, Winkfield. Car index plates thrown over a hedge – index GV ** UNK Ref. No: 43210195103
4/5 Tuesday 10.30 p.m. Maidenhead Road, Warfield. 8 large stone acorns, weighing 30kgs each stolen from the entrance to a house. Ref. No: 43210192699
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
Hi Jeff,
I just wanted to alert you to a bogus call I had yesterday from Thames Water.
I have checked it out and Thames Water, do not have any record of this.
The caller claimed that someone from my property, had reported missing, or displaced ironwork and could I go out and check. I did not give my address, nor my name, but I got the impression he was fishing. It had distraction burglary, written all over it.
He used an ex directory land-line number, we don't use.
Can you remind everyone that Thames Water and South East Water, will put passwords on your account, so that anyone turning up at the door or ringing them, can be verified.
Pam
Thanks Pam.
NEXT: the old Chinese Scam letters are still going out there !!
Hi Jeff
My partner received this scam letter the other day. It is a little different from some of the others.
Kind Regards
Margaret
Thanks Margaret. It is the same old same old, with a twist. The letter comes from someone who has access to a bank account in China. The client of that bank has the same last name as Margaret’s partner. Someone will be travelling to England and they are willing to share the $11,000,000 with him – if he provides details of his bank account !!!!
Please – Pause – breathe - think – then bin the letter.
DON’T LET IT BE YOU.
