County Lines Intensification Week

Dear Watch Member,

This week is County Lines Intensification Week, so to create awareness of what the term ‘County Lines’ means, Pinner SNT and Pinner South SNT officers have respectively delivered leaflets about the organised criminal activity to almost 500 households in Pinner.

Although the majority of leaflets were delivered to homes located on estates, County Lines and the often associated practice of ‘cuckooing’ can happen anywhere, and often where a vulnerable person resides.

By clicking on the link below to inform yourself of what the signs of involvement in County Lines and ‘cuckooing’ are, you can help protect vulnerable people and keep your community safe:

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/community-family/county-lines

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Walk & Talk Litter Pick – Friday 16th February

Dear Watch Member,

This Friday, 16th February, in partnership with Harrow Litter Pickers and staff of Sainsbury’s, Pinner, we will be conducting a litter-pick and Violence Against Women and Girls Walk and Talk in Sainsbury’s car park.  1pm to 2:30pm.

This is a location where women tell us they feel anxious and unsafe, partly because of the car park’s neglected appearance.

Aside from the environmental, physical and mental health benefits of litter-picking, an event like this is a great opportunity to meet new like-minded people who share a passion for making Pinner and Harrow a cleaner and safer place for everyone.

If you want to participate, meet us outside the entrance of Sainsbury’s, or find us in the car park itself from 1pm onwards.

Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 8721 27

Beware of Parcel Thieves in Pinner

Dear Watch Member,
Parcel theft is an everyday, all year-round crime that often goes unreported.

In the lead-up to Christmas, parcels may contain more expensive items than usual.

Which is great news for the opportunist thief who sees an uncollected delivery on a doorstep whilst walking down the street.

Or the thief that follows a delivery van and watches where the delivery is left before purloining it for themselves.

Here are some things you can do to reduce the risk of your parcel being stolen:

• track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery
• install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system
• install a security light
• arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home; if you live in a flat, is there a concierge who could accept the parcel for you?
• use an off-site locker service for frequent deliveries, or for expensive items; these parcel boxes are more likely to be in busy, safer locations – such as supermarkets – rather than secluded areas which could be targeted by thieves

Remember, this crime prevention advice is for life, not just for Christmas.
If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]
Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 8721 2775

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Christmas Tree Appeal 2023

Dear Resident,

The Metropolitan Police Service has again partnered with the Childhood Trust to raise money to provide toys and gifts for children living in poverty in London. Last year we were able to raise over £87,000 through small and large contributions from the public, and are looking to match that this year, with your help!

Many thanks to those who have already supported this Met Christmas tree appeal already, and for those who would like to get involved please find attached a note that goes to highlight how contributions can be made.

The document also explains about the charity we are working with.

This year the MPS has struggled to gain significant corporate sponsorship and we are getting close to the point where some difficult decisions may have to be made, if we don’t raise enough in donations. we really want every child to wake up on Christmas morning in London with a present, as no child should have to wake up feeling uncared for due to poverty or vulnerability on this day.

Any donations given are very much appreciated. Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!

 

Christmas Tree Appeal Dec23

Kind regards,

Harrow Neighbourhood Policing Newsletter

Dear Watch Member,

We will now be providing a monthly newsletter to all those community members on OWL and across our social channels.

We hope this will give you a summary of everything we have been up to, and other local news and crime prevention tips.

Please see the attached image to view the Newsletter.  We will be posting these on OWL at the end of each month.

 

Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Sophie Dunford
Communications Officer and VAWG Lead

Burglary Crime Prevention Advice

Dear Watch Member,

We would remind residents to take care to protect their homes from burglaries as the clocks go back on Sunday 29th October 2023.

There are some key things you can to do to keep your home secure this autumn:

  • Make sure your home is secure when leaving by locking all doors and windows.
  • Keep a light on if you go out especially during evening hours, or invest a plug light timer switch.
  • Never leave your keys and valuables within view or reach of windows and letterboxes.
  • Always lock your front door from inside – especially UPVC front doors that have handles even if you are home.
  • Check your outside lighting is in good working order and replace any faulty equipment.
  • Look out for your neighbours, if something doesn’t seem right, call police on 999.

 

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Sophie Dunford
Communications Officer and VAWG Lead
Email: [email protected]

Neighbourhood Watch: Autumn Nights Burglary and Vehicle Theft Prevention Advice

Dear Watch Member,

Autumn is here, winter is coming, the clocks will soon go back, and with it all comes increasingly longer hours of darkness.

Darkness that burglars and car thieves will use to their advantage.

And with Navratri, Diwali, Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations over the coming weeks, it is possible there could be an increase in burglary offences.

Therefore it’s important to leave your home and its valuable contents secure whenever it’s unoccupied.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out:

  • close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
  • double-lock all doors
  • make sure that any valuables are out of sight
  • in the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on
  • if you’re not home by sunset, it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn on lights and a radio during the dark evenings
  • set your burglar alarm
  • make sure the side gate is locked
  • lock your shed or garage
  • secure currency and jewellery inside a discreetly hidden safe anchored to the floor.

Car thieves will target keyless entry vehicles overnight when cars are on the driveway and keys are in the house.

That’s why it’s important to take the following car theft prevention measures:

  • when at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
  • put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Pouch, and check if the bag or pouch is still working every few months.
  • turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.
  • apply a steering-wheel lock
  • install a driveway bollard
  • install an Immobiliser that prevents a vehicle from starting unless the correct fob, key or activation process is used. They can be personalised so that you’re the only one who knows how to unset it via a number of dashboard controls.

For further crime prevention advice please click here.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Don’t Become a Victim of Fraud

Dear Watch Member,

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has published its annual assessment covering 2022-23 and its findings include:

  • Phishing emails continue to be the most common way frauds are started
  • Hacking (Social media and email) is the top cyber crime type
  • Online Shopping and Auction Fraud is the top fraud type, which means people are buying goods that possibly don’t exist.
  • Courier Fraud reports are DOWN but losses have INCREASED by 96%.

Across London we know residents are still being conned through telephone and online frauds, and the fraudsters can be persuasive, and manipulative.

If you receive a telephone call or email to say you are entitled to compensation, or you could help with a Police situation relating to your bank account, or your broadband / energy company / phone provider is giving you money back – it’s likely to be the start of a fraud as the criminal will try to hook you with something that seems too good to be true. Any reputable company you do business with would have your postal address and would send you a letter about any money owing to you – they really wouldn’t phone, text or email you.

If you, or a family member or friend has been a victim, please report to the Metropolitan Police by ringing 101 or online via www.met.police.uk/ro/report/fo/v1/fraud/.

Please forward any suspicious texts to Action Fraud at 7726 (spells SPAM on your keypad). Please report scams and attempted scams to Action Fraud.

Please visit www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/ for information about how you can stay one step ahead of the scammers.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team

FREE* National Trading Standards Call Blockers Available

Dear Watch Member,

The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team has secured funding to provide a limited number of free* call blocking units to help protect people in receipt of scam and nuisance phone calls on their landline phone.

You can apply on behalf of someone else with their consent, or you can apply for yourself.

What Is A Call Blocker?

The call blocking units available are trueCall Secure+. A call blocker is a unit that filters unwanted scam and nuisance phone calls from a landline phone (this unit does not work with mobile phones).

In previous call blocker projects run by the NTS Scams Team, these units have blocked 91% of scam and nuisance calls.

The unit plugs into an existing landline phone and phone line, it can work alongside broadband and/or lifeline/pendant devices that are already installed.

You can find out more about call blocking units, how they work and watch some short animations on how the unit works here.

For further information, please click on the below link:

www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/callblocker

Please note there are a very limited number of units available, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 8721 2775

Cuppa with a Copper – Cafe Amici

Dear Watch Member,

Our next Cuppa with a Copper contact point will be held on Wednesday 16th August at Cafe Amici.

You can have an informal discussion with a local officer regarding any concerns you have about anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in Pinner.

We will have plenty of crime prevention advice to give you, and maybe even some freebies too.

So come and join us, and support a local independent business at the same time.

Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]