Category: Policing

Teenagers Charged with Pinner Stabbing

Dear Watch Member,

Please see the attached PDF for the latest developments regarding the stabbing incident that recently occurred in Montesole Park, Pinner.

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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

Scam Phone Numbers

Dear Watch Member,

Another OWL member has informed me of two scam phone calls she received from the following numbers:

0122 852 0265 which was purportedly from the Government.

020 3350 1332 which was purportedly from HMRC who asked the OWL member to ring another number and issued various threats of what may happen if they didn’t!

Please see the attached screenshots, taken from the www.who-called.co.uk website, that contains information about the above two numbers. I use this website (others are available) to gauge whether a phone number that has called me is one I should best avoid answering.

Genuine callers will usually leave you a voicemail that includes their contact details.

Please click on this link for fraud-related advice www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud.

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]

OWL CCTV Watch

Dear Watch Member,

Please take a few minutes to read the message in the attached document.

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 2775

Police Courier Scams


Dear Watch Member,

We have received information that fraudsters posing as police officers are phoning residents, claiming they are investigating fraudulent activity on your bank account.

I can assure you that police do not operate in this way.

To verify the identity of someone purportedly calling from the police, obtain the ‘officer’s’ rank, full name, warrant number and shoulder number before contacting the non-emergency 101 number from a different phone to the one you received the call on.

Telling the caller you will be verifying their ID should result in the fraudster terminating the call.

For more fraud / scam prevention advice please click on the below link: www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/.

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]

How To Spot A Remote Access Scam

Message from our local Police

 

Dear Watch Member,

A Remote Access scam is when criminals contact you out of the blue, pretending to be the representative of a reputable organisation. This may be a telephone or internet provider or sometimes a bank or other service provider.

Once the criminals have your attention, you’ll usually be offered services such as;

  • fixing, upgrading or protecting your computer or device, internet service or the websites you use
  • help getting you a refund for an overpayment
  • help stopping a payment from leaving your account

In order to provide you with their ‘help’ criminals will typically ask you to assist by allowing them access to your computer or mobile device. To do this, they may ask you to download software to your computer, or download an app to your mobile device, and accept their request for access. After successfully gaining access to your computer or mobile device, criminals may ask you to log onto your Online Banking.

They may have told you a story about why you need to make a payment or they’ll set up the payment themselves if they have access to your Online Banking; to complete their scam they’ll need you to take some action. Usually, they’ll ask you to share codes sent to your phone (OTPs) or authorise activity yourself through a Mobile Banking app.

If you ever get a call like this, hang up immediately and follow the below tips to help protect yourself.

– Never share a One Time Passcode (OTP) with another person, not even an employee of your bank.

– Never authorise a transaction using the Mobile Banking app that you haven’t requested yourself. Check the details match the transaction you intend to make.

– Never download software or let anyone remotely log on to your computer or other devices, either during or after a cold call.

– Never enter your Online Banking details after clicking on a link in an email or text message.

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

Dear Watch Member,

Today we will be holding our first Cuppa with a Copper contact point since lockdown was relaxed.

We will be at Daisy’s in the Park in the glorious surroundings of Pinner Memorial Park between 1pm-2pm.

Please do come and chat with us about any concerns you have regarding anti-social behaviour and crime in Pinner.

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]

Opportunist Thefts

Dear Watch Member,

Earlier in the week a gas engineer had £600 worth of tools stolen from the rear of a property where he was undertaking work.

The suspect walked through the property’s open side gate to gain access to the tools, before leaving the location in a white transit van.

As a general crime prevention measure, it is important to ensure that all access points into your property, e.g. windows, doors etc, are secure whenever left unattended.

Building sites are an attraction to any opportunist thieves driving around the area looking to take advantage of unattended equipment, insecure work vehicles and open garages, so please have a conversation with anyone working at your property regarding what they should do to protect you and them from becoming a victim of crime.

Please click on the below links for further theft / burglary prevention advice.

www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/non-residential-burglary/secure-shed-garage/

www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/

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]

Persistent Cold-Caller in Pinner

Dear Watch Member,

We have received a couple of reports of a labourer in the area who is persistently knocking on the doors of elderly residents and asking them if they need any work completed, such as having their driveway pressure washed.

Please do not accept any offers of work from cold-callers or pay for work that has been undertaken without prior consent and having first agreed on a price.

The link below has advice on how to prevent yourself becoming a victim of doorstep scams: http://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/door-to-door-courier-fraud/.

At the bottom of the page, please do not forget to read the excellent Little Book of Big Scams PDF booklet.

You can also report concerns about traders by contacting Brent & Harrow Trading Standards on 020 8937 5555 and [email protected].

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]

Catalytic Converter Thefts In Pinner.

 

Dear Watch Member,

In recent weeks, there has been a rise in the theft of catalytic converters in the Pinner area. Thieves have been targeting specific models, namely pre-2008 Honda Jazz models, Toyota Prius (2004 to 2016 inclusive models) and Toyota Arius (2012 to 2018 inclusive models).

We would like to offer the below crime prevention advice to help reduce your chances of being a victim of this crime:-
• Lock your car in a garage when parked at night.
• If using a garage is not possible, park close to fences, walls or a kerb with the exhaust being closest to the fence, wall or kerb to make theft difficult.
• Consider fitting CCTV on your home or driveway, to help deter thieves.
• Use PIR or LED security lighting to make your vehicle more visible and this can also act as a deterrent.
• If your catalytic converter is bolted on, consider having the bolts welded to make removal difficult.
• Fit protective coverings on catalytic converters, such as the Toyota manufactured CATLOC device, (these are made for Toyota Prius models made between 2004 and 2009), as these can make it much more difficult for thieves.
• Have your catalytic converter etched or forensically marked, and put stickers in the windscreen to advertise this.
• Noisy gravel on your drive can help deter a would-be thief, as they do not want to alert you to their approach.

We urge the public to remain vigilant and report incidents of suspected catalytic converter theft, particularly where people are trying to get under cars in public car parks or on public roads. If you see this happening, please call 999 immediately.

Please find attached further vehicle crime prevention advice.

Vehicle Crime Prevention Advice

Test and Trace Scam – Warning

Test and Trace Scam Warning

Dear Watch Member,

We are warning residents to be aware that scammers are posing as NHS Test and Trace contact workers.

The new Test and Trace system is being rolled out across the country, meaning contact tracers are now getting in touch with those who have had recent close contact with people who have had a positive COVID-19 test.

However, it is important that people are aware that fraudsters are trying to take advantage of this process by posing as contact tracers and gathering personal information by deception.

Contact tracers will never:

  • ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to them (for example, those starting 09 or 087)
  • ask you to make any form of payment
  • ask for any details about your bank account
  • ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
  • ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone
  • ask you to purchase a product
  • ask you to download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet
  • ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS.

The following link will help to identify if you are genuinely being contacted by the NHS.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works.

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

Regards,
Lee O’Brien