crime reduction

Further crime reduction advice is also available on the Home Office website:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cpindex.htm

I’m Bill Butcher, the West Oxfordshire Crime Reduction Adviser

 

 

 

 

 

My role involves:

• Visiting victims to offer them crime reduction advice
• Carrying out free home crime reduction surveys
• Giving talks to community groups and potential victims of crime, such as the elderly and vulnerable
• Undertaking ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) operations

I would like to share with you some of the general crime reduction issues I am asked about. I will update them regularly and hopefully you will find them useful.

I’m concerned about security when using cash machines, what advice would you give?
Check behind you before you put your card in. If someone is standing too close or you think someone is watching, either offer to let them go first or go to a different cash point. Make sure no one can see you put your PIN in. If your card gets stuck try to get it out. The device holds the card just inside the slot and is usually easily removable. If you still cannot remove the card, go into the bank, or ring to cancel the card straightaway. Note the time that the incident happened and anyone who was acting suspiciously then contact the police.
Look out for anything unusual around cash dispensers. This could include unofficial 'out of order' notices that appear to direct users to one particular machine, blurry screens or a card seeming to 'stick' when being inserted or ejected from the machine.

I live in a rural area so what can I do to protect my property?
Although you are more isolated with less passers-by, you are likely to notice strangers more as they stand out. Fit doors and windows with good quality locks and don’t keep anything valuable such as electrical items or antiques on show through windows. Fitting an alarm would be a good investment as well as joining the West Oxfordshire Country Watch scheme. It works on the same basis to Neighbourhood Watch but is particularly targeted to rural residents, farmers, stable owners etc. Membership is free and you will receive a sign to display on your property. Further information is available by telephoning 01993 861640.

I regularly receive visits at my door from my callers trying to sell me things, is it safe to buy from them?
I wouldn’t recommend buying anything from anyone who calls at your door. They will sometimes use various excuses to gain your sympathy and the things they sell are often over priced and of poor quality.
Contact me if you would like a ‘No Cold Callers’ sticker for your front door. These are also available from Oxfordshire Trading Standards. 

If you need any specific advice or would like a free home crime reduction survey carried out, please call me on 01993 861638 or email at: crimereduction@whosmybobby.co.uk