Pocklington Bulletin April 2015

Pocklington Provincial Update for April 2015.

1.    Priority

Issue: Pocklington Town Centre area (Evenings):

Throughout April, we are to continue our High Visibility patrols of the Pocklington Town Centre area to deter potential anti-social behaviour. These patrols include regular checks on peripheral areas at Pocklington Infants’ School, Maxwell Road (periodic reports of criminal damage and youths causing annoyance), Broadmanor Play Park (periodic reports of anti-social behaviour on an evening), Waterloo Lane (reports of low level anti-social behaviour and criminal damage), All Saints Church yard (reports of periodic anti-social behaviour), and Union Street (reports of criminal damage).

 In addition, recent complaints of youths causing annoyance with vehicles on the Station Road car park will result in this location being targeted and consideration made of offences under Section 59 of the Police Act, which can result in vehicles being used to cause harassment, alarm or distress being seized. 

Criminal offenders will be challenged robustly, arrested or reported for summons. Penalty Notices for Disorder or warning letters may be used in appropriate cases however, those who offend should expect to be arrested and dealt with if their anti social behaviour amounts to criminal offending.  The exercise of discretion should not be expected.

2    Priority

Issue: Youths causing damage / annoyance with Vehicles, Stamford Bridge (Evenings):

Following reports of anti-social behaviour by groups of youths congregating with vehicles in the vicinity of the Viking Road car park on an evening, Patrols will be regularly checking this location during April.  Consideration will be given to the issue of £90 Penalty Notices for Disorder and arrest where appropriate, in addition to lower level offenders being dealt with under the FAIRWAY process jointly with East Riding of Yorkshire Council. It is unlikely that any discretion will be shown.  Drivers using their cars to cause alarm or distress will be considered for warnings and possible seizure of their vehicles under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act.  

3.    Priority

Issue: Youths Causing Annoyance, area of Sherbuttgate, Pocklington (Evenings):

Officers will continue to patrol the area regularly throughout April.

4. Crimes in your area

• A snooker ball was thrown at a ground floor window of a business premise causing a window pane to smash.
• A Patterdale Terrier was stolen from a secure kennel in a rear garden in the Pocklington area.
• A rear window of a secure car parked on the owner’s driveway was smashed, nothing was taken.
• A window at a youth club was smashed.
• A catalytic converter was stolen from a van parked outside a property.
• A filter was stolen from underneath the rear of a van parked on a driveway.
• A mini digger was stolen from a secure compound.
• A missing cat was found deceased with wounds.
• A car was broken into at Allerthorpe Common car park and a log book stolen.
• A quad bike and other items were stolen from a property

6. News and Appeals

Distraction Burglars and Rogue Traders

Distraction Burglars and Rogue Traders refer to a group of people who make false claims in order to extort or steal from people.

This can include claiming to be representing a company or charity to gain entry into homes before stealing items while occupants are distracted or the practice of deliberately overcharging for unsatisfactory goods and/or services.

It is known that the offenders travel large distances to commit crime and some of them exchange information on victims and successful criminal methods or scams.

To help provide some guidance to residents Humberside Police have offered the following advice in connection with rogue traders and distraction burglars:

LOCK, STOP, CHAIN and CHECK: When someone calls at your door and offers to do repairs to your home or to ask for urgent help, or when someone official knocks on your door, follow these simple steps to help protect yourself and your home from bogus callers.

• LOCK: Keep your front and back doors locked at all times, even when at home.
• STOP: Before you answer, stop and think if you are expecting anyone. Check that you have locked any back doors and taken the key out. Look through the spy hole or the window to see who it is.
• CHAIN: If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the bar or chain on while you are talking to the person on the doorstep. Some bogus callers call on older and vulnerable people saying they need help urgently. They may ask you to help them outside the house or ask to come in to make a phone call or have a glass of water. Only go to help them if you have someone else with you. Don't worry if you choose not to help it is not rude or unfriendly. Normally, when the door is shut and locked, leave the bar or chain off in case you need to get out in an emergency or a relative needs to gain access with a key from outside.
• CHECK: If someone who looks official calls at your door, always do the following. Ask for and carefully check their identity card, even if they have a prearranged appointment (all genuine callers will carry one). Do they look like the person on the card? Is the name the same one as that on your letter? Close the door while you do this. If you are not expecting them and they have not shown you an identity card, do not let them in until you have checked and double-checked that the caller is genuine. If you think the caller is genuine, but you would rather have a friend or relative with you, ask the caller to rearrange to a time when you are not on your own.

ONLY LET THEM IN WHEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THEY ARE GENUINE.

Genuine callers will always be happy to make an appointment to call and will carry an identity card with a photograph. They won't mind waiting if you want to phone and confirm their identity or want to rearrange the appointment. If you are going to ring the company or organisation the caller claims to be from, don’t rely on a number provided by them, you could be ringing an accomplice sat in the van outside.