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Old Windsor neighbourhood update

Update for February

Here is the neighbourhood update for January/February from the Old Windsor neighbourhood team:

• Crime information

In the period of 1 April 2009 to 31 December 2009 there were the following crimes:

24 dwelling burglaries

21 non-dwelling burglaries

33 thefts from motor vehicles

4 thefts of motor vehicles

36 incidents of criminal damage

• Burglaries

Dwelling burglaries are down a little under 50 per cent in comparison to last year’s statistics.

There has been a recent spate of burglaries in Straight Road, Ashbrook Road, Cornwell Road and Tyle Place. A handbag that was taken from a resident in Cornwell Road has been recovered in Englefield Green. An investigation is on-going to find the thief. Crime prevention literature will be distributed to residents in Tyle Place in the next few weeks.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Devlin has continued to become more and more involved with the various crime prevention initiatives that are being rolled out in all neighbourhoods across the Royal Borough, in particular the property marking scheme and home security advice (Safe as Houses).

Our priority is to focus on vulnerable residents who need a gentle reminder to lock doors and windows, install or maintain security lighting around their property or just trim bushes to respectable levels to deter crimes.

Properties in close proximity to those that have been burgled are also being visited, and any advice or guidance given to try and prevent any further incidents.

Although the figures seem to be heading in the right direction, which is really good news, we want to keep it this way so please remember to lock doors and windows, even if going out into the garden - it only takes a minute for the opportunist burglar to get in and steal your valuables.

• Anti-social behaviour

There continues to be a marked decrease in reports of anti-social behaviour around both parades of shops on St. Luke’s Road. PCSO Devlin spends the majority of his time patrolling the area, particularly in anti-social behaviour hotspots such as the recreation ground, Straight Road and Church Road. He also aims to patrol outside local schools as often as possible, alternating between morning and afternoon duties to provide reassurance for parents and children and to prevent disorder outside the local shops.

PCSO Devlin has recently received information from local residents that groups are starting to gather around the back of the Co-op again. The area between the day centre and the library on Straight Road is also becoming a meeting ground. We will be stepping up our patrols in these areas.

A couple of arrests were made in connection with incidents of criminal damage involving ball bearing pellets and catapults.

No other reports of anti-social behaviour have been brought to our attention. Please continue to report any incidents via the single non-emergency number: 0845 8 505 505. In an emergency dial 999.

• Anti-social driving

No reports of anti-social driving have been reported recently. However, operations to tackle the problem are being considered for 2010.

• Other news

There have been regular Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) meetings, and we are in almost daily liaison with Manor Lodge staff. A member of the Manor Lodge probation team also paid a couple of visits, along with the Royal Borough’s senior community warden, to the youth club in the recreation ground on Wednesday evenings following some rumours of anti-social behaviour issues there. No anti-social behaviour was seen on those occasions.

Crime prevention surgeries will be organised in the coming month at the day centre and Tyle Place. We are also hoping to hold some beat surgeries in the library, although no dates have yet been set.

A burglar who broke into a property in Old Windsor last year has recently been convicted at Reading Crown Court. Hopefully we can bring you more details of this in next month’s update.

An incident of theft and common assault which took place over the Christmas period in the recreation ground is being investigated.

Posters reminding drivers to remove valuables from their vehicles have been attached to lamp posts in the library/day centre, the Toby Carvery and the Bells of Ouseley car parks, as well as on Beaumont House estate.

• Community messaging

We urge everyone to sign up to the Thames Valley community messaging system to get information about crime in your neighbourhood from Thames Valley Police direct to your mailbox or telephone. You can do this by simply logging onto: http://www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org.

• Contact us

The neighbourhood policing team can be contacted via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. In an emergency dial 999. If you have information about crime or anti-social behaviour in your area but you don’t want to speak to police, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.