Pownall Park Residents Association

Cyclist Advice

Be seen and be safe, police warn cyclists

Cheshire Police are advising cyclists to be seen and be safe as the dark nights draw in. Statistics have shown that nearly one third of cyclist fatalities occur during the hours of darkness between 6pm and midnight.

Security Reminder

Security warning for residents as the clocks go back...

Residents across East Cheshire are being urged to be on their guard against burglars as the darker nights draw in. Police are urging residents to reassess their current security measures in the weeks before the clocks go back.   Residents are being reminded to remain security conscious and to take steps to reduce their chances of falling foul of thieves.

Homewatch Alerts

 Dear Watch Member

• On 18.9.2012 a report of a burglary was made to police from an upper
  floor flat in the Tilston Walk area of Wilmslow. Offenders had climbed
  onto the balcony where they then smashed the lower part of a door to
  gain entry. Nothing stolen
  
  A handbag was stolen from a car parked in the football ground car park
  in the Styal Road area of Wilmslow on 16.9.2012. The offenders smashed
  a rear nearside window in order to reach the bag.
  
  A handbag and contents were taken from a vehicle parked in the
  Altrincham Road area of Styal. The rear passenger window was smashed
  in order for offenders to reach the handbag
  
  
• It has come to my attention that members of the public in our area are
  again being called from overseas with regard to the Microsoft scam (
  callers are saying that they need to access home computers )
  
  Last time they were calling our area I was made aware of two separate
  incidents where Homewatch members fell for the scam.
  
  If you receive a similar call just put the receiver down and never
  engage in a conversation with the caller
  
  
• Yesterday another Iphone was stolen by two males , described as
  Eastern European , from a coffee shop in the Wilmslow town centre.
  
  Theft of mobile phones is becoming an increasing problem not only
  locally but nationally.
  
  After the incident in Wilmslow two more Iphones were stolen from the
  Macclesfield area.
  
  In all the incidents the thieves were described as Eastern European
  male and females
  
  Please keep your phones hidden in your bag and pocket and never leave
  them on the table in a café or bar.
  
  Please call 101 if you see anyone acting suspiciously fitting these descriptions
  
  Jane Thirsk Watch Officer
  01606 362725

Recent Homewatch Alerts

1) Wilmslow Police warn motorists to be vigilant

Police in Wilmslow are asking motorists to be vigilant following the theft from a car in Racecourse Road near Lindow Common.   At 3.30pm on Wednesday 5 September 2012 a 71-year-old man left his car parked in Racecourse Road and took his dog for a walk. When he returned at 4pm he discovered the window had been smashed and a handbag belonging to his daughter containing a phone, keys and cards had been taken. DS Simon Mills said: "We would urge people to report to police anyone acting suspiciously - particularly in this area.We also advise people never leave cash or valuables in a parked vehicle and certainly not to leave anything of value on show." Anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in Racecourse Road around 3.30pm to 4pm should contact DS Simon Mills on 101 quoting occurrence number 0712254637. Information can also be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.   Please be alerted to the following advice : •Ensure your vehicle is locked and secure when it is unattended - even for a few seconds. Always activate the alarm and/or steering lock. •Remove any valuable items − such as mobile phones, laptops and cash - from the vehicle. Do not be tempted to hide valuable items in the glove box or under seats. •Remember to remove the sat nav and the fascia of car stereos - ensure you detach the cradle. Wipe away the mark from the windscreen that has been left by the suction pad − this is a tell-tale sign for thieves that a sat nav is being used in the vehicle. •Record important information such as the make, model and serial numbers of any valuable property so that the property can be identified if it is ever stolen. •Consider fitting a special anti-theft number plate to your vehicle. These plates will shatter or distort if they are forcibly removed making them unusable by thieves. •Your car keys are also important so make sure you look after them and know where they are at all times. •Try and park in well-lit areas where there are a lot of people around. If a garage is available for overnight parking ensure that it is used whenever possible and that it is locked and secured.

2)

On 23.8.2012 a burglary occurred in the Pownall Court area of Wilmslow. Late afternoon offenders gained entry by forcing a secured door. A quantity of jewellery was taken from a bedroom.

Computer equipment and an Ipad were taken from the lounge area of a property in the Lynton Lane area of Alderley Edge on 4.9.2012

A handbag and contents were stolen from a vehicle parked in the Oak Lane area of Wilmslow on 5.9.2012. The owner had parked up and taken the dog for a walk with his daughter. On their return the front nearside window had been smashed in order to gain entry.

On 5.9.2012 after a good search of the flat in the South Street area of Alderley Edge, offenders took numerous high value items from the bedroom area and a mountain bike from the lounge before making their escape

Offenders entered an insecure bmw parked in the Knutsford Road area of Wilmslow on 6.9.2012. After a search the offenders left the vehicle without taking anything with them.

Two suspicious males in an old grey van have been reported to police. The males were reported on Pickmere Road Handforth knocking on doors asking elderly people for work.

In the early hours of this morning an intruder was disturbed trying to gain access to a house in the Carlton Avenue area of Wilmslow via the cat flap. The wires to the security lights had been cut.
We have two suspects in custody for this incident.

3)

There is a scam team operating due to the recent PPI claims where many individuals are entitled to claim money back. Individuals are conducting door to door enquiries obtaining personal information off residents claiming to investigate whether money is owed. The team will then contact residents back stating that they are entitled to a large sum of money, however in order for the resident to receive this money they request that an upfront payment is paid for the paperwork. They ask for this payment to be made with UKASH vouchers (a system where cash is converted into vouchers of the same value, which have a unique code to make payments electronically on the internet. However, if the code becomes known to anyone else - then the money can be stolen.)

Once this money has been taken by the scam team no money is received by the victim. Police are advising residents to refuse to make payments upfront to secure a promise of a much larger lump sum at some future date following a number of reports of such scams. There are many proper and reputable companies that can assist people with valid PPI claims or those looking for loans, and customers would be well advised to seek relevant professional financial advice at the outset.

However, if anyone contacts you up asking for money upfront to realise further money down the line, then you can be sure that it’s not a legitimate business. No reputable firm in the UK would ask for money upfront to pay for goods and services

4)
On 17.8.2012 two thefts from vehicles were reported to police which were parked in a hotel car park in the Altrincham Road area of Wilmslow. A spare wheel and tyre were stolen from the underside of one vehicle whilst a number plate was stolen from the other.

Jane Thirsk

Homewatch Alert 6/8/12

DC Darren Herod is the Community Intelligence Officer for Cheshire's Counter Terrorism Branch.

Should anyone have any concerns regarding what is believed to involve Extremism of any type

Homewatch Alert 23/7/12

Please be aware that the mobile phone theft from tables in cafes, shops and bars continues to occur. Whilst this is definitely a national problem we, in Knutsford and Wilmslow, continue to be a target.

Homewatch Car Theft Alert

Dear Coordinators

During the early hours of 23.5.2012 a hook and cane burglary occurred
at a house in the Princess Road area of Wilmslow whereby a white VW
Scirocco was stolen from the driveway

Charity Bag Thefts

A resident in the Alveston Drive area of Wilmslow put out a charity
bag for AGE UK yesterday morning. A white van signwritten Clothes Aid picked
it up around 7.45am and

Homewatch Briefing March 2012

Homewatch Briefing March 2012

We are currently having a large number of reports that mobile
phones are being stolen from members of the public whilst in the Town
Centre. THIS CRIME IS HAPPENING IN SHOPS/CAFES/BARS.

The offenders are described as Eastern European nationals

Homewatch History

Home Watch History
A senior police officer in Cheshire has described Home Watch as “a major contributor to the fight against crime”

The first Home Watch in Britain was launched just thirty years ago in the Cheshire village of

Homewatch Briefing Feb 2012

Don't forget the new 'Non-Emergency' Police phone number  -  101

This briefing covers the period of January and February 2012.

Homewatch Alert

Alderley Edge police ask drivers to be vigilant

Police are asking members of the public to be vigilant after boulders were thrown off a bridge into

Homewatch Alert Jan/Feb 2012

Dear Wilmslow Residents,

Last night some 60 york stone flags were taken from an unoccupied
house under rennovation in the Broadway area of Wilmslow. The owner

Homewatch Alert January 2012

Dear Watch members,

Since Christmas we have seen a rise in burglaries in and around the
Wilmslow area.

We have currently stepped up patrols in both marked and unmarked
police vehicles and

Homewatch Briefing December 2011

Dear Homewatch Coordinators,

This briefing covers the period of December 2011

PART TOWN CENTRE:

On 3.12.2011 offenders entered a house in the Longmeade Gardens area of Wilmslow via an insecure front door. After making a tidy search of the lounge and kitchen whilst the occupants were upstairs, the thieves stole keys, mobiles,wallet, purse and a vehicle from the driveway. The vehicle has since been recovered