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Our Christmas Message - Christmas is approaching

As Christmas comes nearer people up and down the country are starting to think about doing their Christmas shopping and stocking up on supplies. However, criminals are no different in that respect and at this time of year there can be rich pickings to be found by taking advantage of the unwary. Make sure your neighbours are aware of some common-sense precautions against getting burgled during the festive season. Find out more

Community Day - "Going for Gold" - 14th July 2012

Panel Members Urgently Needed

We urgently need furtherPanel members to increase the representation of all communities,ethnic or religious, younger and older, living and or working in our ward. We meet for a couple of hours approximately 8 times a year to discuss with and advise our Safer Neighbourhood Team on their Priorities.
To understand further what we do please take a moment to read the minutes of our recent Panel meetings  Panel Minutes
The Panel does not restrict itself to Police matters but also interests itself in the Safer concerns of the Community at large, so we would welcome as open a view as is practicable, through a broader representation from the community.

If you would like to know more please phone 07713341213 and if necessary please leave a message including a method calling you back.

Trading Standards Institute warns of dangerous energy saving scam targeting elderly

Trading Standards Institute is urging consumers to be aware of rogue telephone cold callers offering energy saving devices after trading standards up and down the country reported hundreds of complaints.
Trading standards are currently dealing with more than 200 complaints about people claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save them 40 per cent off their energy bills.  Trading standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings.
Ron Gainsford from the Trading Standards Institute said: “Consumers are warned not to use the product as they pose a risk of fire and electrocution and a safety recall has been issued for the items traced so far.
“Unscrupulous criminals are using the rising energy prices as an opportunity to lure in cash strapped consumers – elderly people seem to have been deliberately targeted.
“The number of complaints we are currently dealing with is bound to be only the tip of the iceberg.”
Westminster trading standards have been investigating the scam as the caller gives a London W1 Oxford Street address for the company.
Sue Jones from Westminster trading standards said: “The address they give is that of a virtual office provider, the companies involved in these scams are not actually situated there -  we believe the call centre they use is based abroad and the appliances appear to be distributed by a number of individuals in the UK.
“We know that these fraudsters have been duping consumers across the country into paying £99 for the energy saving device and have been told the caller always appears to be very credible by already knowing the consumers’ details, their energy supplier and sometimes some or all of the digits of their credit/  debit  card.
“Often consumers do not realise that they have been defrauded until they receive the dodgy looking device with instructions in broken English and the accompanying invoice which names an unknown supplier and often gives an American address.”
So far four different suppliers have been named, 1 Stop Marketing Solutions, ITC Development Corp, Power Saver and Athico Ltd. but the fraudsters could be operating under other names too.  Some of these names could be very similar to genuine companies – for example Power Saver Ltd, based in Tonbridge, Kent is not involved in this fraud.
The director of Athico Ltd appears to have been a victim of the scam himself. He fully cooperated with trading standards and the company has now ceased trading.
Advice to consumers
If consumers have responded to one of these cold calls they should report the matter to Action Fraud on www.actionfraud.org.uk 0300 123 2040 or Consumer Direct on 08454040506 . They should also contact their bank to stop their debit/ credit card. If a device has been received they should not use it and dispose of it carefully. 
Consumers should be cautious about giving out any personal or financial information. They should independently verify a caller’s identity before agreeing to purchase any goods or services.
Notes for Editors:

• Recalled items: model number SD 001,
• Useful load ratings: 15000 & 19000 watts
• Manufacturer: MacroPlus B1208 City Square, Shenzhen, Guangdong China
• We do not know how the callers have acquired consumer information however it is easy to buy lists.
• The first 4 digits of a particular bank’s credit card are all the same. All Visa cards start with the number 4, the following 5 digits indicate which bank that issued the Visa card. Mastercards start with 5.
• A useful link for information on saving energy is www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact Irja Howie at TSI press office on 08456089430 / 07780675815 or pressoffice@tsi.org.uk
Trading Standards Institute (TSI)
TSI is a training and membership organisation that has represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession since 1881 nationally and internationally.  We aim to raise the profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better informed and safer consumer and business communities.
TSI’s members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities and in businesses.  We are also supporting the delivery of initiatives such as the advice services Consumer Direct, UK ECC and ECCS.
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Burglary Activity in Orpington, Petts Wood, Chistlehurst and St Mary Cray

There have been an unusually high number of reported burglaries to Bromley Police over the last four weeks in the areas of BR5/6/7 (Petts Wood, Orpington, Chislehurst and St Mary's Cray).
The suspect/s main point of entry are via the rear patio doors, where they smash the window using bricks or force the doors open with tools, some of which are taken from sheds (shovels).  The second "favoured" method is via the front door, in particular UPVC doors that have not been locked or wooden doors without Chubb locks.  Suspects will use a "loop" instrument via the letter box to pull the handle down to open the doors.
Police would like to offer the following crime prevention steps:

1. When leaving your home make sure that both the Yale and Chubb locks are correctly locked

2. During night hours make sure that the UPVC door is locked with the key and the Chubb lock is activated

3. Make sure all valuables (including door and car keys)  are out of sight from doors and windows

4. Make sure that all PIR lights are well maintained and fitted both at the front and rear of your home

5. When leaving your home make sure all windows are locked/closed

6. If you have an alarm use it and make sure it is well maintained

7. If on holiday ask neighbours to keep an eye on your home

8. Taking into account the time of year make sure that Christmas presents are out of view

9. Create a list of serial numbers and take photographs of sentimental/high value property