Crime :-
- Extensive damage to newly laid stones and traffic lights at Lazonby Bridge on the night of 11/12th January
- Metal sheep hurdles stolen from land at Ousby 7th January
- Theft of red Suzuki Quad bike from Raughton Head 3rd January
- Blue/White Yamaha Motorbike stolen from garage at North Dykes 2nd January
- Static Caravans vandalized at Melmerby some time during December
If you have any information that may assist officers with the above crimes please phone 101 and ask to speak to an officer.
Crime prevention-
Fuel Thefts
If you are at risk of a heating oil or diesel theft please take the time to read the advice below.
There can be an increase in theft of heating or diesel oil at this time of year due to the price of crude oil. This can cause an increase of fuel thefts. Remember to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity including registration numbers of suspicious vehicles to the Police on 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.
Location of your tank
When sighting a fuel tank, please locate out of the sight of the main road and in view of your house. Ensure that the tank is within a reasonable distance to the road, otherwise the fuel company may struggle to refill it.
Securing your oil tank
Secure your tank with a wooden or metal fence, trellis or wall or for further security a lockable metal grill or cage can be added. The wall or fence should be as close to the tank and as high as possible. Consideration can also be given for chemically "tagging" the fuel.
Padlocks
Invest in a good quality padlock, the closed shackle variety are the best as they have a very little of the small shackle exposed and therefore bolt croppers cannot get a good grip.
Oil Level Gauges
Remote electronic oil guages set off an audible alarm when the oil level suddenly drops or falls between a quarter of a tank. These guages can be placed in the kitchen or utitlity to warn of a potential problem. Remember to check oil levels regularly, this will help to monitor usage and check none has gone missing.
Security Lights
Consider installing security lights, low energy 'dusk til' dawn' lights positioned close to the tank should in most cases provide sufficient light to illuminate any suspicious activity. High powered lights can also be used but make sure they are not a nuisance to neighbours or road users.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
You could consider installing CCTV. For advice on this please contact your local Crime Prevention Officer on 101
Control Switches
When the tank is not in use, the control switches that control the flow of fuel should be switched off and the electricity supply isolated.
Useful Contact Details
The Oil Firing Technical Association for the petroleum industry (OFTEC) offers advice and guidance for those who use and store oil at their premises. For more information go to www.oftec.org
Top Tips To Keep Your Car Safe :-
- Never leave keys in the ignition or in your car, even for a short time.
- Park with care, if possible in a busy, well lit area.
- If you have a garage use it. If you park on a driveway, close & lock any gates.
- Close windows, sunroof, lock doors & activate security alarms when leaving your car.
- Take valuables with you when you leave your car, eg: cash, credit cards, mobile phones, satellite navigation systems etc.
Home Safety
We would like to advise all property owners of the need to protect their property against the opportunist thief. Opportunist thieves require only a window of a few minutes to make an impact on your life by stealing or damaging your property.
Most criminals tend to choose properties that look unoccupied, are not secure and allow them to work unseen. Take some time now to assess the security of your home and to prevent entry of a would-be criminal. Top Tips to Keep Your House Safe:
1) Fit burglar alarms & good outside security lighting, check regularly to ensure they work.
2) Lock doors & windows before you go out.
3) Remove keys from locks & keep out of reach of windows & doors.
Over the coming months we will be working to reduce the number of burglaries in the area by ensuring that regular patrols are carried out. We would also like to appeal for members of the public to report any suspicious vehicles or persons in the area. Criminals can often pass a location many times before committing a crime they do this to gather information about security arrangements for there next target. Please don’t be a victim of crime; start making arrangements NOW to protect your property.
We continue to make regular patrols at night in order to combat theft from farms. We are currently planning operations with neighbouring forces in order to reduce crime. If you would like to be part of our farm watch scheme please contact 101 and ask to be able to speak to your local officer.
The Farmwatch scheme, together with initiatives using Smartwater and Datatag, have helped to deter criminals as they know these schemes increase the chances of them being caught. However, while Cumbria is one of the safest counties to live work and visit, that doesn't mean we have no crime, as some farms and businesses could testify. We all need to remain vigilant and be prepared to report suspicious activity immediately, if we are to keep crime low.
What is Hare Coursing-
Hare coursing is a rural sport that was made illegal after the Hunting Bill came into effect in February 2005. Despite the ban, it is still conducted, even though it is now against the law. Here is the lowdown on hare coursing. Unlike in some rural sports, the aim of hare coursing is not necessarily to kill the hares. For poachers, this is the basic idea, but for coursers, the idea is to chase the hares for sport, using dogs (who would compete in packs of two). The dogs would be pitted against each other to determine the winner in terms of speed, agility and dogged determination. They do this to score points and ultimately, money. Taking part in hare coursing can now result in arrest and a £200 fine or in serious cases prison.
PC’s from your local policing team have recently been patrolling the rural areas to help prevent wildlife crime, mainly Hare Coursing. Hare coursing is a rural sport that was made illegal after the Hunting Bill came into effect in February 2005. Despite the ban, it is still conducted, even though it is now against the law. Here is the lowdown on hare coursing. Unlike in some rural sports, the aim of hare coursing is not necessarily to kill the hares. For poachers, this is the basic idea, but for coursers, the idea is to chase the hares for sport, using dogs (who would compete in packs of two). The dogs would be pitted against each other to determine the winner in terms of speed, agility and dogged determination. They do this to score points and ultimately, money. All the offences under the Hunting Act are punishable by a fine of up to £5,000. Dogs, vehicles and equipment used in a hunting offence may be confiscated and, if appropriate, destroyed. Anyone refusing to pay a fine or comply with a confiscation order can ultimately be sent to prison.