@WAR - Police information

Project Poacher - LINK

Car Thefts On The Rise: Why Do 43% Of British Drivers Leave Their Car Keys With People They Do Not Know?

More at: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/car-thefts-on-the-rise-you-wouldnt-give-your-104128295.html

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Hate Crime - Please report it!

Warwickshire Trading Standards Tick in the Box scheme for Storage Facilities

Rural Watch Bulletin - 29 September 2016

Warwick Rural East SNT Newsletter October 2016

Warwickshire Police & Crime Commissioner October Update

Break in to vehicle parked in Hambridge Road, Bishops Itchington


Theft from vehicle parked in Hillside, Napton

Items stolen from rear garden of home in Lakin Drive, Bishops Itchington

Rural Watch Bulletin - 24 October 2016

Vehicle crime, Westfield Crescent, Wellesbourne

Burglary, Little Kineton

Theft, Gospel Oak Lane, Snitterfield

Theft, Burton Dassett country park

Shed burglary

Vehicle crime, North Leamington

Anti-social behaviour, Welsh Road, Offchurch

Burglary at home in Hebe Way, Whitnash

Attempted burglary at home in Washbourne Road, Whitnash

Burglary at home in Linen Street, Warwick

Theft of trailer from land at home in Savage Close, Bishops Tachbrook

Rural Watch Bulletin - 3 November 2016

PCC Philip Seccombe launches second annual Cyber Crime Survey

Criminal damage, Church Street, Wellesbourne Read more

Theft, Gospel Oak Lane, Snitterfield/Pathlow Read more

Suspicious incident, possible poaching - Hampton Lucy/Hatton Rock Read more

Suspicious Circumstances, Dovehouse estate, Wellesbourne Read more

Theft, Bearley Road, Snitterfield Read more

November police & Crime Commissioner Update 

Darker Nights - Home Security Advice

@WAR - Community Messaging Service (CMS)

Watch schemes encourage communities to work together to protect themselves and their property, which in turn can help to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime.  Therefore, contributing to our vision of protecting people from harm.  Watch schemes work in two ways:

• Join a local watch scheme or start a watch scheme
• Sign up to receive crime alerts, crime prevention advice and community safety information

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police support the activity of thousands of members of watch schemes. For more information regarding watch schemes in your area, including Neighbourhood Watch and to sign up for crime alert messages, please see the specific watch scheme pages below.

Remember if you have any information that may assist the police and the community, please inform the police as soon as possible.

• In case of an emergency or a crime is in progress, dial 999
• For non urgent incidents and crimes that are not in progress, dial 101

For more information and to sign up LINK

@WAR - Scam Summary from WCC

16/09/2016 Postcode scam telephone call

16-09-2016 01:10 PM BST

A Warwickshire resident reported receiving three unexpected phone calls from someone claiming to be calling to check their postcode!
Never provide any personal or financial information to unexpected callers. Fraudsters gather information which can then be used to commit crime, including identity theft.

23/09/2016 Rogue traders operating in Rugby – roofers

23-09-2016 09:26 AM BST

Warwickshire Trading Standards is warning local residents living in Rugby and more specifically in Bilton and Overslade to beware of itinerant door step visits from rogue traders offering roofing 'services'.
Trading Standards and Warwickshire Police have been dealing with incidents and will be distributing further advice and information to some local residents today.
Residents are advised not to buy goods or services from unexpected doorstep callers.
If in any doubt, do not open the door.
If you need to report a rogue trader, please phone Trading Standards on 03454 040506
More information: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/consumeradvice

07/10/2016 Friends against scams

07-10-2016 01:02 PM BST

A new campaign has launched today to raise awareness of scams and encourage people to take a stand against them.
Scams often target people in vulnerable situations - the Friends Against Scams campaign aims to protect and prevent these people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to ‘Take a Stand Against Scams’.
Each year scams cause between £5bn and £10bn worth of detriment to UK consumers. In addition to the financial impact, scams can have a severe emotional and psychological impact on victims.
For more information and to complete an online awarenss session on scams, please visit: Friends Against Scams

07/10/2016 Charity collectors Rugby

07-10-2016 12:30 PM BST

Warwickshire Trading Standards has been alerted by local businesses in Rugby to a man going from business to business claiming to be from Warwickshire County Council collecting money for a lung cancer charity. He was on foot and carrying a bag with money it it.
Warwickshire County Council are unaware of any such collection and warn businesses to be on their guard.

20/10/2016 Used car deposit warning

20-10-2016 10:57 AM BST

Buying a used car? Warwickshire Trading Standards are warning consumers to think twice before paying deposits to hold vehicles they are interested in buying.
Trading Standards has received an increasing number if complaints from car buyers who paid 'holding deposits' for vehicles which were then either sold to someone else before they could view it, or the vehicle was markedly different to the advert. In both cases they should have received their deposit back, but did not.

• Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via  on 03454 040506.
• Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
• Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter
• Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
• Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

20/10/2016 False vehicle registration warning to internet car buyers

20-10-2016 10:27 AM BST

Purchasers of second hand cars advertised on websites are warned to beware of a new scam involving the use of false vehicle registration numbers.
Consumers can now find a lot about the car they are interested in buying by putting the vehicle's registration number in to a free Government website, including information on a vehicle's mileage and condition.
This has led some unscrupulous sellers of dodgy vehicles to remove or obscure the licence plate of the cars they are selling on photographs posted on the Internet.
One Warwickshire resident expressed an interest in a vehicle that was being sold on a popular Internet classified advert website. The vehicle was shown without the number plates visible, so the buyer contacted the seller to ask for the registration number. The seller supplied him with a registration number and the buyer carried out a range of free and low cost checks on the vehicle. Satisfied with the result he then paid for the vehicle online and went to collect the car. When he arrived it turned out the the seller had given him a registration number for another vehicle of the same make/model, but not the one he had purchased. This car, the one he had paid for, was in a very poor condition with a high mileage!
Trading Standards advise consumers to be wary of purchasing vehicles without seeing them first and be suspicious of any advert where the licence plate of the vehicle cannot be seen affixed to the vehicle.
The new 'check before you buy' free web tools are now an important weapon in a car buyer's armoury to protect them against buying vehicles in a poor state that may be clocked or even unroadworthy. Some additional low cost checks can also help ensure that the car is not stolen or on finance.

• Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via  on 03454 040506.
• Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
• Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter
• Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
• Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

20/10/2016 Door to door cavity wall warning

20-10-2016 09:42 AM BST

Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of unexpected doorstep callers offering 'free, Government funded' cavity wall insulation and other energy efficiency measures.
Trading Standards are concerned that some unscrupulous traders may be using the offer of 'free' insulation to convince homeowners to sign up to energy efficiency measures that may not be appropriate for their property and may end up costing them money.
Funding for energy saving measures may be available to some residents if they are on certain benefits and own or privately rent their home, often via their energy supplier.
The Government has posted information on energy saving improvements and eligibility criteria on its website. Consumers can also phone the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).
It can be very difficult to tell a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep. Trading Standards urges homeowners not to be seduced by the offer of something free on the doorstep. Residents should instead speak to the Energy Saving Advice Service to get the facts.
It can be difficult telling a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep - never buy goods or services from unexpected callers!

04/11/2016 Bogus ‘summons’ Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) emails

04-11-2016 08:58 AM GMT

You've Been Summoned!
Fraudsters are sending out a wave of scam emails purporting to be from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that claim you have to appear in court.
Concerned members of the public have reported receiving the email entitled “You’ve been witness summoned to court”.
The email entices people to click on a link to view their start time/case details. This link is likely to lead to malware.
This email has no connection to the CPS and anyone receiving the email should not download any attachments or click on any links.

10/11/2016 Beware of bogus Telephone Preference Service callers

10-11-2016 12:22 PM GMT

A consumer reported receiving a phone call from someone claiming to represent the Telephone Preference Service. The caller asked the consumer to confirm their details, (the caller knew the name and address of the consumer) and then asked the consumer for the visa card details that were used when the consumer registered with the TPS.
These are bogus phone calls. The TPS is a free service. Consumers do not need to provide a debit or credit card to register and no one from the TPS would ever phone a consumer to confirm their name and address, nor ask for bank account or card details.
Never reveal personal or financial information to cold callers. These are criminal gangs that are only interested in stealing your account information or setting up direct debits for bogus services.

• Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
• Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter
• Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
• Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

10/11/2016 More threatening HMRC bogus phone calls!

10-11-2016 12:13 PM GMT

Warwickshire Trading Standards are issuing further warnings about the HMRC phone scam after receiving more complaints today.
Recipients of these phone calls are told that they owe money to HMRC and are threatened with legal action, bankruptcy or a visit from the Police or a bailiff if they don't pay up.
Some victims have paid these bogus debts with itunes vouchers.
Many Warwickshire consumers have reported persistent and aggressive HMRC scam phone calls and text messages. Some phone calls are 'live' and some recorded.
If you receive a unexpected phone call from someone claiming to represent HMRC demanding money, put the phone down. If you believe the phone call to be genuine, phone HMRC back on a publicly listed phone number.

11/11/2016 Bogus NHS cold callers selling mobility products warning!

11-11-2016 02:45 PM GMT

Older residents are warned to beware of high pressure cold calls from companies selling mobility equipment and furniture. The cold callers falsely claim they are carrying out a survey on behalf of the NHS before trying to organise visits to the consumer's home on the pretence of delivering a 'free gift' and measuring up for new products.
The cold caller's telephone numbers may appear local, but they are unlikely to be located in Warwickshire. They are reported to be very persistent and may phone several times.
Residents are advised to put the phone down. 

23/11/2016 Bogus Talk Talk warning

23-11-2016 02:08 PM GMT

Fraudsters are again phoning Warwickshire residents pretending to represent TalkTalk.
The fraudsters, (who appear to be based in call centres in the Far East),  are known to make a number of false claims, including:

• there is a problem with your Internet reception
• there is a problem with your router
• a file downloaded on to your computer needs to be 'cleaned'
• there is a virus on your computer that needs removing
• you are experiencing 'technical issues'

They then ask you a series of questions before requesting you to carry out a number of tasks on your computer. These tasks are designed to provide them with remote access to your computer. They can then steal personal and financial information including user names and passwords.
They can often be quite persuasive and sometimes aggressive on the phone.
Always put the phone down. Never provide remote computer access to any cold caller.

Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

Copyright © 2016 Warwickshire County Council All RIghts Reserved You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Warwickshire County Council email alerts Our mailing address is: Warwickshire County Council Shire Hall Warwick CV34 4RL

@WAR - Scam update from WCC

01/12/2016 Facebook sellers warning 01-12-2016 11:26 AM GMT Warwickshire consumers are warned to be wary of purchasing goods from Facebook sellers where payment is asked for via a direct a bank transfer. One consumer reported buying a phone from someone advertising via Facebook. The buyer and seller communicated using messenger. However, after the payment was made , the seller blocked the buyer and deleted their chat communication. The phone was not delivered. Buyers should consider paying in cash and avoid wherever possible bank transfers. More advice on buying and selling on Facebook Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert 01/12/2016 Government ‘money’ overpayment scam 01-12-2016 11:05 AM GMT Warwickshire residents have reported receiving phone calls to say that they were shortly to receive a cheque from the Government for money that they had overpaid. The callers then go on to try and obtain bank details and other personal and financial information. Residents are warned never to reveal any personal or financial information to cold callers. This information can be used for identity theft and other crimes. Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

30/11/2016 ‘Model’ agency’ warning 30-11-2016 12:47 PM GMT Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of  'model agencies' that take huge fees for portfolios of photographs and promise modelling contracts that never materialise. One Warwickshire resident reported paying almost £800 after attending a 'photo-shoot'. She was given assurances that a modelling contract would be forthcoming and paid almost £800 for a portfolio of photographs. However, no contract was offered. Rogue modelling agencies have little or no links to the genuine modelling industry. They show a great deal of interest in a new client and often makes promises that a contract will be forthcoming in order to get the client to pay hundreds of pounds for a portfolio of photographs, often worth very little. Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert 30/11/2016 ‘Nottingham Knockers’ operating in South Warwickshire 30-11-2016 10:03 AM GMT Warwickshire Trading Standards has received reports from Warwickshire Police that groups of so called 'Nottingham Knockers' have been operating in the South Warwickshire area in the past few days. These doorstep callers offer small household products for sale which may be of poor quality and pressure homeowners in to buying by falsely claiming to be ex-convicts on probation schemes. Warwickshire Trading Standards advise householders not to buy at the door from unexpected doorstep traders. If in doubt, keep your door closed. Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

Copyright © 2016 Warwickshire County Council All RIghts Reserved You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Warwickshire County Council email alerts Our mailing address is: Warwickshire County Council Shire Hall Warwick CV34 4RL

@WAR - Wildlife Watchers

www.warwickshireruralwatch.co.uk/reportcrime

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@WAR - Warwickshire Police Incidents

Barn burglary at rural home in Austrey Lane, No Mans Heath

Please be aware that during the night of 28 into 29 November, offenders used a crowbar type instrument to lever off metal and wood sheets on top of a brick wall at a barn in Austrey Lane, No Mans Heath.
Once inside the barn, the offenders created a ramp in order to steal a red quad bike from inside.

Read more

Burglary at home in Cubbington Road, Leamington

Please be aware that at some point before 6pm on 28 November, offenders kicked in the conservatory door at a home in Cubbington Road, Leamington.
Once inside the house, the offenders switched on the lights and carried out a search of the bedrooms.  It is not yet clear what was stolen.

Read more

Burglary at home in Barton Crescent, Leamington

Please be aware that at just after 7.30pm on 29 November, a white male entered a home in Barton Crescent, Leamington, carrying a small television.
The door of the house was unlocked and slightly ajar when the male walked in and the walked back out still carrying the TV.  Nothing was stolen but the man joined another white male outside and they made off.

Read more

Garage burglary at home in Archery Fields, Warwick

Please be aware that during the night of 29 into 30 November, offenders forced open the garage door of a home in Archery Fields, Warwick and entered the premises.
Once inside, the offenders stole over 40 bottles of sparkling wine, which were stored in plastic boxes.

Read more

@NAT - Don't loose your home

24/11/2016 Home for sale fraud and how to protect yourself

A homeowner who only discovered that he had been the victim of identity theft after he saw his £500,000 house for sale on Rightmove has prompted Warwickshire Trading Standards to issue some advice on identity theft and on protecting the deeds to your property.

A recent BBC article describes how criminals stole the victim's mail and forged his signature in order to falsify the documents needed to transfer the deeds to his property in to their name. They then put his house in to a property auction.

People who have paid off their mortgages are more vulnerable to this type of scam because the criminals are able to transfer the house deeds without needing the extra authority of the lender.

The Land Registry has a range of advice on their website on how you can protect yourself from property related fraud. This includes signing up to a Property Alert service. You can get alerts for up to 10 properties and there’s no fee. You do not need to own the property so you can receive alerts on behalf of a family member. You will receive an alert if someone applies to change the register of your property, for example if someone tries to use your property for a mortgage or tries to change the property deeds in to their name.

This won’t automatically block any changes to the register but will alert you when something changes so that you can take action.

Identity Theft Advice

There is a range of advice available from Action Fraud on how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you are a victim of identity theft.

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