Old Coulsdon Residents' Association

Crime Prevention and Personal Safety

OUR SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

Old Coulsdon and Coulsdon town centre  have a dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Team. The team consists of two Police Sergeants, one Police Constable and three Police Community Support Officers out on patrol. They will work closely with the local community and will be tasked by local people to deal with crime and disorder in their area, whilst tackling the issues that affect the quality of life of our residents. Click here to see photos of the team.

To contact the Coulsdon East Safer Neighbourhood team call 020 8721 2059

DON’T GIVE CRIMINALS A HAPPY CHRISTMAS

With the Christmas holiday season fast approaching here are some handy crime prevention tips.

Christmas is the time of year when people are rushing around town centres and then storing gifts in their homes. Criminals take advantage at Christmas and use this opportunity to strike. 

Out shopping

·        Beware of pickpockets. Stay alert and keep your bags close to you.

·        Don’t carry too much cash on you.

·        If travelling by car, park in a well-lit area, lock all doors and windows and don’t leave anything in view. 

•    Please remind elderly relatives or neighbours who collect their pension from the Post Office of the increased risk of theft, there has already been one victim of two teenage white female bogus callers who asked to use her phone and then stole her pension cash. 

At home

·        Keep presents out of sight until last thing on Christmas Eve.

·        Empty boxes outside your home advertise that you have new goods inside – dispose of packaging carefully.

·        All mobile phones, pedal cycles and any other items of property that have a serial number should be registered free of charge on the Immobilise website www.Immobilise.com

Going out

·        Use an automatic timer for lights and turn on the radio to make it look like someone is home.

·        Close your curtains or blinds at night.

·        Always remember to lock all your doors and windows.

·        If you are going away for a longer period of time, ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on the house. 

Out on the town

·        Don’t leave bags unattended or over the backs of chairs.

·        Always use a licensed minicab, taxi or night bus to get home safely.

·        Don’t drink too much – you could become an easy target for thieves.

·        Always keep your mobile phone secure.  

Have a happy and crime-free Christmas. Crime Prevention advice can be obtained from our website www.met.police.uk/croydon or Croydon Police Crime Prevention team on 020 8649 1414.

These pages are designed to give you general crime prevention and personal safety advice, but please also remember the following points:

• If you have seen something suspicious, or if you see a crime actually being committed ring 999 immediately.

• If you see signs of a break in at home, don't go in - the intruder may still be there. Go to a neighbour's house and call 999.

• Has a crime been committed against you and you are no longer in any danger? Then contact the Police on 020 8667 1212. Alternatively, you can also report non-urgent, minor crime online. Please, DO REPORT ALL CRIME - no matter how little chance you think there is of the Police catching the culprits. The stock excuse for not having a more visible Police presence in the area is that we have a low crime rate. The more you report things, the more likely we are to reverse that perception. Statistics are all they have to go on, after all.

• If you have information about a crime, but wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

• Inform the Police of any graffiti in our area. The 'tags' can be useful in identifying the culprits. Then inform the Council, so that they can remove it.

• If you are aged 60 or over, and have been the victim of a burglary in your home, you are eligible for a free home safety and security service operating through the Crime Prevention Office at Croydon Police Station. For details, contact the Crime Prevention Office on 020 8649 1414.

• If you are suffering from silent, malicious or nuisance phone calls you can contact any of the following numbers for advice and help:

  The Telephone Preference Service                    0800 398 893

  Silent Call Guard                                                 0870 444 3969

  BT’s Nuisance Call Advice Centre                      0800 661 441

  NTL Cable Customers                                        0800 052 2000

  Telewest Cable Customers                                0800 9653 333

• Useful websites: www.immobilise.com is the only Mobile Industry and Police endorsed ownership registration programme for mobile equipment in the UK.  It is completely free of charge and is supported by Crimestoppers, Phone Crime, Safer Streets  and the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum.  It is used by the major recovery agencies, including the Police and Transport for London Lost Property to contact owners in the event that their equipment is recovered after loss of theft and reports of equipment that has been registered as lost or stolen. 

• VICTIM SUPPORT CROYDON – “working for victims of crime”: Victim Support is the charity that exists to help victims of all types of crime, providing both emotional and practical support.  They are currently looking for volunteers to visit victims in their own homes. Volunteers need to be understanding, good listeners and able to get on with people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Anyone can apply. No previous experience is necessary, as training is given.  Volunteer visitors work during the day, in the evenings or at weekends. As a volunteer, you can expect: 

  • Training, support, supervision and regular meetings with other volunteers
  • Out-of-pocket expenses to cover telephone and travel; insurance cover

  Courses run on Saturdays for five consecutive weeks in the spring, summer and autumn. If you are interested, or need their help, please phone them on 020 8681 7711.

• The Nominated Neighbour Scheme - This is a Bogus Caller initiative to help older people and vulnerable members of our community to feel safer in their own homes. The scheme works by providing an A5 laminated card that can be held up to the window or shown through the gap in the chained door.  It states “I do not recognise you!  Please go to number # who is my nominated neighbour.  They will check your identity and return with you.”  For further details please call PC Andy Williams, Crime Prevention Officer on 020 8649 1414.

• Lost pets - There are a number of websites and telephone helplines to make sure you are reunited with your lost pet as soon as possible. Dog thefts are, unfortunately, becoming more common, but no matter what kind of pet is lost, the most important thing to do is let people in your area know straight away, Contact your local vets, the Cats Protection League and the RSPCA - in fact, any local organisation that looks after lost and injured animals - and have photos of your lost one to hand. If you have micro chipped your pet they will be a lot easier to trace. Ask your vet for details of how to arrange this. Hopefully, your lost one will be in someone's garden or shed. For more detailed advice on how to trace your pet, look at the following websites:

        www.doglost.co.uk

       www.dogshome.org/reunite/lost_dogs_and_cats This is for Battersea Dogs Home, which does take in cats as well. They also have a telephone Helpline on 0901 477 8477. Calls are charged at 60p per minute.

       www.lostmycat.co.uk  Here you can place a free ad with details of your lost one and look at ones that have recently been found in your area.