We are developing an e-mail group for all NHW co-ordinators in the village and this is allowing alerts to be passed to co-ordinators quickly, for onward cascade to their watch groups.  The following alerts have been shared.

There appears to have been some activity from cold callers and perhaps theft in the village this month (August 2016).  A woman has been visiting properties at the east end of the village saying that she is either carrying out a survey related to food or representing some food supplier.  There also appears to have been some unauthorized access to fields and in one case, theft of garden/agricultural equipment.  Drive tarmacing people may also be passing through the village.

So the word is, as always, keep your valuable equipment, including bikes, well secured, perhaps chained to the floor or an immovable part of your shed.  Advice on suitable security measures can be obtained from the police.  Ideally, do not buy, or donate to charities with people who turn up at your door.  Donate at charity shops.  There are plenty of these.  Display our “no cold callers” sticker at the entrance to your property and at your front door.  With these in place bona fide cold callers are required by law to leave you in peace. Stickers are obtainable from me, or at libraries.

Nailsea appears to have reported 188 events in July, 44 of which turned out to be crimes.  They had 14 shop thefts and 26 occurrences of anti-social behavior.  Clevedon made 314 phone calls of which 68 were crimes, 2 burglaries and one attempted, 5 shop thefts and 17 occurrences of anti-social behavior.

Finally, keep an eye out for your neighbours as well as yourselves.  Report anything suspicious on the phone by dialing 101, or if you think a crime is actually in progress ring 999.

Stay safe and secure.

John Rose-Neighbourhood Watch Chairman