Occold - Police

Thefts and burglaries
The winter months tend to see a slight increase in the number of thefts and burglaries reported generally, as thieves take advantage of the darker evenings. Since October, we have suffered three burglaries affecting outbuildings, two thefts from motor vehicles and one theft of a trailer.

Overnight on Monday 2nd October, offenders gained entry to two insecure vehicles parked on private driveways in The Street. A rucksack containing personal effects was taken from a VW Polo car but was later recovered intact, on a footpath nearby. Similarly, a toolbox was removed from a Vauxhall Zafira but this was also found discarded on the lawn of a neighbouring house, with nothing apparently missing from inside.

This emphasizes the need to ensure that you always lock your vehicles and remove valuables from the view of opportunist thieves. The inconvenience caused by such crimes often outweighs the financial loss. Don’t put temptation their way!

Overnight on Thursday 5th October, two barns and a garage at a property in Mill Road were broken into causing damage to the locks but nothing is believed to have been stolen.

On the same night, offenders forced entry to an outbuilding at a farm premises in Dublin Road and stole a green John Deere lawn tractor.

During daytime hours on Friday 1st December, thieves gained entry to outbuildings at another farm in Redlingfield Road by cutting the padlocks but nothing was stolen. Interestingly, on the same day, between the hours of 2:50pm and 3:10pm, thieves stole a large Ifor Williams trailer from the grounds of a farm in Church Street, Occold.

A blue Peugeot Estate car is believed to have been involved, possibly with four men on board. Owing to the time of day when this offence is known to have occurred, there may have been witnesses that did not realise the significance of what they saw. If this jogs your memory and you think you can help, please get in touch. There is also a strong possibility that this theft is related to the aforementioned burglary which took place in Redlingfield Road on the same day.

Trailers
On the subject of trailers, there have been a number of trailers stolen from rural premises and I appeal to all you farmers and those who have these expensive items to do all you can to secure them.

So often I visit addresses in the villages where I see, for example, expensive Ifor Williams flatbed trailers, horseboxes and the like, without any security devices fitted, parked within sight of the road. These are sure to attract unwanted attention because if I notice them then so do the prospective thieves.

Last month, I even found a large trailer parked and unattended on a lonely stretch of road at Thornham. Fearing that it had been stolen, I managed to track the owner down, only to be informed that he had left it there ready for use later that day. Upon his return to collect it, it had indeed been stolen! Please do heed this warning and make sure that you keep your trailers safe.

Incident in Thorndon
I am aware that many local parents, teachers and children were concerned following a report from a teenaged girl in neighbouring Thorndon, that she was approached by a man driving a green car whilst making her way to school on 7th November.

Having investigated the matter, I am pleased to report that the driver in question has been identified and has given a satisfactory account of his actions. It appears to have been a genuine misunderstanding and I am satisfied that the person acted in good faith. Details of this incident were circulated at the time and gave rise to reports of a green car having been spotted in Occold under similar circumstances.

I carried out extra patrols in the village in response to this and located the vehicle and driver. Having looked into this matter carefully please be reassured that there is an entirely innocent explanation and nothing at all to worry about.

Serious altercation in Eye
On Sunday 19th November, a serious altercation took place at a public house in Eye, during the course of which persons were allegedly stabbed with a knife. Two men were promptly arrested in connection with this incident. One of the arrested persons, a local man, has been charged and is currently on remand awaiting trial. I am therefore unable to comment further on this case at the present time.

Speeding
Following recent concerns expressed by local residents about cars speeding through the village, despite the presence of the 20mph zone, I have now started carrying out regular speed checks in The Street, with the intention of educating drivers; encouraging them to slow down and drive more considerately.

Please set a good example to other road users as you make your way around the parish and comply with the designated limits. You never know when I might suddenly appear with my ‘speed gun’!

Welcome and farewell
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Andy and Toni, the new licensees of the Beaconsfield Arms, to the village and hope that they will enjoy living and working in our community. I’m sure they will keep an ‘orderly house’ and look forward to working with you in the months to come. I also wish Wendy and Gerald a very happy retirement after serving the village so well for many years.

Grateful thanks
My grateful thanks are also due to Mr. Brian Hull, who, armed with his trusty chainsaw, voluntarily came to our aid during the recent storm and helped us remove a large tree that had blown down across the road at Redlingfield. At a time when the Highways Agency and Police resources were stretched to the limit, his public-spirited actions were much appreciated by all.

Happy New Year
Finally, I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year. Let’s continue to work together to make 2007 a safe and peaceful year for everybody. Best Wishes

Jon Eaves
Occold Community Police Officer