Vehicle security
Last year, we suffered quite an upsurge in vehicle crime and there were some sporadic incidents of this recently in late July, when several vehicles were targeted in Stoke Ash. I am keen to prevent a repeat of these offences in Occold, so I urge you all to review your vehicle security. Please ensure you take basic precautions like locking your vehicle, as many of last year’s vehicle crimes involved thefts from insecure cars. Consider fitting a car alarm and if you have such devices already, use them. Most importantly, do not leave any valuables on display in your vehicles which may tempt the prospective thief.

Work vans are always a favourite, so we recommend that you remove expensive power tools and equipment overnight and store them safely. Be alert to any strange noises during the night – quite often your dog will know there is a problem before you do! If you see anything suspicious or feel that something is not right then please do not hesitate to give us a call. Most offences of this nature are detected as a result of calls received from the public.

Anti-social behaviour
I am aware however, of widespread public concern within the village about the anti-social behaviour of a certain minority, who are perceived to be ‘getting away with it.’ I am referring to incidents of vandalism, with reports of criminal damage being caused to the play area and groups of older youths gathering in cars, in various locations including the concrete pad in Redlingfield Road, farm tracks off Bulls Hall Road and in the village hall car park.

We have received letters and complaints from private correspondents as well as from your elected councillors, drawing our attention to the behaviour of certain individuals who have been riding motorcycles off-road illegally and driving uninsured cars erratically through the village at excessive speeds. If you see any vehicles being driven on the road by persons you know to be unlicensed or uninsured, please contact the police urgently at the time, to give us the best opportunity to catch them in the act.

I want to thank everyone who has taken the trouble to appraise me of recent problems; it is nice to see that the community are not going to tolerate this kind of disruptive behaviour. Let me reassure you we have responded to your concerns. I have been carrying out regular patrols of the affected areas and in recent weeks, the gatherings that have caused concern have been dispersed.

Local crime
My colleagues have reported a local person for numerous road traffic offences and I have made an arrest in relation to suspected firearms offences and other crimes, including two recent burglaries. We recovered stolen property during searches made following the arrest and a local man has been released on bail pending further enquiries. It is hoped that prosecutions will follow in the near future and I promise you that I am doing everything I can to expedite matters. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if further problems arise.

With so many households now having internet access, the best way to receive this important information is by email. That way you can view the messages at your convenience and keep up to date with events of relevance to your neighbourhood. If you prefer you can opt to receive automated voice messages or SMS text messages to your mobile phone. If you would like more information, log onto the Suffolk Constabulary website and follow the links to the application page. The service is free and easy to use. Alternatively, you can contact me for more information.

Internet fraud and identity theft
We continue to receive a number of complaints involving internet fraud and identity theft, which has been much publicised in the media of late. We’re all vulnerable to this sort of crime which is becoming more and more widespread. The problem is that often we do not even realise that we’ve been defrauded until we get our bank or credit card statements. It is therefore vital that you check your accounts regularly because if you report any irregularities to the bank, you will not be liable for any fraudulent activity.

To help safeguard yourself against this type of crime, we suggest that you shred financial documents and do not put any papers containing your personal particulars in with your household rubbish. “Phishing” is the term used for one of the most prevalent scams, whereby criminals send out bogus emails in an effort to trick unsuspecting recipients into giving up personal particulars at fake websites.

These websites are designed to look like those of legitimate banks or similar organisations. It always pays to be suspicious of unsolicited e-mail and never give out your PIN numbers or bank passwords to unsolicited phone callers or e-mails.

End of summer
If you have been away on holiday in recent weeks, I hope you had a relaxing break. Personally, I’m still hoping for an ‘Indian Summer’ as I do not have any more leave booked until mid-September! For those of you young enough to be returning to school this month, I hope you had a great summer and look forward to visiting you at Occold Primary in the new term.

Have a safe and pleasant month!. Best wishes
Jon Eaves, Community Police Officer.