Organisers were reminding cyclists that there is an opportunity on Friday to have their bikes security marked by the Police.
The event, which will be held in the Foxwood Community Centre car park on Bellhouse Way, starts at 9:30am.
There will also be an opportunity to buy some perennial plants which have been grown in the community garden and to select some surplus food from the regular give away which is organised by volunteers.
Gangs of youths
Police request, “If any residents see groups of youths or any persons gathering in a location or not adhering to the government guidelines to please ring 101 at the time so that officers can attend the location asap and obtain the details of those involved and give appropriate advice etc. We’ve got extra patrols out on foot and cycles at this time”.
Supermarkets generally quiet
Most supermarkets in York are now quieter than they have been recently. Many now have stocks of toilet paper, eggs, spray disinfectant etc all of which have been in short supply. We are still pressing the authorities and businesses to use social media to highlight busy times, stock shortages, home delivery pipelines etc. For a City which prides itself on innovation and hi tech literacy this has been a bit of a letdown.
NB. No shortages in Waitrose York earlier today. Well organised by helpful staff
Last night in Acomb two females forced their way into a vulnerable ladies home (she’s in her 80s), they rifled through her house, then sat her down and made her a cuppa and tried to pressurise her into giving them some money so they could go to the shop for her.
After we received this report we quickly identified the offenders and they were arrested less than an hour later. They were taken to custody for a variety of offences.
PLEASE KEEP IN CONTACT WITH YOUR ELDERLY FAMILY/FRIENDS AND REINFORCE THE MESSAGE – NEVER OPEN YOUR DOOR TO PEOPLE YOU DON’T KNOW AND IF YOU NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR PLEASE USE A DOOR CHAIN IF YOUVE GOT ONE IF YOU’RE NOT EXPECTING VISITORS.
Please contact us if you or anyone you know have experienced anything similar. Job ref 440 of 24/03. Thanku and stay safe ? York North Police
The scams take several forms which include (so far):
· Messages claiming to be from HMRC offering a tax refund due to changes in the law around Covid-19, recipients have to click a link which takes them to a fraudulent website
· Messages claiming to be from the Center for Disease Control or from the World Health Organisation. These messages offer the recipient the chance to view a list of confirmed cases within their local area by clicking on a link and making a Bitcoin payment.
· Emails claiming to be from a virologist sending an attached document with instructions on how to avoid the Coronavirus. The attachment is malicious.
· Fraudulent online sales of masks and hand sanitiser which never materialise. If an online shopping offer looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
Please do not click on links or open attachments and take time to check that the email is from a legitimate source. Please be aware that fraudsters go to great lengths to make their communications with you look genuine.
As Covid-19 continues to spread, fraudsters are likely to continue using the anxiety it generates to trick people out of their personal data and hard -earned money. You can find more information about the scams listed above online. The BBC have summarised these scams in this article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51838468
More than ever, as a community you need to be aware of those in your locality who are elderly, live alone and who are vulnerable. Please look after and support each other
North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about an assault that occurred in Acomb, York in the early hours of Saturday 25th January 2020.
The incident happened in the street at the junction of Bellwood Drive and Bellhouse Way, Acomb, York between 12.30am and 1.30am Saturday 25 January. It involved two men and the victim, a 30 year old man, needed hospital treatment following the incident.
We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In particular, we are appealing for information about who was present, as it is believed a number of people were in that location during the assault.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Pc 1596 Hodge. You can also email 001596@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200015011
Contact details:Stuart Hodge – #1596
001596@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk | 101 – ext 31596
Incident reference:12200015011
A prolific offender who burgled houses and went on a spending spree with stolen bankcards has been jailed for over six years.
Andrew Minskip, 37, appeared in the dock this week accused of breaking into a house in Alness Drive, York on 29 August 2019.
Just before discovering the burglary, the homeowners were alerted by their bank that there had been a number of fraudulent transactions on their bankcard during the day.
Minskip was later identified by police officers on CCTV using the stolen bankcard in local newsagents.
He was tracked by a police dog the following week in the vicinity of a second burglary at the Buckles Inn on the A64 and arrested.
Following an investigation, Minskip was charged with the burglaries on Alness Drive and at the Buckles Inn, in addition to three others at houses on Lycett Road, in Skiddaw and Strensall Park.
He was also charged with two thefts, two counts of fraud and one count of driving with no insurance – all committed between 10 August 2019 and 7 September 2019.
Another man, 39 year-old Richard Sampson, was also caught after officers recognised him on CCTV using the bankcard from the Alness Drive burglary on a separate occasion, and was charged with two burglaries and two counts of fraud.
On Wednesday 15 January, at York Crown Court, Minskip, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty and was jailed for six years and three months. He was also ordered to pay a victims surcharge of £181.
Sampson, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the two frauds and was jailed for seven months.
Commenting on the sentences, Investigating officer DC Kyle Boad of North Yorkshire Police’s Expedite team said:
“Minskip burgled his victims’ homes, helping himself to their personal possessions and bank cards before fraudulently using them to go on a spending spree around York. It was only a matter of time until we located and arrested him.
“Whilst no-one was hurt in this case, the trauma of knowing someone has broken into your home can’t be underestimated – the impact of burglary is devastating and long lasting for victims.
“Neither MInskip nor Sampson showed any remorse for their actions and denied all involvement in their crimes throughout the investigation. I hope that this outcome will provide some comfort to their victims in the knowledge that they are both behind bars where they belong.
What to do if you have been burgled
Ring 999 if you believe the offender is still in your house or has just run away; if not use the 101 number. You will be given a crime number to quote in an insurance claim, or if you want to contact police with any follow-up queries.
Try to preserve the crime scene for any forensic evidence that may be of use to the police. If possible, do not touch anything or allow your children or pets into the same rooms that the burglar has been in.
For more advice visit northyorkshire.police.uk/homesecurity
39 year-old Richard Sampson has been jailed for seven months
The latest crime figures taken from the nation policing web site (click) show a stable picture in York.
A lot of effort has gone into making the City centre safer and this shows with a slight downward trend in crime reports during the last 12 months. The number of reports each month varies between 450 and 550. The largest number of incidents were reported in December 2018 so all eyes will be on the figures for last month when they become available.
Anti-social behaviour accounts for 34% of the reports. This is in line with the popular conception that the City centre can be a rowdy environment at times.
Looking at the area outside the centre, which includes a large rural neighbourhood, crime reports have averaged around 1300 a month over the last year.
Anti social behaviour again is the most frequent report (31%) but is closely followed by “violence and sexual offences” (26%). The latter is mainly domestic disagreements.
A lot of historic information is available at a more local level.
In the Westfield Ward crime reports average around 150 a month. Reports peak in the summer months.
Anti social behaviour (33%) and violence (28%) are the biggest issues. 10% of reports concern criminal damage (vandalism, graffiti etc) and arson.
A graph of crime reports in Westfield (left), prepared 5 years ago, shows a very similar volume of issues.
The Police are currently recruiting additional officers and PCSOs in North Yorkshire.
The media are reporting today that a York Councillor’s car has fallen victim to a crime which may have exploited the vulnerabilities of “keyless” entry.
The incident, which took place “on street” in the Albemarle Road area of York, resulted in theft from the boot of the car.
You can find some advice on avoiding this type of theft via this link with more here
Essentially car owners are being recommended to store their car keys in a “Faraday Bag” which effectively blocks radio signals. One example is the “Defender” which can be found by clicking here
No doubt North Yorkshire police will be issuing more advice on what may be a growing issue.
More victims of crime in North Yorkshire will have the opportunity to play a role in the criminal justice system with the launch of a new service to help victims receive answers and rehabilitate offenders by helping them to understand the hurt and fear they have caused.
The aim is to bring victim and offender together outside – but alongside – the criminal justice system to reduce reoffending and give victims answers and the ability to move on by making the crime, and the fear it causes, more personal and harder to ignore.
Emma, who has used the restorative justice service, said:
“Restorative justice has changed my life.
“It gave me an opportunity to talk about what happened using emotional words.
“For two and a half years it felt like the only words I heard were facts and evidence.
“What about me and my family and what he had done to us?
“It finally felt like my emotions had a voice that was being heard and acknowledged.
“My life kick started the minute I walked back to my car after the conference.
“I felt free of so many frustrations.”
If you have been the victim of crime and need help to cope and recover:
For the full story and a video that explains why restorative justice is important and how it works, visit: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/news/rjlaunch/
The police are reporting that they have received the following two reports of burglaries in Woodthorpe in York.
Between 13.15pm and 18.15pm on Wednesday 20th November a property has been broken into on Deepdale and items taken.
If you have any information that could assist officers with their enquiries can you please call 101 and quote incident number 12190213779
Between 10.20am and 14.20pm on Wednesday 20th November a property on Ryecroft Avenue has been broken into and items taken.
If you have any information that could assist officers with their enquiries can you please call 101 and quote incident number 12190213583
