Smart operation will target the fear of crime in York

Police in York have launched an operation to tackle crime and the fear of crime where it is needed the most – thanks to sophisticated data analysis.

Smart operation will target the fear of crime in York The crime prevention campaign will take place in the Clifton area of the city on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 September, with police working alongside other agencies including trading standards and the fire service to provide reassurance and crime prevention advice to residents.

Officers have used street-level data available to the public sector which measures fear of crime, to identify specific areas which would benefit from a focused operation. They have also looked at annual trends in reported crime to determine the kinds of incidents where crime prevention advice would be effective.

During the operation, codenamed Operation Tansu, extra patrols will take place, and police will be on-hand to security mark valuable items using a dot peen property marking machine, and urging residents to sign up to the North Yorkshire Community Messaging alert service.

Similar initiatives will be taking place in other areas of York in the future. (more…)

Card skimming scam in York

creditcardfraud

A vigilant member of the public has avoided falling victim to a suspected card skimming device in York, after reading about the scam on a police Facebook page.

An investigation is underway after a suspicious device was located on a pump at the Tesco petrol station in Clifton Moor, York, on the morning of Monday 15 August 2016.

A motorist noticed something suspicious when he went to use the self-service machine. Fortunately, he was aware of skimming devices, having read a warning on the North Yorkshire Police Facebook page about a similar device earlier this year.

The device, which had been attached to the machine using velcro, came away in his hands. It has now been removed for examination.

CCTV enquiries are underway, and anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police. Dial 101, select option 2, and ask for John Armstrong. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote reference number 12160146737.

PC John Armstrong, of York Police, said: “The motorist in this case did exactly the right thing, by remaining vigilant, acting on his suspicions and contacting the police. I would urge people to always take extra care when using cash machines and self-service petrol pumps, to avoid falling victim to card skimming devices.”

Police have issued the following advice when using cash machines and self-service petrol pumps:
• Look for anything that seems out of place, such as ill-fitting components, wires, tape, hidden cameras or missing panels.
• Shield your PIN as you enter it.
• Save your bank’s phone number to your mobile phone, and report suspicious incidents promptly to your bank and the police.
• If someone is behaving suspiciously behind you, or making you feel uncomfortable, cancel the transaction and use another cash machine.
• Don’t be distracted by others while using a cash machine.
• Keep an eye on your bank statements to check for any unusual activity in your account.

You can follow North Yorkshire Police on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshirePolice

York Allotments Against Crime (YAAC) events a success

City of York Council in partnership with North Yorkshire Police visited all 17 council allotment sites at pre-arranged dates to enable allotment holders to have their property marked and registered. As well as acting as a deterrent to theft, property marking also makes it easier to return belongings to their rightful owner should they be stolen and to possibly use them as evidence in crimes.

This year the Fire Service joined representatives from North Yorkshire Police and the council at the larger allotment sites, giving useful information and advice on fire prevention as well as inspecting the areas for possible hazards and fire accelerants. Sites were given a fire ‘health check’ and no issues were discovered. (more…)

Police out tonight keeping York safe for young people

Organisations in York are working together this summer to help children and young people enjoy their holiday safely right from the start.

Over the school holidays, North Yorkshire Police and City of York Council will head Operation Liberate, an initiative that will identify young people in potentially vulnerable situations, and take steps to keep them safe.

While York is a very safe city, young people may be at risk due to their location, the time of day, their peer group and the potential for anti-social behaviour.

Operation Liberate ran for the first time in 2015, and got underway this year on Saturday 23 July. Under the operation, young people identified to be potentially at risk can be brought to a designated ‘place of safety’. There, they will be spoken to and advised by police and volunteers, and referred on to other organisations if necessary.

Partner agencies including domestic abuse charity IDAS, the NHS, Lifeline and the council will work together with specially-trained volunteers to ensure any particularly vulnerable young people get the support they need.

Inspector Lee Pointon, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “It’s vital that we do everything we can to help young people in York keep safe. During the summer holidays, some youngsters may find themselves in potentially harmful situations. We and partner organisations can support them, to ensure they don’t put themselves at unnecessary risk.

“Operation Liberate is all about working together to support these young people so we can identify their needs at an early stage and help avoid any problems recurring in the future.”

York Police have recognition problem

Only 14% know the name of their neighbourhood Police or Community Support Officer

A survey of residents in the Westfield ward has revealed that only 14% were able to name either their local police or community support officer.

The recognition level is well down on similar survey results from 5 years ago.

There have been a number of changes in the intervening period with fewer local police surgeries being advertised, a reduce d police presence at some resident’s association meetings and declining interest in neighbourhood watch schemes in some areas.

The Police in York have been urged to make more use of the free publicity available on web sites. At the moment there are no events advertised on the Police site and nothing on the Westfield Ward page on the York Council’s own web site.

To their credit the police have been out and about knocking on doors as part of their anti-burglary campaign and security marking of property has been continuing.

In the Westfield Ward crime trends have been following a national pattern which has seen significant increases over the past year.

The latest figures published on the Police web site ( https://www.police.uk/north-yorkshire/york-west/crime/ ) are for May. During the month there was a spike in reports of problems in the area near the Cornlands Road park.

Most of the reported crimes concerned anti-social behaviour, vandalism and (mostly domestic) violence

In 63% of cases reported during the last year no further action was taken by the Police.

Crime graph May 2016 Crime map May 2016

Caution urged following spate of cases involving fake officials in York

The fake calls are being investigated by trading standards officers following a number of complaints from people claiming that they have been called unexpectedly about car accidents. The callers either claim to be from the council or, in some cases, claim to have been given information about the ‘accidents’ by the council. When questioned, the callers have hung up.

Other scams across the country involving fake officials have led to significant losses for their victims. An elderly couple from the Home Counties lost £900,000 in a scam – involving a bogus trading standards officer. The pensioners, who had already been defrauded of £300,000 by so called roofers, believed their fortunes had changed when the bogus official came calling.

The ‘official’, thought to be part of the same gang as the ‘roofers’, tricked the couple out of a further £600,000 in ‘up-front fees’ with promises to recover the money. For his part in the crime, Gary Andrew Booker, aged 55 of Surrey, was jailed for three-and-a-half years, earlier this July – also Scams Awareness Month 2016.

Other recent cases include an 83-year-old woman tricked out of £30,000 to fake police officers; a women who lost £170,000 to conmen posing as trading standards officers; and a number of elderly people who were caught out by callers masquerading as NHS workers.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Scammers target people in all sorts of ways, including online, over the phone or even at their own front door.

“If you suspect someone is running a scam or are worried you have been a victim of a bogus offer you can get help from the Citizens Advice consumer service.”

Advice to guard against doorstep callers:

· Fit and use a door security chain when you open the door.
· Check the identification of a caller by ringing their employer. Use the telephone number from your telephone book and not one they might supply.
· Do not let anyone to carry out work on your house until you get a second opinion and never agree to callers who say “we are only in the area today”.
· Never keep large sums of money in the house and keep purses out of sight, not near the door.
· Get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service 03454 04 05 06 who can provide advice and pass details on to trading standards.
· Report scams or suspected scams to Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040 www.actionfraud.police.uk
· Tell a friend, neighbour or relative about any scams you become aware of.
(more…)

Westfield Councillors taking action on weeds, drains and more

The Council has started its second application of weed killer. They seem to be fighting a losing battle in some areas. Many residents are now clearing areas near their homes

In the Front Street area local Councillor Sue Hunter has been helping tidy up the paved areas

Cllr Sue Hunter helps to clean up paving on the Front Street link road

Front Street link road clean up completed

Meanwhile, in Foxwood, Cllr Sheena Jackson has reported several gulleys where weeds are taking root.

Weeds growing quickly in many areas now

Cllr Sheena Jackson supporting the Police security marking initiative at Foxwood shops earlier in the week

Damaged and dumped recycling containers have been reported.

Dumped recyling boxes in Foxwood

….and the bollard on Huntmans Walk has been damaged for the umpteenth time

Damaged bollard on Huntsman’s Walk

Cllr Andrew Waller is following up issues with the Council’s garden care scheme. The scheme is open to elderly and disabled people who are not able to care for their gardens themselves. It is running behind schedule this year.

Overgrown hedges in Lowfields. The Council’s garden care scheme is behind schedule

Andrew is also on the lookout for blocked drains. In the event of heavy rain these could be a source of flooding.

Blocked gulley in Tudor Road

What’s on in York: Inside the Minds of Crime Writers

York Explore Library:

Thu 14 Jul :

6.30pm – 7.30pm :

£4 (£3 with a York Card)

July 14_Crimepanel _fingerprint _bw Our crime panel is back to discuss the detectives, murderers and plots that have led them to a life of crime… writing.

Author David Mark is leading our collective of crime writers, Helen Cadbury, Danielle Ramsay, Nick Quantrill and Amit Dhand in a discussion on how they write and what they find so thrilling about crime writing.

Tickets cost £4 (£3 with a York Card)

Tickets can be bought online at www.feelinginspired.co.uk or at any York library.

There are a maximum of 50 tickets avaiable.

Campaign launches to expose scammers’ tricks

sCAM ALERT City of York Council Trading Standards is urging people in York to spread the word this month about scams and to expose the tactics of fraudsters to protect others.

Trading Standards launches Scams Awareness Month in July to help stop people falling prey to scams by following a three-step rule – get advice, report it, and tell others about it.

It comes just as City of York Council has had reports from residents of cold callers claiming to have been told by the council about a supposed car accident.

Scam methods such as this are known as ‘vishing’ whereby scammers cold-call people in a bid to get their bank details, and offers of fake services. Besides claiming to be from a reputable organisation, these include telling people their computer has a virus which they can fix remotely.

Investment scams carried the highest price tag, with people investing in fake diamonds or bogus stocks and shares losing of on average £20,000 each.

In fact, national research by Citizens Advice finds that scammers are using a variety of tactics to get people to part with their cash, with people losing an average of £2,500 across all types of scam.

InYork, Trading Standards has helped many people targeted by scams including residents who receive hundreds of items of unsolicited mail each month.

Trading Standards is warning people to be on guard and watch out for the different methods used by fraudsters, from doorstep selling of counterfeit goods to demands for upfront payments for services that never materialise.

Eight common scams reported to Citizens Advice are: (more…)

CCTV appeal after Acomb hair salon purse theft

Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to after a purse was stolen from a York hair salon.

At about 10.50am on 6 April 2016, a man entered the salon in York Road, Acomb. He behaved suspiciously, and approached a hair stylist while holding a large piece of newspaper. He pointed to this, and to a poster on the wall, then left the building.

About ten minutes later, the stylist checked her handbag and discovered her purse was missing. It is believed the suspect used the newspaper to distract the victim and act as a shield when he stole her purse.

The victim went to the bank to cancel her cards, and there had been no unauthorised transactions. At about 2.30pm the same day, a member of the public found the victim’s purse on the road nearby. The purse was handed in to police and returned to the victim. A sum of cash was missing from it.

Despite extensive enquiries since the incident, officers have been unable to identify the suspect.

Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV images to get in touch, as he may have important information that could assist the investigation.

Please dial 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Alastair Foy, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote reference number 12160059331.

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