York Crime: Update 13th Jan 2016

Vigilance urged as thieves target Land Rovers

Police are urging owners of Land Rover Defenders to be on their guard against vehicle thieves, particularly in rural areas.

Land Rover Defender (file image)

The warning comes after a number of thefts and attempted thefts involving the vehicles across the county:

A Land Rover Defender was tampered with in Markington near Harrogate on the morning of 8 January 2016. It is believed offenders made off after activating the alarm. Crime reference 12160004174.

The theft of a green Land Rover Defender was reported in Crathorne, overnight 10-11 January 2016, registration TF07FEA. Crime reference 12160005723.

A green Land Rover Defender, registration APY156G, was stolen from Gribdale Terrace, near Great Ayton, during the night of 11-12 January 2016. Crime reference 12160006718.

A Land Rover Defender was entered in the Holgate area of York overnight 11-12 January 2016. Crime reference 12160006316.

There have also been thefts and attempted thefts of these type of vehicles recently in neighbouring force areas

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Two drink drivers who gave highest readings of Christmas campaign, appear in court

The two drink drivers who provided the highest breathalyser readings of North Yorkshire Police’s Christmas campaign, have appeared in court.

North Yorkshire Police

44-year-old Leanne Drinkwater of Fenby Gardens, Scarborough was arrested on suspicion of drink driving on 4 December, after providing a roadside breathalyser reading of 141ug of alcohol in 100ml of breath – over four times the legal limit.

Reflecting the severity of the offence, Scarborough Magistrates handed her a suspended sentence of 14 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, along with a five year ban from the roads. Drinkwater was also ordered to pay £170 in related charges, carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and attend an alcohol dependency programme.

40-year-old Ann Todd of Aske Avenue, Richmond was arrested on suspicion of drink driving in Richmond on 16 December. She returned a roadside breathalyser reading of 180ug in 100ml of breath – the highest reading of the campaign – over five times the legal limit.

Todd, who pleaded guilty, received an eight week suspended sentence, suspended for 12 months and a three year ban from driving. She was also ordered to pay £165 in related charges, complete 100 hours of unpaid work and to attend an alcohol dependency programme.

 

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Police drill home property marking message after thefts from vehicles in York

Police in York are planning to hammer out thefts from vehicles, with a call to motorists to ensure their property is secure.

Dot peen property marking

Since the New Year, police have investigated 21 reported thefts from unattended vehicles across the city, with thieves particularly targeting power tools such as drills and saws. Six vehicles were targeted in the north of the city last weekend alone.

In addition to reiterating crime prevention advice, officers are now urging people to get such items security marked. To the untrained eye, a marked and unmarked drill will look identical – but a security engraving can make all the difference in deterring thieves and helping the police to find its owner.

The first of a series of dedicated property marking events will take place on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February from 8.30am to 12.30pm at B&Q in Clifton Moor.

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North Yorkshire Police urge people to secure their mobile devices

North Yorkshire Police is urging members of the public to make sure their mobile devices are secure in order to deter thieves and hackers.

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Laptops, tablets and smartphones are more popular than ever. Two thirds of people in the UK now own a smartphone, with 33% of internet users seeing this device as the most important for online activity.

Cybercrime is a real threat across the UK, including in North Yorkshire. Since 1 April 2015, there have been 624 cyber-related incidents reported to North Yorkshire Police. The nature of these incidents, range from online bullying and Child Sexual Exploitation to holiday fraud and identity theft.

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North Yorkshire Police under scrutiny today

North Yorkshire Police 43 officers under strength

Papers published for a public meeting – which is being web cast today – reveal that North Yorkshire Police are employing 43 fewer officers than their budget would fund.

There are now a total of 1350 officers working in the County (which includes York).

However 192 PCSOs are also employed – 9 more than budgeted.

The “scrutiny” meetings will also consider some worrying trends in crime levels. As previously reported there have been increases in the number of some types of crime committed  in parts of York. Comparative figures for the whole county have now been published.

Police meeting 23rd Nov 2015

The report – which can be read by clicking here – also details the police response

The panel has introduced an innovative opportunity for residents to ask questions during the meeting (which starts at 9:30am) using Twitter. You can post your question on Twitter using #NYPscrutiny. There will be a cut off point for asking questions, this will be announced during the meeting. Given the size of the County this seems to us to be a good idea.

North Yorkshire Police announce first Public Choice Awards.

North Yorkshire Police are calling on the public to nominate members of the policing family who have made a difference within their local community.

Police

For the first time, the public will be able to nominate an individual who has gone above and beyond their day to day duties and have demonstrated one of three core behaviours – courage, compassion or inspiration – whilst keeping their local community safe.

The three behaviours – which are central to North Yorkshire Police’s Code of Ethics – are: 

Courage – Not just where a member of the police family has acted bravely, although of course they will  be considered, but also where a staff member has had the courage and conviction to appropriately challenge a decision or used their influence wisely. Also where a member of the police family has displayed courage and tried a new way of doing things, accepted accountability or stepped outside their comfort zone.

Compassion – They have demonstrated care for victims and recognising the needs of others. It may be an instance where they may of helped an individual or community to build supportive networks which have to brought about a sense of well-being.

Inspiration – They have inspired our communities and have helped to build North Yorkshire Police’s reputation as a responsive service that goes that extra mile. By behaving as a role model, demonstrating integrity and helping to create an environment of learning, success and innovation.

Members of the public can nominate :

•             Police Officers

•             Office of Police and Crime Commissioner Staff

•             Police Staff

•             Police Community Support Officers

•             Volunteers

•             Special Constables

Nominations can be made via the online form.

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Multi-agency approach will help drive down re-offending

Integrated Offender Management (IOM) is a multi-agency response between the Police, the Probation services and other agencies, to the crime and re-offending threats faced by local communities.

IOM pro-actively targets those who have already come to the attention of the Criminal Justice Service and are likely to re-offend, with an aim of improving the quality of life for communities in North Yorkshire.

To ensure the opportunities to target and effectively manage those offenders who repeatedly commit crime are maximised, North Yorkshire Police and Partners are driving a re-focus on IOM.

IOM manages Offenders identified as being of most concern locally, whether subject to statutory supervision by the National Probation Service or Community Rehabilitation Company, or managed on a voluntary basis where not subject to these formal arrangements.

In addition to using set qualifying criteria Police, Probation or any of the other partnership agencies can refer Offenders for adoption onto the scheme at any time.

Offenders are engaged at different levels across the partner agencies, dependent upon the level of threat they pose and their vulnerability.

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Urgent warning following internet blackmail scam……Chief Constable schedules web chat

Detectives in York have issued an urgent warning after three men from the York area have been blackmailed by a woman claiming to be called Cathy Wong.

The woman has befriended them on Facebook and asked them to skype her. She has then enticed them into performing an indecent act which she has recorded on video.

She has then told the men, who are all students, that her grandmother is ill and needs money and has asked them each to send £3,000 via money transfer.

When they refused to send the money, she has threatened them with uploading the video to Youtube.

It is believed that the scam is occurring world wide, however these are the first cases reported in the York area. The men are not known to each other and officers are concerned that there may be other victims. Officers are exploring the possibility that the scam is operated by an organised crime group.

Police are urging internet users, particularly students, to be on their guard and to contact them if they believe they have been targeted. 

Detective Sergeant Rebecca Dyer of York CID, said: “This scam is causing considerable distress to the victims and I urge anyone who uses any kind of social networking site to be very wary of what they are getting into.

“I am concerned that there are other victims of this scam who are too embarrassed to come forward about what has happened. I urge them to please get in touch with the police. Your information will be dealt with in the strictest confidence and with sensitivity. Please do not suffer in silence.”

To report an incident, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and pass information to the Force Control Room.

Or you can email Rebecca.dyer@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

You can also pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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#AskTheChief webchat: your chance to quiz the chief

Chief Constable Dave Jones is hosting a live webchat to give residents in North Yorkshire the opportunity to talk to him about crime and anti-social behaviour in their area.

Computer

Mr Jones will be online between 5pm and 6pm on Monday 12 January 2015,  at www.northyorkshire.police.uk/webchat.

He would like to discuss people’s experiences with North Yorkshire Police and to hear suggestions about how the policing service in the county can be further improved.

York West neighbourhood Policing team to be scrapped?

North Yorkshire Police have announced a shake up of their structures in York and the rest of the county.

They claim that their main aim is to use technology to increase the time that Police officers and PCSOs spend on the streets.

If it does that then it will get a lot of support from residents.

Police helmete

In surveys that we have conducted in the Chapelfields, Cornlands Road and Front Street areas recently, some residents have pointed to a reduced patrolling profile for the Police compared to 3 years ago. 

The Police will also need to review their communications strategy.

Most residents – while welcoming the use of Twitter, Facebook and the like to provide information quickly – prefer to get a briefing leaflet through their letterbox.  This used to be done using joint newsletters with the local Council but this seems to have petered out. Neighbourhood Watch schemes have been unable to fill the information gap in most of west York.

The detailed proposals for policing in York are still unclear.

The Police statement talks of reducing the number of neighbourhood policing teams in the City from 3 to 2. Provided the Sergeants and Inspectors are easy to contact and take time to get out in the community that may not matter.

The last thing that we need is more managers sat in Fulford Road.

The Police should operate out of local community centres and schools whenever possible.

All in all, with a consultation on the future of crime and policing in the City not due to finish until 15th June, the announcement seems a little premature and leaves a lot of unanswered questions

York crime and policing update

Chapelfields gets PCSO again

A new PCSO (Chris Simpson) has been appointed in to operate in the Chapelfields estate. There had been a few complaints about lack of policing profile in the estate over recent months.

During the time that the Acomb Police Station is being renovated, staff and volunteers will be using Sanderson House on Bramham Road as a base.

The volunteer front counter enquiry services will be available at Sanderson Court Community Centre at the following times:

  • Monday: 10am to noon;
  • Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm;
  • Wednesday: 6pm to 8pm;
  • Thursday: 6pm to 8pm;
  • Friday: 2pm to 4pm;
  • Saturday: 10am to noon; Sunday: Closed

 Police appeal after car damaged in Clifton Moor, York

Police are appealing for witnesses after a car was damaged at Clifton Moor in York.

The car, a red Ford Puma, was parked up at B&M on Stirling Road when it sustained damaged to the passenger side after being hit by another vehicle.

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Magazine theft suspect sought by police

York police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a number of magazine thefts from a shop in the city centre.

WHS2

Over the past few weeks cycling and fishing magazines have been taken from WH Smith on Coney Street.

Officers are investigating the thefts and are urging anyone who recognises the man in the images to contact them with information

More

York Police and crime update

Police investigate Strensall motorbike theft

Police in York are appealing for the public’s help after the theft of a motorbike near the city.

Incident 2

It occurred between 9.30pm on Saturday 8 March and 5.30am on Sunday 9 March 2014, from the driveway of a house on Toby Court, Strensall, where it had been securely chained up.

The Honda VTR SP1 is orange and purple with the registration number W407RNF.

More click here

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Custom motorbike stolen in York – can you help locate it?

York police have issued images of a stolen motorbike as they appeal for the public’s help to trace it.

It was taken between 12noon on Saturday 8 March and 1pm on Sunday 9 March 2014, from Huntington Road, where had been secured with a chain.

The Suzuki SJ has black custom paintwork with orange wheels.

More click here

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Police investigate York sculpture theft

York police are appealing for information about a theft of a sculpture in the city.

It was stolen between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday 2 March 2014, from the Whitewall Gallery, Davygate.

The limited edition sculpture of a boat measures 9in by 12in, and is valued at £300.

More click here

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Nine suspects being questioned after Operation Hawk arrests

Police have made nine arrests as Operation Hawk’s crackdown on travelling criminals continues to have an impact.

Incident

Officers on Operation Hawk patrol stopped a Ford Transit van travelling southbound on the A1(M) near Boroughbridge at around 5.30pm on Wednesday 12 March 2014.

During a search of the vehicle officers found a large container containing what is believed to be stolen diesel.

More click here

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