Police Newsletter Beat PC48 Fountainbridge
A Division
Community and Neighbourhood Watch News ISSUE 61 September 2009 'Work With Us'
City Wide
Divisional Commanders Message This month Lothian and Borders Police is launching a major new housebreaking initiative, aimed at educating members of the public on keeping their property safe. An estimated fifty percent of all housebreakings occur in properties where windows and doors have been left unlocked. Simple steps are often all it takes to deter opportunist thieves. Ad trailers will be situated in shopping centre car parks across Edinburgh, and your local Community Beat Officer will have postcards with crime prevention advice available to distribute out. Please contact them for more information. Lothian and Borders Police are committed to engaging with young people in Edinburgh, and a new initiative aims to tackle the issue of underage drinking. Operation Array involves officers bringing underage youths caught drinking alcohol back to Leith police station and asking the parents of the offenders to come along as well. Voluntary organisations and our officers will then engage with both the youngsters and their parents to discuss the consequences of drinking underage and the social problems it can generate. This is an example of the type of preventative work we are undertaking and underpins our Force vision of creating safer communities. Chief Superintendent Colin Campbell, Divisional Commander.
Hot Topics
Housebreaking – Don’t Become A Victim Housebreaking has a significant effect on people, making them feel insecure and vulnerable. By taking a few simple steps you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Housebreakers mostly attack the most vulnerable point of entry to a house. This means the open window or the unlocked door. Before leaving your home make sure all the windows and doors are securely locked. Always use both the mortise and cylinder rim locks. Do not leave tilt & turn or hopper windows slightly open, even if you lock them, as it is much easier to force them open. Thieves liked CRAVED items, Concealable, Removable, Available, Valuable, Enjoyable and Disposable; i.e. small items of high value such as jewellery, digital cameras, mp3 players, laptops and not forgetting good old cash and credit cards. Think about where you keep these items. Top Tips: Don’t leave valuables like laptops where they can be viewed through a window. They may tempt a break in. Valuables left near windows are a smash and grab risk. Be aware of the real risk of someone “fishing” valuables like car keys, purses or handbags through a letterbox or partially open window using for example a long garden cane. Consider purchasing a safe to keep valuable items in, but make sure the safe is secured to the fabric of the building so it cannot just be carried away. This works well when used in conjunction with a monitored house alarm. Local News Beat PC48 Fountainbridge
The incidents in this newsletter reflect events, which occurred in August 2009 DOMESTIC HOUSEBREAKING There were 5 domestic Theft by Housebreakings reported during the month of August.
There were no reported incidents of auto crime this month. THEFT PEDAL CYCLES
10 youth calls received during August
LOGGED INCIDENTS During August there were 275 incidents logged by the police in respect of Fountainbridge beat.
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