Neighbourhood Watch
The Neighbourhood watch scheme has been running since the beginning of 2015. We have been successful in obtaining funding for a pair of signs, although I haven't been given any firm dates for the installation. I will let you know as soon as I find out.
If you wish to join the e-mail mailing list, please email burstallnw@crowdbot.co.uk. This will mean that you get a monthly newsletter, and also updates on crime in the local area.
Click on a link for advice from the Police Connect Team:
General Advice
Help us keep our communities safe by reporting any suspicious activity.
Please use the following link to pass useful information to Suffolk Police about any incident.
https://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something/report-crime
DO NOT USE THIS LINK IN AN EMERGENCY OR IN A SITUATION THAT REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE POLICE RESPONSE WHEN YOU SHOULD RING 999.
To report information anonymously on any crime, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Crime reduction advice can be accessed via the Suffolk Constabulary website http://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/crime-prevention-z
Police Connect Team
Shed Security Advice
The following steps will help to ensure that your shed and contents stay secure:
- Fittings should be bolted through the door and reinforced at the back with a steel plate or washer; hasps should have concealed screws.
- Fit good locks to all doors. Padlocks should be at least 6cm/2.5 ins wide, hardened steel, have at least 5 pins and be closed shackle.
- Make sure that the shed is in good condition. Weaknesses such as rotten wood or holes in the doors or windows will be an easy access point for a burglar, even if there are good locks on the doors.
- Consider fitting an alarm or investigating if your house alarm can be extended to cover the sheds/garage.
- Secure items within the shed. Lock items to each other with a quality lock or secure them to a fixed point in the floor.
- Make sure that the boundary fence is in good order, at least six foot high and check that gates are locked. Use dusk to dawn security lights around the shed.
- Security mark property and register it on www.immobilise.com.
- If you see or hear anything suspicious, call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
For further information please contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT)on 101.
For further information about security products visit www.soldsecure.com or www.securedbydesign.com
Computer Crime Advice
Advice from Action Fraud:
- Install system and application updates on all devices as soon as they become available.
- Install anti-virus software on all devices and keep it updated.
- Create regular backups of your important files to a device (such as an external hard drive or memory stick) that isn't left connected to your computer as any malware infection could spread to that too.
- Only install apps from official app stores, such as Google's Play Store, or Apple's App Store as they offer better levels of protection than some 3rd party stores. Jailbreaking, rooting, or disabling any of the default security features of your device will make it more susceptible to malware infections.
Phishing/smishing
Fraudsters may exploit this high profile incident and use it as part of phishing/smishing campaigns. We urge people to be cautious if they receive any unsolicited communications from the NHS. The protect advice for that is the following:
- An email address can be spoofed. Don't open attachments or click on the links within any unsolicited emails you receive, and never respond to emails that ask for your personal or financial details.
- The sender's name and number in a text message can be spoofed, so even if the message appears to be from an organisation you know of, you should still exercise caution, particularly if the texts are asking you to click on a link or call a number.
Don't disclose your personal or financial details during a cold call, and remember that the police and banks will never ring you and ask you to verify your PIN, withdraw your cash, or transfer your money to another “safe” account.
If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, please report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Accepting payments via Paypal
If you are selling an item to someone you don't know and they insist on paying via Paypal, there are a number of scams which the buyer might be intending to operate. Click here for details.
Going on Holiday
Crime reduction advice in order to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime when you are away on holiday:
- Use timer switches to turn on some lights when it gets dark
- Remember to secure windows (use locks, and do not leave keys in locks), doors and outbuildings
- Ensure any burglar alarms are set before departure, make this your last check
- Do not leave valuables on display - if possible keep your valuables, jewellery, cash, passports & deeds to your property in a safe
- Make sure valuables are property marked. Take photographs and keep a note of any serial numbers & register them at www.immobilise.com
- Any important documents could be left with friends or family if there is no safe in the house
- Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your house while you are away (to open/close curtains etc), collect post, to park on your drive. (leave them with your emergency contact details)
- Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries before you go away
- Keep keys safe and do not label keys
- Make use of Royal Mail's 'Keepsafe' letter and parcel holding service
- Any valuable items usually stored in the shed, such as bikes or tools could be stored in the house instead
- Lock away tools, gardening equipment and ladders
- Ensure smoke alarms are working correctly before departure
- Do not put your house address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination
- Use ‘dusk to dawn' security lights
- Visible burglar alarms can make burglars think twice; get specialist advice and consult your insurance company. Both http://www.nsi.org.uk/ & https://ssaib.org/ are independent inspectorate bodies for security systems.
Further security advice can be obtained via https://www.suffolk.police.uk/ advice/crime-prevention-z
Avoid Thefts from Vans
- To reduce the risk of being a victim of this type of crime please consider the below:
- Always lock all doors & shut windows, physically checking doors are locked.
- Do not leave any items on display.
- Park in a garage or secure area where possible.
- Park with the doors against a wall.
- If you park on your driveway consider installing motion activated CCTV.
- Be particularly aware when un-loading tools/materials from your van.
- Remove tools from the van if possible.
- Remove copper piping from storage tube on the van.
- Register tools for free at www.immobilise.com, especially serial numbers.
- Mark all tools (with a forensic marker) such as Smartwater (www.smartwater.com ) or Selecta DNA (www.selectadna.co.uk/ ) alternatively mark tools with a permanent marker with your postcode/initials.
- To increase the security of tools, you can bolt either a cage or box to the base of the van which should be secured with a sturdy close shackle padlock.
- Setting an alarm or immobiliser will make it more difficult for the offender.
- Consider upgrading locks/fitting additional protection.
- Information on Police approved products can be found at www.securedbydesign.com & www.soldsecure.com
- Always check your van/tools before heading off to work/site.
- Be suspicious of cheap tools at car boot sales.
