Fake Charity Collectors.
Dorset Police have been contacted by a local animal charity that fake collectors have been operating in the area of Shillingstone. We advise members of the public check identification of collectors before donating. If in doubt contact the charity direct to confirm they are legitimate. All fake collectors should be reported to Dorset Police immediately.
Thank You,
Blandford NPT
Dorset Police and Trading Standards are holding a Doorstep Crime Engagement Day on Wednesday 01 June 2016, to inform the public on how to prevent themselves from falling victim to rogue traders and distraction burglars in the county.
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Trading Standards Officers will be engaging with people at locations including banks, supermarkets and shopping centres, to make people think: ‘be sure who’s at your door.’
Doorstep crime is when criminals cold call at someone’s house and commit rogue trader offences or distraction burglary.
Rogue traders are people who offer gardening work or maintenance services at attractive rates, but carry out work which is substandard, unnecessary or overpriced. They often use persuasive sales techniques to encourage people into making hasty decisions.
Distraction burglars will knock at your door and appear to be a legitimate person. They may say they’re a neighbour who’s looking for a lost ball, a representative from a utility company (water, gas, electricity or telephone) or even an official, including a police officer or council official.
The bogus person makes up a story to gain entry into a property and will often distract you whilst they or an accomplice steals personal or valuable items including purses, wallets, jewellery and cash.
Members of the public are invited to meet their officers from their local Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and Trading Standards Officers, from 9am to 1pm, at events in the following locations:
• Blandford Forum: Tesco, Stour Park, DT11 9PU
• Bournemouth (Moordown): Co-op store, Wimborne Road, BH9 2BN
• Bournemouth (Southbourne): Lloyds Bank, 2 Southbourne Grove, BH6 3RP
• Bournemouth (Westbourne): NatWest Bank, 86 Poole Road, BH4 9EF
• Bridport: TSB, 9 West Street, DT6 3QL
• Christchurch: Saxon Square Shopping Centre, BH23 1QA
• Dorchester: Barclays Bank, 10 South Street, DT1 1BT
• Gillingham: Waitrose, Chantry Fields, SP8 4UA
• Poole: B&Q, Fleets Lane, Fleetsbridge, BH15 3BN
• Shaftesbury: Tesco, Christy’s Lane, SP7 8PF
• Stalbridge: Dike & Son, Ring Street, DT10 2RG
• Wareham: Sainsbury’s, South Street, BH20 4NX
• Wimborne: Waitrose, Rowlands Hill, BH21 1AN
• Weymouth: Sainsbury’s, Mercury Road, DT3 5BJ
Inspector Ernie Henley, said: “Our engagement day aims to make as many people as possible aware of what doorstep crime is and how to avoid becoming a victim.
“We want to provide help and advice to the public in order to prevent them, or people they know, from becoming victims to distraction burglary and rogue traders. All too often, the most vulnerable members of our communities fall prey to these criminals.
“Dorset Police is working with our partner agencies to protect the public from such crimes and bring offenders to justice.
“We’d like to encourage everyone to come along to one of our events and speak to their local Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT)and Trading Standards officers about doorstep crime, or anything else you wish to know about.
“We would like to thank the various businesses across Dorset for allowing us to use their facilities to help us get this important message out to our communities.”
James Norman, Regulatory Team Manager at Trading Standards added: “Rogue traders prey on the most vulnerable in society, conning them out of vast sums of money for unnecessary and overpriced work.
“In many cases this is their life savings. When someone falls foul of a rogue trading scam, research shows it has a seriously detrimental effect on the victim’s health and their confidence.
“If you need a trader to carry out any work around your home, however small, visit our Buy with Confidence website to find a Trading Standards Approved Trusted Trader.”
Dorset Police is working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, to establish ‘Safe Havens’, a local initiative which aims to make people with dementia and related conditions safe in their communities and homes.
The Safe Havens will be located in approved care homes or day centres, where anyone who is living with dementia and other related conditions can temporarily go if they are confused in public and are unable to provide sufficient information to be taken home.
Police officers or Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will escort the individual to the Safe Haven and ensure they receive the appropriate care from staff there. The officer will only leave when all parties agree that it is in the individual’s best interest to do so.
Dorset Police and Alzheimer’s Society are looking for care homes and day centres to be part of the scheme. The locations will be open to people with dementia and other related conditions that members of the public, PCSOs or police officers have concerns about, or who have self-presented to a location such as a shop.
Alzheimer’s Society research, carried out with people who have dementia, asked participants what they felt were the biggest barriers to taking part in their local community. The research revealed that nearly 70 per cent were concerned about becoming confused and lost while in public (Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Report, 2013).
The Safe Havens project aims to address these concerns and make people who have dementia related conditions feel comfortable and assured in their local areas.
Jo Malyon, Services Manager at Alzheimer’s Society in Dorset, said: “Safe Havens are part of a wider project seeking to keep people with dementia safe, but also to improve their ability to remain independent and have choice and control over their lives.
“We want to ensure that communities across Dorset are dementia-friendly. For this, we need commitment from across the community, so it is hugely important that we can work alongside our neighbourhood police.
“According to research we carried out in 2014, 34 per cent of people with dementia did not feel a part of their community. We know this is partly because they lack confidence and are concerned they will become confused when they are out in public.
“We hope that this joint initiative will help mitigate these concerns and bring people who may feel lonely or isolated back into the community.”
Simon Thorneycroft, Mental Health Co-ordinator at Dorset Police, added: “Dorset Police is proud to be working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society and Dorset Dementia Action Alliance.
“The Safe Havens will allow the police to provide a secure and comfortable setting for vulnerable individuals, while they make enquiries to identify them and ensure they receive the right care.
“The locations will all be voluntary and their assistance is key to making the scheme work.
“The scheme clearly demonstrates that partners working together can provide appropriate assistance of the highest standard to individuals and their families at times of great concern, which can be very distressing.”
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Martyn Underhill, is the Chair of the PCC Mental Health Working Party. He said: “Dementia affects one in every 79 people across the country and, with an aging population in Dorset, it is vital we safeguard every member of our community, especially our most vulnerable.
“Safe Havens provide a welcoming environment for those living with dementia and other related conditions and I would encourage as many organisations as possible to support the scheme.”
Care homes or day centres who are interested in supporting the scheme should contact Alzheimer’s Society in Dorset by email to admindorset@alzheimers.org.uk or by phone at 01202 764352.
If you, or someone you know, is worried about dementia, you can call Alzheimer’s Society’s National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or email helpline@alzheimers.org.uk
At approximately 1100 on Sunday 1st May 2016 a Road Traffic Collision occurred on Lower Street, Okeford Fitzpaine. It has been report to Dorset Police a tractor has caused damage to several properties damaging the power supply, a wall and guttering. The driver of the tractor has failed to report the collision and Dorset Police are looking for any information or witnesses to come forward to help with the investigation. We believe a Blue New Holland tractor possibly a TM8360 or TM 8260 was involved, it had orange chain harrow on the rear. The driver of the tractor is described as in his 60’s, balding with grey hair and short with a large build. Please call Dorset Police on 101 or crime stoppers on 0800 555 11 quoting occurrence number 55160072720.
Thank You.
Blandford NPT Team.
This message is sent on behalf of Victim Support.
Set up over 40 years ago, Victim Support is the oldest and largest national charity for victims of crime across England and Wales, their family, friends and anyone else affected. We speak out as a national voice for victims and witnesses and campaign for change.
Every year we offer help to victims and witnesses, whatever crime they’ve suffered, whenever it happened and whether or not they’ve told the police. We help victims and witnesses find the strength to move on with their lives. Do you think you could become one of our Volunteers? Are you good at listening, empathetic, patient and supportive? Our services include giving emotional support and help to victims, providing information so people can find their way around the criminal justice system and helping with applications for criminal injuries compensation.
With our network of specially trained volunteers throughout Dorset, we work hard to make sure that every victim and witness gets the help and support they need, in a way that suits them. We help victims come to terms with what has happened and how they feel. We tell them about the options and choices they have and give practical support to help people move on with their lives. All this is free and confidential.
If you have some spare time during the week and want to help local people we can train you to help them move Beyond Crime.
For further information please do contact: vs.dorset@victimsupport.org.uk or telephone 0300 303 0163
Thank You.
Please follow the link below to see a copy of the latest Neighbourhood Policing Team Newsletter for May 2016 –
Officers are trying to locate a quad bike that was stolen from a property near Sturminster Newton and are appealing to the public for information.
The quad bike was taken from a property between Manston and Child Okeford overnight between Monday 25 April and Tuesday 26 April 2016.
It is described as a blue and black Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI 2007 model with a winch fitted to the front.
Police Constable Pat McLoughlin, of North Dorset police, said: “I am appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area to please contact me.
“I would also like to speak to anyone who may have been offered a quad bike matching the description in suspicious circumstance.”
No arrests have been made.
Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 26:51. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud have noticed a rise in the reporting of pets, and in particular puppies and kittens, being advertised for sale via popular online auction websites. The fraudsters will place an advert of the pet for sale, often claiming that the pet is currently held somewhere less accessible or overseas. Upon agreement of a sale, the suspect will usually request an advance payment by money transfer or bank transfer. However, the pet does not materialise and the fraudster will subsequently ask for further advanced payments for courier charges, shipping fees and additional transportation costs. Even if further payments are made, the pet will still not materialise as it is likely that the pet does not exist.
Protect Yourself:
If you have been affected by this, or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk |
Within the past 24 hours a number of businesses throughout the UK have received extortion demands from a group calling themselves ‘Lizard Squad’.
Method of Attack:
The group have sent emails demanding payment of 5 Bitcoins, to be paid by a certain time and date. The email states that this demand will increase by 5 Bitcoins for each day that it goes unpaid.
If their demand is not met, they have threatened to launch a Denial of Service attack against the businesses’ websites and networks, taking them offline until payment is made.
The demand states that once their actions have started, they cannot be undone.
What to do if you’ve received one of these demands:
If you are experiencing a DDoS right now you should:
Get Safe Online top tips for protecting your business from a DDoS:
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud have noticed a rise in the reporting of victims being recruited via Facebook to sell items for suspects on eBay – often stating that it is a quick way of making money.
The items are said to be bankrupt stock, purchased via auctions, and need to be sold on quickly. The majority of the items reported have been Apple Mac Book Pro/Electrical Items.
The victim places the items on eBay and once the items are sold, the victim will get paid and transfer the funds to the suspect/recruiter.
Once the suspect/recruiter gets the funds, the purchasers are claiming that they have received empty cereal boxes or often no goods at all, leaving the victim being reported as the actual suspect, and leaving them out of pocket as their account will be debited.
Protect yourself:
If you, or anyone you know, have been affected by this fraud or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk
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