3, 11,13,16,18, 50, – Criminals winning lottery numbers in Kenilworth
Criminals have won the lottery in Kenilworth, or at least they must think they have with the help being given to them to commit crime by over 50% of the town’s residents. In less than a month the town has become a magnet for thieves who have quickly realised there are rich pickings to had by just visiting peoples drives because so many people are leaving items such a seat navs and laptops in vehicles.
3 Types of items are attracting thieves Sat Navs, Laptops and “other valuables” – 1 thing in common is that they are all being left in vehicles by their owners.
11 All the crimes that we are referring to here this morning have taken place in the 11th month November.
13 The year in the 21st century, 2013 has seen Neighbourhood Watch and Kenilworth’s Safer Neighbourhood Team stress time and time again not to leave garage doors open with property on show or leave valuable items in vehicles. To the criminals delight the message is not getting through.
16 Is the number of thefts that have taken place in November involving the taking of property from motor vehicles with also a couple of opportunist burglaries thrown in.
18 The number of days in November that the 16 crimes have taken place. Kenilworth is now being targeted nearly daily by criminals and its little wonder when past success encourages them that a repeat visit is unlikely to mean them leaving empty handed.
50 Over 50% of the crimes reported involving the taking of property from motor vehicles are either from insecure (unlocked) vehicles or where there are obvious signs of valuable property inside.
Crown Watch is appealing to all residents of the town to wake up to what is going on in their neighbourhood and to stop, think and act.
STOP – Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it can’t or won’t.
THINK – Go through your current routine and what you do, Is there something that you do that could or does make it easy for a criminal. Leaving the sat nav or laptop in your vehicle? Leaving your garage doors open displaying your property?
ACT – When you have stopped and thought then ACT. Change that routine, don’t leave valuables in your vehicles, anywhere – and that most definitely means your drive at home. too! Keep doors shut and check you have sensible precautions such as burglar alarms and security lighting that comes on when someone approaches your property.
If we all make it difficult for criminals then they will soon get the message. At the moment too many are making it easy for them and that’s why they keep coming back for more!
If you have any information about any of the crimes that have taken place over November, perhaps you may have seen something, someone or a vehicle acting suspiciously please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or anonymously using Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Timely Crime Alerts helping Kenilworth
Last week Crown Watch raised the receipt of crime alerts that were, in some case, weeks old. In a letter to Warwickshire Chief Constable, Andy Parker, the editor set out the frustration felt by some Neighbourhood Watch volunteers thata notification of crimes were not coming through on a timely basis. Chief Constable Parker has responded very promptly and openly admitting there have and are some problems and he has requested an investigation be carried out. In the meantime Crown Watch would like to thank the Chief Constable for his prompt action and reply. Further since raising the issue more crime alerts have come through and these have been very much more up to date and consequently more usual and credible.
Here is what Chief Constable Parker said on Monday 25 November in respect of the concerns raised last week:
Thank you for your open letter regarding the timeliness of the ‘Watch’ scheme notifications you have been receiving. This issues you raise are very important, as the timely distribution of information about crimes is essential in preventing further offences taking place, and also in appealing for potential witnesses or other essential information.
A 12 day delay is clearly not acceptable for all the reasons you describe. I very much appreciate all the work that is done by Neighbourhood Watch volunteers in Kenilworth and across the county, and we should be doing everything we can to support you in these efforts.
In order to resolve these problems, I have asked for an immediate review of the processes involved, and for any improvements to be made as soon as possible. This should significantly improve the timeliness of the notifications to all our users, and I will ensure that you are updated with the changes that are made.
Warwickshire Police also use a number of other channels, including Twitter to communicate with our local communities. The twitter account @kenilworth_cops is operated by the Kenilworth and Warwick Rural East Safer Neighbourhood Teams and contains lots of local information and news that you may find helpful.
I would like to thank you again for bring this issue to my attention, and I hope that you will soon start to see improvements in the timeliness of our messages.kind regards
Andy Parker
Chief Constable
Warwickshire Police
6 More Thefts in One Night across Kenilworth
Incident 61 of 25 November
During the night of 24 into 25 November, offenders entered a Nissan vehicle parked outside a home in Clinton lane and stole a wallet containing a driving licence and an AA card from the glove box.
Incident 66 of 25 November
During the same night, offenders entered a BMW vehicle parked in Malthouse Lane and stole a 3 credit cards and a driving licence from the centre console.
Incident 129 of 25 November
Again on the same night, offenders entered two vehicles parked on a driveway at another home in Malthouse Lane and searched them before making off with a sat nav and some loose coins.
Incident 255 of 25 November
Again on the same night, offenders entered a Rover vehicle parked in Amherst Road and stole a sat nav.
Incident 70 of 25 November
Yet again on the same night, offenders entered a secure Citroen vehicle parked in Chatsworth Grove and stole a sat nav, chequebook and bankcard.
Incident 190 of 25 November
Again on the same night, offenders entered an insecure vehicle parked outside a home in Crackley Crescent, Kenilworth and searched it. Nothing was stolen.
Warwickshire Police
Bike Thefts in Kenilworth
Owners of bikes, particularly the more expensive off road type cycles that can cost several hundreds and in some case thousands of pounds are being warned by Warwickshire Police’s Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhood Team to take all possible precautions to keep their bikes secure. This follows a spate of bicycle thefts in the town recently.
It is believed that the bikes are being stolen and then being sold on at marked down prices so this indicates there is a ready market for stolen cycles, a crucial element for thief who needs to obtain goods they can get rid of for cash. Please DO NOT make it easy for thieves by leaving garage doors open and bicycles on show or leaving bicycles insecure either whilst out of them or when they are your home.
Make sure that the bicycle is locked with a suitably robust locking device and that it is kept in a secure building and out of sight. Don’t put off checking your cycle security or else you may be the next victim.

