Author: Fraser Pithie

Please be aware that between 16.30hrs and 17.30hrs on Sunday 4 October 2020 offenders smashed the rear nearside window of  a Ford Ranger motor vehicle while it was parked on Crackley Lane, Kenilworth. The offenders made an untidy search of the vehicle and stole a handbag that included a purse and bank cards.

This is incident 275 of 4 October 2020

Please be aware that between 18.00hrs and 21.00hrs on Sunday 4 October 2020 offenders smashed the rear nearside window of a white Vauxhall Viva  motor vehicle that was parked at Abbey End, Kenilworth. The offenders stole a purse from inside the vehicle.

This is incident 362 of 4 October 2020

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious or have any information about either of these incidents then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

IT’S A PHRASE that one hears now and again and usually when a crime has taken place. The reality is that despite their best efforts Warwickshire Police cannot prevent every crime from taking place. Wherever people live, the combination of opportunist criminals and some residents that don’t realise how easy a target they maybe is often all that is needed for someone to become a victim of crime.

On a number of occasions, particularly on some social media platforms, there are comments that suggest Kenilworth has no police presence ‘because there is no police station’. The fact is there is a police presence in Kenilworth in two forms. Firstly, there is the Safer Neighbourhood Team who ARE based in Kenilworth. In addition, there is an emergency response team assigned to Kenilworth and the surrounding area 24/7. So, there IS a police presence in and around Kenilworth.

There will always be a minority of people that will complain about the police and their service, that is of course their right to do so, and in some cases things will need to be addressed because mistakes can be made.

We at Kenilworth Watch have criticised and held the police to account in the past, and publicly, about timely information related to crime. However, we recognise the need to be balanced and fair in anything we say. What we do know is that for over two years Kenilworth has had a committed and forward thinking Safer Neighbourhood Team who are engaged with the local community and know the area and its issues well. That’s why today we wanted to share with you some of the activities that have been going on in and around Kenilworth in the last few days.

Earlier this week some of the SNT, namely PC’s Anna Brown, Steve Jones, Joe Gordon and PCSO Rachael Clayton recovered two separate sets of property arising from recent local burglaries. An arrest was also made of a person who was found to be carrying an offensive weapon and who was believed to be committing a burglary. Other offences are also being investigated.

On Friday, (2 October 2020) PC Jones and PCSO Clayton found themselves behind a vehicle on the Warwick Road in Kenilworth where the registered keeper was showing as wanted for an offence of false imprisonment and other offences. They followed the vehicle and stopped it in Kenilworth and the driver was arrested by PC Jones.

In addition, this week police teams have attended reports of domestic violence situations, incidents involving theft, sudden deaths, road traffic collisions, telephone scams and suspicious activity reports to name but a few. Many of these types of incidents require several hours of detailed work by officers to resolve or progress appropriately.

Just because most of us don’t see this sort of stuff going on doesn’t mean there is not a police presence or indeed police activity going on in and around our town. Great results like those we have just shared don’t just happen, they occur after investigation, foot work, attention to detail and getting out and about and pursuing criminals. Kenilworth Watch wants to place on record its thanks to all those in Warwickshire Police who come to work and book onto their shifts to protect our lives and our property and for being prepared to place themselves at risk doing so.

THANK YOU.

Kenilworth Watch are pleased to report that work by Kenilworth’s Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) earlier today (Tuesday 29 September 2020) led to PC Gordon, PC Brown and PC Jones of Kenilworth SNT, making an arrest for burglary and seizing items of property at an address in the town.

Enquiries following other recent incidents in Kenilworth led officers to a burglary in progress. An offender was located inside the property and arrested by PC Gordon. During a search of the property a male was also found to be in possession of an offensive weapon.

RESIDENTS are advised to be aware of bogus Covid -19 Testing telephone calls that are being made by telephone. These calls are bogus and are being made by people with the criminal intent to deceive callers and make payment from there bank account or credit cards.

Please ensure that any elderly or vulnerable persons that you may care for or know are advised to put the phone receiver down and make sure that when they pick it back up there is a dialling tone. These bogus “Covid-19 Test & Trace” calls are VERY plausible and there is genuine concern that some people could be easily tricked into providing their bank account /credit card details.

This is an example call which has received by someone who realised it was bogus, despite the householder realising the call was suspicious and thus challenged the caller you will note how persistent the caller was:

Caller: Good afternoon I’m calling from the NHS track and trace service. According to our system, you are likely to have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This means that you now need to self-isolate for 7 days and take a COVID-19 test.

Householder: OK. Can you tell me who that person was?

Caller: I’m not able to tell you that. That is confidential information. But you do need to be tested within the next 72 hours. So can I just get the best mailing address so that we can send a kit to you?

Householder: OK (gives address)

Caller: I just need to take a payment card so that we can finalise this and send the kit to you.

Householder: Sorry – a payment card? I thought this was all free?

Caller: No – I’m afraid not. There is a one-off fee of £50 for the kit and test results. Could you read off the long card number for me, please, when you’re ready.

Householder: No – that’s not right. This is part of the NHS so there’s no charge.’

Caller: I’m afraid there is. Can you give me the card number please – this is very important, and there are penalties for not complying.

The telephone call was then terminated by the householder.

The above demonstrates how plausible such a call could be and how it could worry some people especially with the added concern arising from Covid -19 situation. Please be aware of this and other similar scams.

PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE BANK, CREDIT CARD OR EVEN YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS, SUCH AS DATE OF BIRTH OR YOUR ADDRESS, TO UNEXPECTED TELEPHONE CALLS.

Please be aware that 1700hrs and 2145hrs on Saturday 26 September 2020 offenders have stolen a blue Mercedes B180 motor vehicle that was parked outside an address at Tainters Hill, Kenilworth.

This is incident 370 of 26 September 2020

Please be aware that offenders smashed the side window of Ford Fiesta motor vehicle that was parked Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth. The offenders stole a bag that was inside the vehicle and which contained several items.

This is incident 219 of 26 September 2020

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious or have any information about either of these incidents then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111