Residents are advised that an aggravated burglary took place at approximately 9.30pm on Wednesday 5 September 2018. Two masked male offenders smashed the door of a property at Knowle Hill, Kenilworth and held the householders at knife point. They took the householders vehicle, an Audi Q5 together with bank cards and other valuables.

However, the vehicle stolen was fitted with a tracking device.  The tracking device was activated which enabled Warwickshire Police and West Midlands Police to track the stolen vehicle eventually leading to the vehicle’s recovery in the Aldermans Green area of Coventry.  Police are now looking for the two offenders and are keen to hear from anyone that may have seen or heard anything suspicious around the Knowle Hill area of Kenilworth around the time of the offence taking place.

This ability to recover the stolen vehicle following this crime is due to the owner taking security measures to protect their property, in this case a motor vehicle. While some of aspects of this event are of concern, particularly the presence and threat of knives, it does demonstrate that taking appropriate measures can help householders retain or recover property and help the police to detect offenders.

If you think you may have seen or heard anything related to this crime or have any information regarding it please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

This is Incident 472 of 5 September 2018 

Residents of Kenilworth are advised of the following issues:

Please be aware that between 2 September 2018 and 3 September 2018 a Range Rover Evoque was damaged by a large scratch being made along the vehicle from the front to rear wheel arch whilst parked in Arthur Street, Kenilworth.

This is Incident 198 of 3 September 2018.

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious that may be related to this event or have any information regarding it please contact Warwickshire Police on 101

In recent days  “Courier Scam” crimes have taken place in Warwickshire. Householders in the Kenilworth area are advised not to provide pin numbers to any caller on the telephone or to hand bank/credit cards to doorstep callers. The criminals operating this scam change their methods but typically say they are from HMRC or Bank or Building Societies.

Please note that NO organisations such as HMRC or Banks/Building Societies ask for pin numbers or send people round to addresses to pick up bank/credit cards.

One of the latest events, that has involved a victim in Warwickshire who has lost over £2000 as result, was caused by a telephone caller saying they were from HMRC. The victim was encouraged to purchase a ‘one for all’ gift card to the value of over £2000 from the Post Office and then provide the specific details over the phone enabling the criminal to access the funds.

These callers can sound very plausible and can easily fool people into thinking that they are dealing with official organisations. Please take care not to fall victim to these scams and if you care for an elderly or vulnerable person please stress to them that HMRC and Banks DO NOT telephone people at home asking for personal details or request them to purchase gift cards to pay off so-called debts .

If such a call is received simply put the phone down and always check when you pick the receiver back up that you have a dialling tone and that the caller is not still on the other end.

 

Despite countless appeals by us on our Crime Alerts some Kenilworth residents continue to leave valuables and items in motor vehicles and in some cases fail to lock the vehicles. Once again we would appeal to residents to NOT leave ANY items inside vehicles as thieves will break into vehicles if they think there are items of value inside.

On a more positive note our appeals for vigilance have been unlined by the actions of one Kenilworth resident who saw suspicious activity and called the police. Two individuals were apprehended and arrested on suspicion of theft. Details are given below after the latest crime/incident update.

Please be aware of the following thefts that have taken place recently in Kenilworth.

Thefts for Unattended Motor Vehicle

Between 5pm on 28 August 2018 and 8am on 29 August 2018 a handbag containing a number of personal and valuable items were taken from an insecure motor vehicle parked in Glebe Crescent, Kenilworth.   

This is Incident 130 of 29 August 2018

Bicycle Stolen

Between 22 August 2018 and 29 August 2018 a pedal cycle was stolen from a communal area of flats situated in Harbourne Close, Kenilworth. A chain securing the bicycle had been cut in two and left on the ground.

This is Incident 339 of 29 August 2018

Theft from Unattended Motor Vehicle

Between Wednesday 29 August 2018 and Thursday 30 August 2018 two insecure vehicles were entered by offenders on a property driveway at Waverley Road, Kenilworth and items inside the vehicles were removed. Two other vehicles on the same drive, that were secure, were not entered.

This event highlights the need to always secure vehicles and not leave items inside vehicles that can be taken.

This is Incident 0100 of 30 August 2018

Criminal Damage

Between 18.00hrs on Saturday 1 September 2018 and Sunday 2 September 2018 offender/s have damaged a black Skoda motor vehicle by scratching all along the offside of a black Skoda City parked in Quarry Road, Kenilworth.

Vehicle Number Plates Theft

Sometime during the past week front and rear vehicle registration plates have been removed from a Grey Peugeot parked on Avenue Road, Kenilworth.

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious or linked to any of these events or have information about them please contact Warwickshire Police on 101

Vigilance leads to Arrests

Two more arrests have taken place as part of Operation Highway, an initiative to tackle vehicle crime in Warwickshire. The arrests took place in the Abbey End area of Kenilworth in response to a report from a vigilant member of the public that two offenders were trying car door handles. The offenders entered a vehicle and stole a handbag and medicine from the vehicle.

Police Officers attended and arrested two 14-year-old boys, both from Kenilworth, on suspicion of theft.

Inspector Paul Speddings, who is leading on Op Highway, said: “We are determined to tackle vehicle crime within the county and in the past week alone, 19 arrests have been made as part of the operation.

“I’d ask the public to stay vigilant and to keep helping us to prevent these offences by ensuring vehicles are locked and valuables are not on display.”

Warwickshire Police have informed us of a burglary and attempted burglary that have taken place in Kenilworth over part of the Bank Holiday.

Burglary – Greville Road, Kenilworth

Please be aware that between approximately 24 August 2018 and 28 August 2018 offenders forced a rear patio door and entered a property on Greville Road, Kenilworth. An untidy search was made and the offenders left by the forced rear patio door.

No details are available regarding property taken.

This is Incident 0188 of 28 August 2018

Attempted Burglary – Mill End, Kenilworth

An attempted burglary took place overnight between Monday 27 August 2018 and Tuesday 28 August 2018. Offender/s have attempted to gain entry to a dwelling at Mill End, Kenilworth by trying to force a rear patio sliding door.

Being unsuccessful the offender/s have also tried to gain entry to the property by trying to force a ground floor rear window but failed. A security light was also interfered with the electrical wiring being ripped out. Both the door and window sustained considerable damage. Offender/s were unable to gain access to the dwelling.

This in Incident 0300 of 28 August 2018

Please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 if you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious or have information about either of these incidents.

Some homes have been targeted in Kenilworth over the past couple of weeks where occupants have been away on holiday. Kenilworth Watch News advises Kenilworth homeowners to be more conscious of things they can do, including being more neighbourly, to lessen the chance of becoming a victim of burglary and the distress and inconvenience it can cause. The latest crime, a burglary, has taken place in the last two days. The details are as follows:

Between 1830hrs on 24 August 2018 and 0820hrs on 25 August 2018 a home in Amherst Road, Kenilworth was burgled. Offender/s gained entry via a rear bathroom window after climbing up to the roof of a single storey extension at the rear of the property. An untidy search was made of the property both upstairs and downstairs. This is Incident 0097 of 25 August 2018.

Between 7 August and 17 August 2018 offenders gained entry to a home on Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth by smashing a window and damaging a window frame. A patio door had also been opened. It is unclear at this stage what may have been taken but the offenders made an untidy search of the property. This is Incident 401 of 17 August 2018.

Between Saturday 11 August and Saturday 18 August 2018 a home in Brookside Avenue, Kenilworth was broken into. Offender/s removed a panel from a rear UPVC door. It is not clear at this stage what was taken. This is Incident 389 of 18 August 2018.

Kenilworth Watch News suggests that the best and most effective things that residents can do to protect themselves from burglary, especially when they are away on holiday, are as follows:

• Arrange for a neighbour or nearby relative or friend to draw and undraw the curtains everyday. If you have left a car on the drive get the neighbour, relative or friend to move. park it slightly differently each day if possible.

 

• If being away means your car will not be on the drive then arrange, if possible for a neighbour, friend or relative to put their car on your drive.

 

• Arrange for the refuse/recycling bins to be placed out and taken back in as if you are at home. Don’t put them out days before or leave them after emptying in the street for days.

 

• Put one or two lights on timers to come on in the evening . Combined with the curtain routine above, this removes obvious signs that your home is unoccupied.

 

• If you are living next door to a home where your neighbours are away on holiday be extra vigilant. If you hear a noise, activity or see someone near or about the property that you don’t believe is a friend or relative calling in then put a call into the Police immediately on 999.

 

• Leave a radio on in the house, you can put the radio on a timer if its electric.

 

• Give serious consideration to installing  a monitored burglar alarm, they cost as little as just under a £1 a day. A monitored burglar alarm deters criminals because it heightens the risk of being caught.

In overall terms this is all about us all being more neighbourly, looking out for one another and one another homes and property. Most people who live in Kenilworth care about things and we’d suggest that such a asset in out community could be used even more by neighbours working together so they look out for one another at times when someone is planning a few days away. The more neighbourly we are as a community the less individuals and thus our community will suffer from being hit by crime.

If you have any information regarding the crimes listed above then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or you can contact CrimeStoppers  anonymously on 0800 555 111