Warwickshire Police have advised us today that they have taken a number of calls from Kenilworth residents who have reported being contacted by HMRC via their telephone.

These calls are a SCAM! It is simple HMRC do not routinely contact people by telephone. Please be advised not to give any personal information to any such caller and to terminate the telephone call immediately.

Please also ensure that elderly or vulnerable individuals you know or care for are also advised so they do not fall victim to these criminals.

Warwickshire Police have now been confirmed the details concerning our previous Crime Alert and its clear that a number of vehicles were targeted by criminals in two locations primarily on the night of the 4 to 5 August.

These events highlight, once again, that criminals are operating in our area and neighbourhoods and we all should keep a keen eye and ear out for the unusual or suspicious. These latest events reinforce messages previously put out about protecting property and vehicles as much as possible and NOT leaving any valuables inside unattended motor vehicles. The details are as follows:

Southbank Road, Kenilworth

During the night of 4 into 5 August, offenders broke into two vehicles parked on the driveway of a home in Southbank Road, Kenilworth.  Damage was caused to one of the vehicles but nothing appears to have been stolen. Incident 121 of 5 August 2018

Incident 167 of 5 August – During the same night, offenders broke into a vehicle parked outside another home in Southbank Road.  Once inside, the offenders carried out an untidy search of the glovebox and door pockets but nothing appears to have been stolen. Incident 167 of 5 August 2018

Lawrence Gardens (Off School Road) Kenilworth

During the night of 4 into 5 August an offender, swearing gloves, climbed into a vehicle parked outside a home in Lawrence Gardens, Kenilworth and stole cash from the ashtray of the vehicle. Incident 170 of 5 August 2018

Between 5 and 6am on 5 August, a parked on the driveway of another home in Lawrence Gardens was also entered by an offender who smashed the nearside front window and activated the intruder alarm.  The offender carried out a search before making off with a small amount of cash. Incident 440 of 5 August 2018

Southbank Road, Kenilworth

At just after 9.30pm on 6 August, offenders entered the driveway of a home in Southbank Road, Kenilworth and attempted to open the boot of a vehicle parked there.  The security light at the house was activated and the offenders, a male and a female,  quickly made off.  Nothing was stolen. Incident 500 of 5 August  2018

If you think you may have seen or heard something that might be connected with any of these incidents please contact Warwickshire Police on 101.

Over the past few days and nights criminals have continued to operate across Kenilworth. The majority of criminal activity has concerned the theft of motor vehicles, and/or property from them. These latest incidents have occurred across different parts of the town.

Moss Grove, Kenilworth – Incident 81 of 29 June 2018.                                                       Overnight of 28/29 June 2018, offenders stole a Toyota vehicle from the driveway of a home in Moss Grove, Kenilworth.  The owner of the vehicle still has the keys.

Randall Road, Kenilworth – Incident 106 of 30 June 2018.                                            During the night of 29 into 30 June 2018, offenders broke into the carport of a home in Randall Road, Kenilworth and stole a bicycle and a laptop computer.

Lower Ladyes Hill, Kenilworth – Incident 119 of 1 July 2018.                                      Overnight 30 June/1 July 2018, offenders broke into a home in Lower Ladyes Hills Kenilworth through a cellar window.  The offenders then entered the hallway of the house and stole the keys to an Audi vehicle.  The offenders made off back through the window and used the keys to steal the vehicle from outside.

Herbert Bond Drive (off Clinton Lane), Kenilworth – Incident 55 of 2 July 2018  Between midnight and 6am on 2 July, offenders broke into a vehicle parked on the driveway of a home in Herbert Bond Drive, Kenilworth and stole several items from inside.

We need to help ourselves and deter these crimes as much as possible. While Kenilworth Watch will continue to press police for a greater presence equally we must emphasise that there are a number of things that householders can do to deter criminals and save themselves from becoming the next victim. Ask any of those victims of crime in Kenilworth if they thought it would happen to them and most will say they “NO” – but it did!

There are some key points for residents to consider;

• If you treasure your vehicle then consider investing in a decent immobilisation system. If you have paid thousands of pounds for your vehicle then why are you loathe to spend a further £110 on something like this Disklok that really puts off car thieves. They are simply not going to try and spend time trying to get this off your steering wheel which they need to do to steal your vehicle.
• Don’t leave ANY valuables in your vehicle event though it might be outside your home and/or on your drive. If you own a van then reverse the vehicle up against another vehicle or your home so its virtually impossible to open the rear doors.

• If you have a keyless entry system for your motor vehicle or keys that act like a remote control to lock and unlock your vehicle then consider investing in a ‘Faraday Cage” or signal blocker pouch – a metal box or metal covered pouch that prevents thieves intercepting and ‘talking to your car keys’ whilst they are in your home. These are available upon Amazon for under £10 – again if you have paid thousands for your vehicle why not pay a few more pounds to help keep it safe.

• Don’t put your car keys down just inside the front door. Thieves know all the tricks and if they are really interested in your car they will try their best to steal it. Fishing through letter boxes to hook up keys is one of their techniques – Don’t make it easy for them.

• Consider a ‘monitored’ burglar alarm, they can cost under £1 a day and they deter thieves from ‘visiting’ your home. 

If you have any information regarding these latest events in this alert then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101.

Two incidents took place in the early hours of Friday morning (22 June) in Kenilworth leading involving an attempted burglary and a burglary that led to two motor vehicles being stolen.

These events demonstrate that offenders are in our midst and looking for opportunities to commit crime against householders and householders property.

Attempted Burglary – Butchers Row, Kenilworth

At just after 02.30hrs on 22 June, three youths, all in dark clothing attempted to break into a home in Butchers Row, Kenilworth.  The noise woke the occupants of the house and the offenders made off down Monmouth Close towards Elmbank.

Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth

At 02.45hrs on 22 June, the residents of a home in Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth heard a banging noise at the front door and then saw two of their vehicles being driven off the driveway.  The offenders had smashed through the front door and stolen the keys to the vehicles.

Residents are advised to remain vigilant at all times. If you have any information about either of these events please contact Warwickshire Police on 101.