Over the past couple of days a number of telephone landline numbers in and around Kenilworth have been called by persons purporting to be calling from Microsoft Windows. They open the conversation by saying that they are ringing you from “Windows” about a problem with your “Windows” computer.

Their intention is to get you talking and suggest you need to do certain things to your computer to resolve a problem that has happened and has been detected on their system (a problem you never knew you had!). It’s a SCAM – they will then ask you to spend money to buy an upgrade to the fix the problem and then another problem occurs and more money is requested and so on. Where this has happened in the past some people have been tricked into spending over £1000!

Microsoft Windows and indeed Apple DO NOT call customers at home. Kenilworth residents are strongly advised to cut the call once the person says they are ringing from Windows. Don’t listen to what they are saying because they can be very persuasive. Remember, they are criminals – all they want is to steal your money!

Please ensure that you warn your friends and neighbours of this menace, especially older people who might not receive this warning.

Kenilworth and Burton Green residents are advised to keep a lookout for suspicious activity. Over the past two days there have been two incidents.

Crackley Hill, Kenilworth

At approx 15.00hrs on Tuesday 17/03/2015 a break in took place on a house on Crackley Hill, Kenilworth.The offender/s came in via the front door by smashing a small glass pane in the door to gain access .
It seems that the offenders were disturbed when the house owner returned using the rear door at approx 15.30. The offender/s must have made their exit via the front leading onto Coventry Road.
Any information on this please call 101 quoting incident 0215 -17/03/2015.

Cromwell Lane, Burton Green

At approximately 16.00 hrs Wednesday 18/3/2015, a burglary took place at a residence in Cromwell Lane, Burton Green.

Two males were seen going into a side gate to the property and were also seen leaving minutes later. Also mentioned was a vehicle that was seen at the location, believed to be a Black Seat Leon or similar . The males description was as follows: one male tall white wearing denin jeans and one male wearing a blue track suit. One of these males was possibly seen running off towards the Greenway and the vehicle possibly headed towards Tile Hill.

Any information please call 101 , quoting incident no – 0272 – 18/3/15.

Kenilworth residents are warned to keep a keen eye out for suspicious persons that show too much interest by loitering around and looking at property and buildings. The warning comes after three burglaries took place in different parts of the town in the last few days.

On Monday 23 February at approximately 20:50hrs a vehicle and garage was entered in Borrowell Lane, Kenilworth. Tools were stolen.

On Wednesday 25 February overnight entry was made to two outbuildings on a farm on the Birmingham Road, Kenilworth. Bolt cutters were used on the perimeter gates and locks to sheds. A machine welder and small set of ladders were taken.

Further, on Wednesday 25 February in the early evening. Entry was gained into two outbuildings on a farm off Dalehouse Lane, Kenilworth. A cooking stove and assorted tools were stolen. Information has also been given to the police suggesting that a silver Saab was seen parked in a drive way near the location of the incident.

Crown Watch would advise landowners and all residents with outbuildings to check they are secure and adequately protected from criminal attack. Equipment kept in such outbuildings needs to be out of site if possible and also locked/immobilise in addition.

If you have any information about these crimes then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Kenilworth Residents are being warned about a “Postcard Scam” that involves a false message encouraging the recipient to telephone a number to collect a parcel the postcard suggests is being held for them.

The postcard advises there is a £10 fee (sometimes it can be a different amount) to be paid and this can be done by credit card. This is a complete scam and residents are warned not to fall for it.

Crown Watch advises:

• Ignore the postcard
• Do NOT telephone the number suggested
• Do NOT provide credit/bank card details

Royal Mail and all main parcel delivery companies DO NOT require money to deliver a parcel or a payment ahead of you being told you can collect it.

Please take time to warn any vulnerable or elderly neighbour, friend or relation so they can protect themselves from being fooled by the criminals operating this scam.

Warwickshire Police is urging people to be alert following a series of phone scams, in which a bogus police officer calls to say that there is a problem with the victim’s bank card.

On Wednesday 4^th February, bogus calls were made to three people in Leamington Spa from a man pretending to be a police officer from Scotland Yard. On each occasion, he told the victim that their bank card was being used by criminals in Birmingham. He asked the victims to call 999 in order to verify his identity, but he remained on the line so if they had attempted to ring 999 potential victims might have thought they had got through to the real 999 service and police as he would imitate it.

In previous instances these scammers have asked the victims to call their bank, but remained on the line again fooling victims into thinking they had got through to their bank and thus convincing them to hand over bank details. Fortunately in each of yesterday’s incidents, no one handed over any personal details.

Warwickshire Police is urging people to be vigilant to the scam, which is often targeted at elderly people.

Detective Chief Inspector Sean Paley said “We are continually urging people to be vigilant to the scam. Please remember:

• Police officers, and banks never ask for account details or PINs over the phone.
• Police officers, and banks never come around to your house to collect bank/credit cards or property.

We would encourage anyone with elderly relatives or friends to mention this and talk to them about this scam so they are aware and can be on their guard.

If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and call police on 101 using another telephone (because if the scammer does not put the phone down at their end they are still likely to be on the line when the receiver it picked back by the potential victim to make an outgoing call).

If you do not have a mobile or secondary phone then go to or alert a neighbour, friend or relative and ask to use their telephone.

Always be vigilant and ensure that when you pick up your phone to make a call check you can hear the normal dialling tone. If the line is silent or a voice speaks to you then the scammer is still present, don’t respond and replace the receiver.

If it’s an emergency please dial 999