SHROPSHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

SOUTH SHROPSHIRE SECTION Date May 2017 Please can we all remember that we live in a very low crime area, however, you may wish to view details of offences that have occurred in your areas. These figures are available on the new website www.police.uk, where you can search for your area and view the different incidents that have taken place over a particular period.

Heartless thieves target the Bridgnorth Community Bus.

All of the wheels from the Bridgnorth Community Bus have been stolen.

Sometime between the evening of 31st March and 1st April 2017, unknown offenders removed all of the wheels from the Bridgnorth Community Bus. The vehicle was parked overnight in the rear car park of the Council Offices on Stanley Lane, Bridgnorth.

The bus was a vital asset to the Charity the Bridgnorth Community Bus, for details of thecharity and the work it carries out, follow the link https://www.bridgnorthcommunitybus.org.uk/

If you have any information that may assist the Police in identifying the offenders, please call 101 and refer to incident 0521S 010417.

If you wish to pass information anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/

If you want to contact theSafer Neighbourhood Team you can email them at , but be aware that this email address should not be used to report an incident that requires an urgentPolice answer as it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

Anti Social Behaviour at the Play Area on the Gaskell Fields in Much Wenlock.

Broken glass and litter causes problems at the play area in Much Wenlock.

On the afternoon of Saturday 1st April 2017, a resident of Much Wenlock called the Police and Council to report problems at the play area on the Gaskell Field. A considerable quantity of broken glass and litter was making the area dangerous to be used for play.

The play area is part of a larger recreation facility that serves the residents of the town. http://www.muchwenlock-tc.gov.uk/assets/the-gaskell-recreation-ground/

There has been no report of any activity in the area in recent days; however, as a result of this incident the Safer Neighbourhood Team will be increasing patrol activity in the area. Anybody found behaving inappropriately in the area will be dealt with in the proper manner.

If you have witnessed anything that you think may help the Police with this investigation, please call 101 and refer to incident 0370S 010417. You can also call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 if you want to pass on information but wish toremain anonymous.

If you want to contact theSafer Neighbourhood Team you can email them at , but be aware that this email address should not be used to report an incident that requires an urgentPolice answer as it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

Please follow us on Twitter: @WenlockCops for updates to this story and others for the area.

Reports of dogs running out of control in the Broseley area.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team are investigating a recent attack on sheep by an out of control dog.

DOGS OUT OF CONTROL AND LIVESTOCK WORRYING

Most of the dog owners in the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) area are very responsible, however, this year SNT Officers have had to deal with a number of incidents which have involved dogs being out of control. As a result of the lack of control, these dogs have caused harm to other dogs and, in a few cases, to people. In all of these cases, the dog that has been the aggressor has not been on a lead and the owner of the dog has not been in good control of their dog. In a number of cases, the injuries to the dog that has been attacked have resulted in large vet’s bills, running into hundreds of pounds. Please be aware of the potential risk that an out of control dog represents and ensure that if you are a dog owner your dog is under good control at all times.

The SNT area has a large number of farms and privately owned fields with livestock on them. Every year the SNT officers have reports of numbers of livestock either injured or killed in dog attacks. There are also cases of dogs worrying livestock, but thankfully not causing harm. All of these incidents can result in horrendous suffering by the animals, which can die an agonising death. There is also a significant financial loss to the livestock owners.

You must be aware that any dog being walked near to livestock has the potential ability to worry livestock. If you are walking your dog in an area where livestock is present, ALWAYS keep your dog on a lead.

If your dog worries livestock you may be liable to prosecution, and subject of a fine. The courts also have the power to place a control or even a destruction order on your dog. Under The Animals Act 1971, if a dog is caught by the Landowner in the act of worrying livestock, the dog may be shot.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD AROUND LIVESTOCK, BUT LET GO OF THE LEAD IF CHASED BY CATTLE - THE DOG WILL LOOK AFTER HIMSELF AND YOU WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.

Definition of Act

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 is intended to prevent dogs terrorising and chasing farm animals. Sections 1 and 2 provide an offence for the owner of a dog to allow it to worry livestock on agricultural land. It states:

1(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if a dog worries livestock on any agricultural land, the owner of the dog, and, if it is in the charge of a person other than its owner, that person also, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

1(2) For the purposes of this Act "worrying livestock" means - (a) attacking livestock, OR (b) chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce, OR (c) being at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.

Burglary in the Neen Sollars area on Tuesday 28th March 2017.

A shed was broken into in the Neen Sollars area.

OnTuesday28thMarch 2017,West Mercia Policewere informed the theft from a shed of a quantity of garden power tools. It is clear that a vehicle must have been involved to take away the size and quantity of items stolen. The offence took place between 1:00am and 4pm on the 28th of March.

Other properties in the area may have been targeted in a similar manner, so if you live in the area it may be worth checking your sheds or gates.

Safer Neighbourhood Team Officers will attend the location to offer some practical crime prevention and security advice to the victim.

If you have any information that may be relevant to this incident, please call 101 and refer to incident 0528S 280317.

For more advice on home security, follow the link. https://www.westmercia.police.uk/Home-security

If you want to contact theSafer Neighbourhood Team you can email them at , but be aware that this email address should not be used to report an incident that requires an urgentPolice answer as it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

Please follow us on Twitter: @SouthShropCops for updates to this story and others for the area.

You can also call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 if you want to pass on information but wish remain anonymous.

Tips to Nip Garden Crime in the Bud

Although many people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they leave valuable equipment in gardens and unsecured sheds, providing easy pickings for opportunist thieves.

Effective garden security covers everything from boundary fences and gates to the valuables stored inside your shed.

Top Tips for a Safer Garden:

1. Gates, fences and walls should be kept in good repair to stop intruders getting in.

Boundary Tips:

·  Make sure rear garden fences are high enough to make climbing them difficult. A trellis can be used to add additional height.

·  Make sure side gates are positioned as close to the front of the house as possible. Thieves will be put off by the fact that they are in full view of the neighbours.

·  Grow prickly plants close to vulnerable areas such as windows, fences, boundary walls and drainpipes.

·  Don't leave expensive equipment like garden tools, mowers, mountain bikes and power tools in the shed.

·  If you have nowhere else to store valuable equipment, take measures to secure your shed.

Shed Security Tips:

·  Keep your shed in good condition.

·  Fit a closed shackle padlock to the door.

·  Fit grilles or mesh to the windows.

·  Invest in an alarm.

·  Large items such as bicycles are chained together. It is more difficult for a thief to carry away a lot of large heavy items all at once.

·  Ladders are locked to a secure fixture in the shed or garage.

2. Don't leave ladders and tools lying around in your garden - these could be used to break into your home.

3. Mark your garden tools and equipment with your postcode.

4. Well positioned external lighting is a great way of keeping intruders at bay and can be purchased from most large DIY stores.

Remember, household insurance polices should be checked to ensure they cover garden and shed equipment and whether or not any minimum security standards app

Garage Security Advice:

Garages and sheds are vulnerable to burglary, as they are generally quite flimsy structures, but they should not be forgotten. They are often the first places that a burglar will target, because they provide a ready source of tools and implements for breaking into the main house.

A few simple security measures can increase the visual deterrent and reduce the likelihood of garages and sheds being targeted.

·  metal up-and-over garage doors can be secured with additional purpose made locks fitted to either side, approximately 300mm up from the floor, to reduce the leverage points

·  an external floor mounted, solid steel locking 'T' bar with a closed shackle padlock, will offer a good visual deterrent and make it difficult to force the door open

·  wooden garage double doors can be secured with two substantial hasps and staples and closed shackle padlocks, one towards the top and one towards the bottom.

·  garage side or rear doors can be secured with British Standard 5-lever mortise locks and two internal mortise rack bolts, one towards the top and one towards the bottom to reduce the leverage points

Further advice is available at https://www.westmercia.police.uk/article/5368/Outbuildings

Burglaries reported at industrial site just off the A41, near to Shifnal, on 30th March 2017.

Burglars stole diesel and large batteries from a unit in the Shifnal area.

It has been reported to Police that between 6pmon Wednesday 29th and8am on Thursday 30th March 2017, unknown offendersgained access to a small industrial site just off the A41 and broke into two buildings on the site. As well as the damage caused, diesel and batteries were stolen from a generator in one of the buildings.

It is likely that a vehicle was used by those carrying out the burglary. If you have seen any vehicles behaving in a suspicious manner along the A41 near to Tong, please call 101 with any details that you have.

Police are actively patrolling the area as a result of previous suspicious and criminal activity in the area.

If you need to contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team on any other matter,please call 101 or email the Safer Neighbourhood Team at can also call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 if you want to remain anonymous.

Please follow us on Twitter: @ShifnalCops for updates to this story and others for the area.

Thefts from the coin operated entrance system of the Public toilets in Bridgnorth.

Police are investigating the theft of coins from public toilets in Bridgnorth.

On the morning of Tuesday 11th April 2017, Police were informed of the theft ofcoins from the coin operated public toilet near to Hospital Street, Bridgnorth. This follows previous thefts from coin operated public toilets elsewhere in Bridgnorth reported on the 10th of April 2017.

If you have seen anybody hanging around the public toilets in the last few days behaving in a suspicious manner, please call 101 and refer to police incident0122S 100417 or 0111S 110417.

You can also call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 if you want to remain anonymous.

Alternatively you canemail the Safer Neighbourhood Team at , but be aware that this email address should not be used to report an incident that requires an urgentPolice answer as it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

Please follow us on Twitter: @BridgnorthCops for updates to this story and others for the area.

Two uninsured vehicles seized by officers in Bridgnorth on 10th April 2017.

Police seized two uninsured cars in Bridgnorth last night.

On the evening of Monday 10th April 2017, Police on duty in Bridgnorth conducted checks on two vehicles and found that neither had any insurance. In order to keep other road users safe, both were seized and recovered by one of our partner companies.

The owners of the vehicles now have the choice of either sorting out their car insurance and paying to get the cars back, or leaving them to eventually get crushed. Either option will keep the roads safer than they were.

If you are aware of any illegally driven vehicles, please contact the Police on 101. Alternatively, you can also call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 if you want to remain anonymous.