Area Overview / General Information

Over October crime reports have increased slightly compared to September. Theft by shoplifting continues to remain an issue within Broomhill shopping centre, however there has been recent detections and police remain committed to ensuring there is a police presence within this area

Theft of Keyless Entry Cars

As mentioned last month there continues to be issues with regards to the theft of vehicles that use keyless entry, mainly 4x4’s, with 1 report in Broomhill again this month. Reports have seen vehicles taken overnight from both driveways and the street, where offenders are using relay devices whilst standing outside a property to manipulate the signal from the keycards that are inside, before gaining access to the vehicles and driving off without the need for any keys. By placing your keycard inside a “Faraday” pouch, this prevents the offenders from picking up a signal and bypassing the security of the vehicle. Faraday boxes are also beneficial if you have several keys within your property and wish to house them in a secure way. Both are readily available from a number of retailers online.

Bonfire night protocol

With regards to bonfire night approaching, community police officers have been working closely with our partners and local residents to ensure that legislation surrounding the sale of fireworks and usage have been clearly communicated

  • Campus officers have assisted in the delivery of Scottish Fire Rescue Service presentations to secondary pupils in local school

  • Letters have been sent to parents and pupils regarding the dangers of anti-social behaviour involving fireworks and responsible parenting

  • Hotspot areas have been identified from previous years and getting extra attention, as well as letter drops with the assistance of Police Scotland Young Volunteers regarding the reporting anti-social behaviour, crimestopper info and reporting bulk waste being prepared etc

  • Our Divisional Violence Reduction Unit have been patrolling hotspot area

  • Review of current firework calls being fed into central hub so patrols can be effectively directed next weeken

  • Visits to licensed and unlicensed premises to ensure compliance with selling legislation

‘Ex-offender’ Cold Callers

There have been a few incidents across the west end in recent months relating to cold callers as per the following scam.

The Scam

There has recently been an increase across Scotland in reports of cold callers who say they are selling goods door-to-door as part of an ’ex-offender rehabilitation scheme’.

In some cases, the callers say they have just been released from prison or a young offenders institution and are selling goods to try and make some money before starting a college course. Others claim to be taking part in a Government scheme to help them obtain employment in sales.

They typically offer goods such as household cleaning products, gardening equipment or craft supplies. Some may ask for donations for ex-prisoners. If a householder does not have cash, the cold caller may provide bank account details so that they can transfer money.

Although some of these cold callers show some form of ID card, they often don’t have a pedlar’s certificate or a licence from the police to allow them to sell door-to-door in the local area. The goods they offer are usually of poor quality and overpriced.

How to Avoid

Never feel obliged to answer the door to a cold caller – it is your home and you should not let anyone in unless you feel comfortable.

If you do answer the door, verify that the person is genuine and take a note of the company’s details. ID cards can be faked – close the door and, rather than phoning the number on the ID card, look up the company’s number on their official website or in an official phone directory to check their identity. Legitimate callers will be happy to wait while you perform these checks.

If you feel uncomfortable or suspicious about a cold caller in your local area, phone Police Scotland on 101, or call 999 if you feel threatened.

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Crimes of Violence

There were no crime reports raised for violence committed over October.

Crimes of Dishonesty

There was 1 crime report raised for dishonesty committed over October

Crimes Against Property

There were 4 crimes against property reported this month including an attempt housebreaking, a vandalism and 1 theft of motor vehicle.

Drugs Use and Abuse

There were no drug cases reported this month.

Community intelligence is key to detecting and preventing drug supply. As always Crimestoppers is an invaluable tool in preventing crime:

www.crimestoppers-uk.org Tel: 0800 555 111

Road Traffic Matters

There were no Road Traffic matters reported this month.