KINGTON RURAL LOCAL POLICING TEAM
MONTHLY bulletin 17th November 2011

Recent Incidents: GOOD NEWS STORY THEFT: On the 9th of November 2011 offenders attended the Letton area and stole a Blue New Holland tractor. On the 16th of November 2011 the tractor was recovered along with other stolen  items and two men have been arrested and are currently in custody, and assisting Police with their enquiries. Theft: On the 15th of November 2011 Police received a report of theft of a Raleigh Pedal cycle and a metal wheelbarrow from the Monkland area. There are no identifying marks on these items. The Pedal cycle is described as very old with 3 gears. Halloween and Bonfire update: Kington Local Policing team are pleased to say that they received no calls regarding anti social behaviour, on the two nights involved. All of our rural villages were regularly patrolled and all though there was a large amount of young people out and about their behaviour was impeccable and they are to be applauded for this.

Press release from Herefordshire trading standards: Trading standards warning over top ten scams: 1. Doorstep crime - always top of the list, anyone who cold calls you for property repairs such as driveways, roofing, garden/tree surgery or any other work and charges excessive amounts for poor quality and unnecessary work. 2. Cold telephone calls falsely purporting to be from Microsoft, claiming you have a virus on your pc. They will take over your computer and charge you £80 when there is nothing wrong in the first place. 3. Small business scams: cold calls pushing advertising in fictitious publications for the emergency services or schools etc and then Sending you an invoice for £400. Also companies who cold call you claiming to be able to reduce your business rates and others who claim to get you top of the internet searches. 4. Calls falsely offering to get your credit card debts written off due to legal technicalities and then taking £400 off your credit card as payment. 5. Calls and emails offering low interest loans if you pay a large up front fee- usually by wiring the money abroad. 6. Cold calls offering free gifts - eg free alarm systems which come with an extortionate monitoring contract; free carpet cleans which is merely the hard sell on a vacuum cleaner costing up to £2400. 7. Timeshare resale/holiday clubs those with existing timeshare coerced to a presentation by false promise of buying their timeshare - only to be conned into signing up for a holiday club costing £5000 or more. 8. Bogus charity collections still as rife as ever and cost genuine charities millions every year.  9. Unsolicited calls that result in high pressure selling from unscrupulous traders for extortionately priced mobility aids such as baths, scooters and reclining chairs. 10.Last but not least prize draw mailings, scratch cards usually asking you to ring a premium rate number implying you will receive a much better prize than you actually do.   Principal Trading Standards Officer: Tim Thorne says: "Typically it's the elderly or vulnerable who fall victim to such scams. We can all therefore play our part and be vigilant to ensure that our relatives or neighbours don't get conned!" "There is a very simple rule to follow to avoid being a scam victim and that is NEVER deal with anyone who cold calls you at home, or on the telephone and put ALL unsolicited mail/flyers in your green recycling bin." For more information contact Tim Thorne at Trading Standards on 01432 261697. Royal Mail Scam: Email received from a neighbourhood watch member: Email received sent purporting to be from Royal mail to say that the courier could not deliver a parcel and telling me to open an attachment and follow the instructions. The wording was odd, I was not expecting a parcel and when I contacted the Royal mail Sorting Office in Ledbury they confirmed that no parcel was waiting for me. I spoke also to Trading Standards and sent an email to a Royal Mail customer services address. They replied to confirm that it was a scam and pointed out that Royal Mail would never send an email if a postman or woman could not deliver to an address. Instead the usual card would be put through the letter box'. Our Neighbour hood watch member did absolutely the right thing by notifying Trading Standards and Royal Mail (who have a vested interest to ensure they are aware of scams using their company as a scam cover). Our NHW Co-ordinators also ensure that members of the community are aware of what is going on in their area and to be vigilant.  Principal Trading Standards Officer: Tim Thorne says: "Typically it's the elderly or vulnerable who fall victim to such scams. We can all therefore play our part and be vigilant to ensure that our relatives or neighbours don't get conned!" "There is a very simple rule to follow to avoid being a scam victim and that is NEVER deal with anyone who cold calls you at home, or on the telephone and put ALL unsolicited mail/flyers in your green recycling bin." For more information contact Tim Thorne at Trading Standards on 01432 261697.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS PLEASE CONTACT US ON THE NUMBERS BELOW

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICING TEAM ON:
0300 333 3000 EXT: 4535

KINGTON RURAL LINE - 01432 346711
PC JO ELLIS – 07977098394 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
CSO DICK ALLFORD - 07968462523 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
CSO DAVID BODEN – 07970176814 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDE IS TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE DO NOT WANT IT TO WORRY YOU IN ANY WAY. THESE INCIDENTS ARE INFREQUENT AND SPREAD ABOUT A WIDE AREA. WE ARE LIVING IN A VERY PLEASANT AND PEACEFUL AREA.

IF REPORTING ANY INCIDENTS THAT NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE POLICE RESPONSE DIAL
0300 333 3000 (OR FOR AN EMERGENCY DIAL 999.)

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE LOCAL POLICING OFFICER DIRECT FOR THIS SERVICE.