Useful
Contact Information
Blackfen
& Lamorbey Ward
Telephone:
020 8721 2585
Email:
Blackfen.Lamorbey.SNT@met.police.uk
Metropolitan
Police Service
Telephone:101
Protect
Yourself
If
you want to stay on top of scams, visit our Fraud Alert website:
This
site contains current information on different scams targeting consumers. It also provides tips on guarding yourself
against scams, new scam stories, scam alerts and advice on reporting scams.
Overleaf
there is a list of information, resources and helplines which may assist you.
Bexley
Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association
Telephone:
020 8284 5537
Email: bexwatch-office@btconnect.com
Promotes
best practice throughout the neighbourhood
watch movement and provides resources on home security and community
involvement. The site encourages the
exchange of views and ideas through online forums, bringing together people
with a common interest in creating community cohesion.
Bexley
Borough Victim Support
53
High Street, Welling
Telephone:
020 8854 1113
If
you've been a victim of any crime or affected by a crime committed against
someone you know, they can help you deal with what you've been through. Their
services are free and available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been
reported and regardless of when it happened.
Bexley
Age Concern
Telephone:
020 8300 0883
Aims
to enable people to lead full and active lives and stay safe and independent
within their homes. Their services include Day Centres, Handyman Services,
Information and Advice and Welfare Benefits Advice.
Crimestoppers
Telephone:
0800 555 111
The
UK's only independent crime fighting charity.
Action
Fraud
Provides
a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially
motivated internet crime. If you've been scammed, ripped off or conned, there
is something you can do about it. Report fraud direct to them and receive
a police crime reference number.
Bexley
Trading Standards
2a Hadlow
Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4AF
Telephone:
020 8303 7777
The
trading standards team works to protect consumers from scams and rogue traders
operating within Bexley.
Immobilise
A
free register for personal property, including mobile phones, bikes, computers
and other valuables. Your mobile phone IMEI number can be recorded on this
system. The advantage of this system is that all your serial numbers are
recorded in one place, and can be retrieved or amended using one password on
the site.
Marking
and Registering Your Property
Marking
your property can make it difficult for thieves to sell it on and help your
property to be traced, identified and returned to you if it is stolen. There
are numerous ways of marking your possessions, the Secured by Design scheme
recommends property marking products at: www.securedbydesign.com
Mobile
Telephone's IMEI Number
IMEI
stands for 'International Mobile Station Equipment Identity'. This is a serial number which is unique to
your mobile telephone and can be found by keying *#06# into your mobile phone.
It is good practice to make a note of this number and keep it somewhere safe.
UV
(Ultra Violet) property markings.
UV
pens can be purchased to mark your property with your house or flat number and
postcode. These markings are only viewable under UV light and property is
regularly checked when recovered by Police.
Photographs
A
colour photograph of any valuable items can be of great assistance to police
should an item be reported lost or stolen.
Ideally the photograph should be taken next to a rule to give a sense of
scale.
Security
Lighting
Lights
can deter burglars at night. Exterior
lights will make it more difficult for burglars to stay undetected. Make sure they are tamper-proof or at least
positioned where it is difficult for intruders to reach them.
What
makes your home attractive to burglars?
Burglary
can have a long-lasting emotional impact on victims, leaving them feeling
isolated and vulnerable. However, by
taking just a few simple measures you can reduce the chances of it happening to
you. Most burglaries tend to be
opportunistic, rather than planned.
Burglars usually choose houses that have little or no visible security,
seem unlived in or provide unobserved access. In particular, the following
features are attractive to burglars.
•A
high front boundary
•Low
side and rear boundaries
•Wheelie
bins accessible
•No
visible intruder alarm
•No
security lighting
•Valuables
on display
•Open
or unsecured windows
•Unsecured
garage door
•Unlocked
shed
•Paved
path or drive way
•
Car
Key Theft
Modern
immobiliser systems mean that car thieves now aim to steal your keys and your
vehicle at the same time. You can stop
them by following these tips:
•Never
leave keys in the ignition
•Never
leave your house or car keys near a door or window
•Fit a
tracker device
•Use
your garage if you have one.
You
may not be insured if your vehicle is stolen having been left unsecured.
Bogus
Callers
Although
most people who come to your door will be genuine, not all are. Bogus callers are people who pretend to be
someone they are not, like a workman, or
a member of staff from a utility company. Such callers could be looking to commit a
distraction burglary – they want to trick their way into your home in order to
steal. Always be cautious about any unknown man, woman, or child who comes to
your door, without arranging a visit with you first.
Use
your door viewer, or look through your front window to see who is there. When anyone claiming to be from a service
company, bank or the police comes to your door, always ask for their ID and
call the customer services department of the company to confirm their
identity. Keep callers locked outside of
your property whilst undertaking checks.
Always obtain phone numbers yourself, using your own recorded numbers or
a printed telephone directory, never use any number which they may offer.
Whilst this may take time, any genuine caller will not mind waiting. Be
especially wary of anyone who claims they are in a hurry and needs to get into your
home quickly. Please note most utility
companies can offer password schemes, consider calling them to set one up.
Please
also be aware that Banks and Building Societies will never
contact
you to request your bank account PIN numbers, these are confidential to you and
should never be divulged to anyone – no matter how convincing they seem.
What
to do before you leave your home
Here's
our quick reminder on what to do before you leave your home.
•Close
and lock all your doors and windows, even if you are only going out for a few
minutes
•Set
your burglar alarm, If you have one
•Make
sure the side and/or back gate is locked.
•Lock
your shed or garage
•Make
sure that any valuables are not in sight.
•Put
keys out of reach of letterboxes
•In
the evening, shut the curtains and have lights on
If
you are going to be away for days or weeks at a time, take additional action,
such as cancelling newspaper and milk deliveries. Consider asking a neighbour to close
curtains, or park on your drive. Use a
timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night.
Additional
advice for the elderly
While
the elderly often feel more concerned about crime, they are actually less
likely than other people to be victims.
Measures like these will make you feel even more secure:
•
Always check who's at the door and don't open it if you feel anxious.
•Never
keep large amounts of cash in your home.
•Don't
keep ID or bank documents somewhere obvious – like the hallway or a kitchen
drawer.
