NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Box Neighbourhood Watch is the village link with our local police force. The village representative is Ray Hayward - Tel: 01453 832623.
Good advice regarding securing your property, personal belongings, personal security and vehicle security is available from the National Neighbourhood Watch Association's web pages. CLICK HERE to go to the NNWA Home Page.
Below is a summary of their recommendations.
Let your local Neighbourhood Watch representative (Ray Hayward) know if your house will be unoccupied for an extended period, such as when you are on holiday, and he will ensure that he or a trusted neighbour keeps a look-out for unwanted visitors and ensures newspapers and mail are fully pushed through your letterbox and milk bottles removed.
If you are away for a few days, make your home look as "lived in" as possible. Put a lamp or two onto a timer to ensure they switch on and off during the evening. Better still, give a trusted neighbour a spare key and ask them to draw some curtains and turn a few lights on when it gets dusk. You could offer to do the same for them in return.
Always lock your car when you leave it, and NEVER leave items on display in a vehicle such as CDs, loose change, bags, brief cases, parcels, computers, coats, wallets or credit cards. Remember, even if you know that the item left on display in your car is worthless the opportunist thief doesn’t. If you have to leave items in your car, put them out of sight at the start of your journey.
If you witness a crime or know any information that might help the police, then call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.
If you are the victim of a crime, no matter how minor, please report it to either Ray Hayward or to the police's non-emergency number below. Although the crime may not be serious, your report may provide a link in the chain to help solve a more major crime or help put a stop to an ongoing series of similar petty crimes occurring around the village.
As a resident of a village in which there is an active Neighbourhood Watch scheme, you may be able to benefit from a significant reduction in your property insurance. Contact your insurance company or Ray Hayward for more details.
For direct calls to the police ring:
EMERGENCY - 999
NON - EMERGENCY - 0845 090 1234
CRIMESTOPPERS - 0800 555 111