Todwick Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter

March 2013

Welcome to all those villagers who have signed up to the Todwick Neighbourhood Watch since our last newsletter in December 2012. We hope that you find these newsletters informative and useful and we always value your information and feedback.

This quarter there is a lot of information to pass on to you. It is designed to help you avoid pitfalls. It is designed to give you information where problems can be solved and everyone who reads the newsletter will know I am looking for keeping costs to a minimum.

Gardening

Now that the weather has started to improve, many of us will be outside tidying up the garden, putting plants in the garden or pots and sowing seeds. So perhaps it is the right time to remind everyone to make sure that your home is locked and the house keys are secure. Sneak in thieves will be out and about watching and waiting for their opportune moment to strike. They may operate in twos with one engaging you in conversation whilst the other enters your home. Be aware! If you need help in the garden please read on...

Handyperson Services

There are at least 2 independent services run in the locality for “handyperson” facilities covering things like repairs for dripping taps, fixing security lights, fitting door chains, decorating rooms, gardening, changing light bulbs, fitting key safes, grab-rails and so on. One organisation is designed for the over 50’s and the other for the over 55’s, vulnerable and those with mobility issues. Some jobs are, for safety reasons, passed on but generally the charges are not excessive. If you have any jobs that need attention, please contact Norman for further information. If you wish to discuss your own requirements directly with the service providers, I will let you have their direct telephone numbers on request. Thanks to the 3 villagers who have helped me with this article, gratefully appreciated.

Unsolicited Telephone Calls & Suspicious E-Mails

As usual I am most grateful to several residents of the village who have let me have information on this subject. This time it is the Inland Revenue (HMRC) who are being used by fraudsters to try to dupe you. One scam purports to come from Rt Hon David Cameron telling you that you have been given an ATM card credited with £2 million pounds (you could not make this up!) A second email scam again purporting to come from HMRC asks you to click onto an attachment to confirm your personal details for your tax refund. As always, please just delete these emails and most certainly do not open any attachments. Removing viruses from a computer can be an expensive operation!

Nuisance phone calls are again rearing their heads in the village. Direct selling calls can be minimised by registering your phone number with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). This is a free service. Whilst this can reduce the number of calls it will not totally eliminate them especially those that come from abroad, nor those from organisations who flout the rules. By using a telephone handset with a display panel and subscribing to your phone suppliers “caller display” you can in most cases find if the call is international, number withheld or the caller’s actual number. This then gives you an opportunity either to accept or reject the call.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Since our last newsletter, there has been a very sad case reported in the press about 3 people who died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning whilst staying on a caravan site in the South of England. Carbon monoxide alarms are cheap and in most cases are portable. If you have a gas appliance in your home, in your static or touring caravan in your motor home or even in a canvas tent, we strongly recommend that you obtain an audible CO alarm. If you already have an alarm, please check it to make sure it is in working order as many use batteries for their source of power. Any CO alarm over 7 years old should be replaced. Some alarms, which are slightly more expensive, can be plugged into a domestic plug socket. Remember Carbon Monoxide is known as the silent killer – you can’t see it, smell it or taste it. So for around £15 this could save your life. Please DO NOT rely on a colour sensor detector, make sure your alarm makes a loud noise. If there is enough interest in the village, I will get a bulk buy of Carbon Monoxide alarms. All you have to do is contact Norman.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

How safe is your home? Do you have a working smoke alarm? If your home caught fire, how would you get out? Whilst these are questions we tend not to ask ourselves, it is worth remembering that you can get a free safety check by the Fire Brigade (South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue). So if you want the reassurance that your home is safe for you, your pets and visitors please ring the Community Safety Hotline – 0114 253 2314 and book an appointment for a free safety check. If your home needs replacement smoke alarms, on previous visits these have been fitted free of charge at the time of the visit. Every village resident who has taken the opportunity to have this check has been delighted with the service – some even phoned me to tell me!

Pet Theft

Thank you to one of our village’s pet owners for passing on this information. Many of us have pets of varying types, breeds, shapes & sizes. But what would you do if your pet was stolen? And what can be done to minimise the risk? It is recommended that you keep photographs of your pet, make sure your garden is securely fenced & have your pet micro-chipped. Keep a watchful eye on your pet when they are outside (I admit a bit tricky with cats!) Never leave your dog unattended whether it is in the car or outside a shop. Keep all proof of ownership papers – breeding contracts, adoption papers to prove ownership. Best advice is to make sure your pet has a collar on with an i.d. disc and is chipped.

Whilst on this subject I have just heard from my counterpart Neighbourhood Watch chair in North and South Anston, that 2 dogs have very recently been taken from gardens in Dinnington. Please be aware!

Annual General Meeting

AGM’s are not the most popular meetings, BUT we do have to have a minimum of one meeting per year. This year it is Thursday 27th June 2013 at 7.30 pm. It last about an hour at the maximum, and has been less over the last 2 years! We appreciate your support and it gives you a platform to express your concerns about issues in our village. Neighbourhood Watch is not just about crime but it is about community – your community and my community. Please come along and voice your opinion.

And Finally

Please be aware that a crime report in January 2013 has shown that there are fake £20 notes circulating. Be on your guard as genuine notes should have the words “Bank of England” and the “20” in the bottom right hand corner slightly raised. Feel the quality of the note! Another quick check is that the dotted metallic strip on the back of the note should appear as a solid line when the note is held up to the light.

Contact Information

SY Police for non-emergency calls, to report a crime or give information dial 101

Crimestoppers to give information about crime (you do not have to give your name) dial 0800 555 111 Open Mon–Fri 0800 to 2200 hrs, Sat–Sun 1000 to 1600 hrs

Action Fraud this is a government run reporting centre for fraud. Calls can be made to 0300 123 2040 anonymously or text on 0300 123 2050.

Street pride – part of the Borough Council. For most general problems with bin emptying, damaged bins, street lighting, potholes & other problems associated with roads and pavements. 01709 336003

Crime Statistics

The crime statistics for Todwick for December 2012, January & February 2013 inclusive, kindly provided by South Yorkshire Police are as follows:

Antisocial behaviour
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm	1
Theft of pedal cycles	1
Theft of motor vehicle	2
Theft from motor vehicle	1
Parking	1
Snowballing	1
Vehicle abuse	1
Youths in gardens	1
Mobile Communications	1

Thanks to all the villagers who have provided details of incidents & issues.

Thanks also to Sheila Pantry for ensuring our village website www.todwick.org.uk shows our newsletters.

For further details please contact Norman Anderson (chair)