Neighbourhood Watch

Todwick Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter

January 2019

Happy New Year to Everyone

Welcome to all those villagers who have signed up to the Todwick Neighbourhood Watch since our last newsletter in September 2018. We hope that you find these newsletters informative and useful and we always value your information and feedback. We never publish anyone’s name, address or any other private details.

Police Neighbourhood Teams in Rother Valley South

It is often that we hear the comment that we never see any Police in Todwick. Recently I came across the following information which may bring this issue into perspective. We have 2 Police Sergeants, 6 Police Officers and 12 Police Community Support Officers for our area of Rother Valley South. This covers 23 areas from Maltby to Harthill and Woodsetts to Swallownest. In November 2018 alone they dealt with 883 crimes. In Todwick we had 6 reported crimes in the same period.

Frauds and scams

Beware of the email scam about your TV License expiring today. The communication states that “something’s gone wrong with your Direct Debit payments” and urges you to “Update now your license” as “your bank has been decline the latest Direct Debit payment” In view of the poor English and the fact I paid my December payment on 3rd December 2018, this is obviously a scam.

Reports are also coming in that Scam telephone calls are being received purporting to be from the Microsoft Support team. They may mention ‘Openreach’ and try to convince you your computer has viruses that they can fix. We recommend that you do not hand over remote control of your computer and curtail the call.

The major High Street banks are also issuing warnings about fraudulent text messages. If you are not expecting the message, we advise that you do not respond without first checking the authenticity of the call or message. The message may say that your account has been ‘locked’ or ask you to transfer money to a ‘safe’ or ‘secure’ account. Check the authenticity of the call by telephone using a number from your own records. DO NOT use any number provided in the text message.

Within the last few days, there has been an email circulating in and around the village. Some have had a heading with an oriental name showing as the sender and others may contain the email name of one of your contacts. If the email contains a green oblong box, we recommend that the message is immediately deleted. We also recommend that you do a full system scan on your device and change the password. If you have more than one device, we suggest each device is treated in the same way. This at least the second time this malicious communication has been seen in Todwick.

Operation Alligator

This South Yorkshire Police operation is designed to fight crime and antisocial behaviour particularly in the centre of Rotherham and support a District plan to reduce knife crime and violence.

Another Police operation called Punk is aimed at reducing the amount of shoplifting in Rotherham. In November 2017 there were 42 arrests for this offence. This year there were only 15 but on the back of this, one individual has been remanded to court and may well be deported.

Village crime statistics

As we start a new year, we can look back on (almost all of) last year’s reported issues in Todwick. Unfortunately, December’s figures are not as yet available, but the breakdown of the statistics is very similar to 2017. There were 18 reported cases of anti-social behaviour followed by 17 burglaries. Violence & sexual offences accounted for 15 reports followed by 14 reports of other theft.

Criminal damage & arson – there were 9 reported cases – slightly higher than vehicle crime which accounted for 8 reports. There were 4 public order issues and 2 each for other crime, drugs & shoplifting. Lastly, we had one robbery. In total 92 reported offences in 11 months. If December 2018 follows the 2017 trend of 7 reported issues we will come out at a grand total of 99 for the year as opposed to 101 for 2017.

To keep our perspective of things, Todwick had 6 reported offences in November 2018 out of a total of 883 for the whole of Rother Valley South. Please continue to be vigilant. Please report non-emergency issues on telephone number 101 or on line if you are connected to the internet. If a crime is actually happening then if appropriate please use 999 for assistance.

Bags of things to do

The Todwick Tote bags are currently on sale for £4 from Sheila Pantry, the village newsagents and the village tea shop. All proceeds are to be donated to Todwick Neighbourhood Watch to enable us to continue to provide the service to you free of charge. Many thanks to Sheila for her initiative in this issue. Please buy some.

Just a brief reminder – if your uPVC door locks are not up to the new Euro specifications, please contact Norman for further details on this subject.

Many thanks to all the villagers who have contributed to our quarterly newsletters. Also, many thanks to all the 22 street co-ordinators who have delivered them.

Contact information

S. Y. Police non-emergency calls to report crime or give information dial 101

S. Y. Police / Ambulance / Fire & Rescue emergency dial 999

Crimestoppers to give information about crime (you do not have to give your name) dial 0800 555 111 freephone open Mon-Fri 8 am to 10 pm & Sunday 10 am to 4 pm

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

Streetpride part of Rotherham Borough Council. For most general problems with bin emptying, damaged bins, street lighting, potholes & other problems associated with roads & pavements telephone 01709 336003

Electricity emergency 0800 375 675

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

Thanks also to Sheila Pantry for ensuring that our village website www.todwick.org.uk shows our newsletters as well as details of upcoming village events and for supporting our village Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

Norman Anderson – chairman