Chief Inspector’s Update

By Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Jo Collins.

 

THERE is nothing that brings me greater pleasure than being able to share some good news stories with you and it’s a great feeling when we convict someone of a residential burglary, which is a traumatic and frightening crime.

On Friday May 26 last year, the victim had been on a night shift and was in bed at her home in London Road, Westcliff. She suddenly awoke at around 3.15pm to find 27-year-old Harry Fryett rifling through a set of drawers in her bedroom. Fryett left the scene, but thanks to our enquiries with the victim, forensic evidence, and CCTV footage, we were able to link him to the crime.

He was arrested and charged with burglary, which he admitted at Basildon Crown Court on Monday February 26. He is due to be sentenced on Monday 15 April.

On Sunday February 18, six of our volunteer police officers completed a 17-mile charity walk in support of St Vincent de Paul Society.

They walked between Southend and Benfleet to raise much needed funds for the voluntary organisation, which provides practical help to anyone affected by poverty and disadvantage. The Specials raised over £500 for the charity.

Well done to them, it was an amazing team effort and if you would like to be part of this team as a special constable or a regular officer, please visit the Essex Police website to see career opportunities.

As well as the good news stories we are also seeing an increase in vehicle crime across many areas in the Southend District, including Leigh and Westcliff and whilst we do everything we can to stop this happening, some things are preventable.

Please look at our advice around preventing car and vehicle theft and let’s work together to stop criminals stealing vehicles.

• Locking your vehicle, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief and check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.

If your vehicle has wing mirrors that fold in automatically when locked, make sure you lock it properly. If they are still out it’s a clear sign its unlocked.

• Keep your keys safe. Vehicles today are more difficult to steal unless the thief can access your key or fob to clone them.

Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door. It’s not uncommon for car keys to be stolen from inside your home by thieves fishing for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.

• Keyless Entry. Cars with keyless entry unlock automatically when the key comes within a short distance of the car. This can be from inside a pocket or bag. If you must push a button on your car key to open your car, you don’t have keyless entry.

Keyless car theft or ‘relay theft’ is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.

Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car.

• How to protect your keyless entry car. When at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
• Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check if the bag or pouch is still working every few months.
• Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second-hand car.
• Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.

Additional physical security such as locks and immobilisers are still highly recommended and it’s always advisable to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas. It’s worth an extra five or ten-minute walk if it means your vehicle is left in a well-lit and busier street.

If possible, always try to park in illuminated and staffed car parks or those with a Park Mark safer parking award.

There are many more ideas on our website please visit the Essex Police Crime Prevention page for more information.

Events in your area – come along and speak to us at the following locations.

Wednesday March 20, 2pm – 3.30pm. Community Event – Age Concern, Havens, Hamlet Court Road.

Wednesday March 20, 2.30pm – 3.30pm. Let’s Talk – Outside Southend High School for Boys.

Thursday March 21, 10 am. Fraud Event – Nationwide Bank, London Road, Southend.

Friday March 22, 11am – 12pm. Let’s Talk – Belfairs Woodland Centre.

Sunday March 24, 1pm – 2pm. Community Event – St Marks church, Hamlet Road.

Sunday March 24, 11am – 12pm. Let’s Talk –              Priory Park Visitors Centre.

Monday March 25, 4pm – 5pm. Let’s Talk – Eastwood Community Centre, Western Approaches.

Thursday March 28, 2.30pm – 3.30pm. Let’s Talk – Outside Lancaster School, Prittlewell Chase.

Friday March 29, 3pm – 4pm. Let’s Talk – Rossi Icecream Parlour, Western Esplanade.

Wednesday April 10, 11am – 3pm. Emergency Services Day    – Southend seafront.

Friday April 19, 11am – 12pm. Let’s Talk – Kent Elms Library.

Monday April 22, 6pm – 7pm. Let’s Talk – Morrisons, Western Approaches, Eastwood.

Picture: Southend Specials raise money for charity.

Read more.

Visit: https://leigh-on-sea.news

Contact us. Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighonsea.news

Twitter: @leighonsea_news

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighonsea.news