Message from Insp Whibberley - North Wales Police
The below briefing has been received by the Council from Insp Whibberley, South Flintshire, North Wales Police. He has confirmed that this can be communicated to the village to assist with residents being vigilant.
Councillors,
The counties of Flintshire and Wrexham have recently been subject of a number of burglaries in which elderly occupants of residential properties have been targeted by groups of offenders, some of which have involved violence and masked intruders. Significant values of money and property have been taken and victims left shaken. In addition there has been a significant volume of associated crime, including Theft from Motor Vehicle, Theft of Motor vehicle and Car Key burglaries. The behaviour of offenders is high risk, particularly in the targeting of elderly residents.
Flintshire has been targeted in the areas of Penyffordd, Caergwrle, Ewloe, Broughton, and Buckley.
Operation Careen has been created to target the problem utilising CID and our divisional proactive team to investigate the offences, supported by officers from forensics, roads policing, firearms, the dog section, and intelligence amongst others. It is anticipated to run for the next 4 weeks, subject to ongoing review.
Locally, we have officers from our safer neighbourhood team dedicated to this. PC’s will be directed to anticipated target areas and routes utilised by criminals, along with other tactical responses as part of the operation. PCSO’s have been directed to work alongside our partners to contact current and previous victims of these types of crimes (particularly the elderly) to provide reassurance and support, crime prevention advice and identify support networks for the elderly, whether carers, family and/or neighbours. They will also supply some basic home security items and conduct highly visible patrols where required. Again, they will be drawn from across the Flintshire South area to assist where needed.
Residents may well experience increased police activity and stop checks in particular area as we respond to the intelligence picture. I ask for your support of your local officers and patience as they concentrate on this particularly abhorrent crime. At this time, it must take priority for us.
How can you help –
Report any leaflet drops/rogue trader types operating in an area.
Let us know of any concentrations of elderly residents you feel are particularly vulnerable elderly people that have limited support from family etc. and not received visits from local officers or other partners.
Get the message out wherever possible -
That people should not keep large volumes of cash in their homes. The elderly still prefer to do this and hence the reason they get targeted.
Residents to check their cctv is operating.
To report to the police, any suspicious vehicles or individuals. Where possible taking note of descriptions, index numbers, colours, and types of vehicles seen.
Do not allow any persons they don’t know into their homes. Check with the water board or utility company first.
Above all, help provide that reassurance to concerned residents. The police are out there tackling the problem.
Contact –
Non urgent localised matters – via your local officer
Ongoing incidents such as suspicious circumstances, individuals, vehicles, leaflet drops, rogue traders operating for example - via 101.
Crime occurring there and then - 999
Darren Whibberley
Inspector/Arolygydd
Flintshire South/De Sir y Fflint