Herne Hill and Coldharbour Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Ward Boarder Crackdown
On Wednesday 2 February Lambeth Borough Police Officers from Herne Hill and Coldharbour Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) conducted an operation on the ward borders to crackdown on known gang members using hire cars to commit crime.

The SNT’s were joined by the South East automated number plate recognition (ANPR) team and a pro-active drugs dog.

The ANPR van identified vehicles travelling along Loughborough Road, Brixton SE5. Other police units spotted and detained vehicles seen trying to evade the stop site.

Twenty-eight vehicles were stopped in total during the operation. Two vehicles were seized for having no insurance and two arrests were made for drug offences, courtesy of the pro-active drugs dog.

Herne Hill SNT Sergeant Tony Dodd said, “This was a successful operation. We gathered some valuable intelligence, which will also assist future investigations. We intend to continue running these operations on main arterial routes in Lambeth to reduce gang violence."

Coldharbour SNT Sergeant Anton Menzies said, “We work with Herne Hill SNT on a regular basis in order to disrupt gang-related crime and disorder. This was a considerable success and we plan to make this a regular occurrence at varying times of day/night.  This will hopefully send a message to our respected communities that their Safer Neighbourhood teams mean business.”

Secure your home - uPVC door - Important Burglary advice
There is a current trend of burglaries happening in Lambeth where suspects are targeting uPVC doors.
The suspects are using the letterbox to gain easy access and simply open the door from the inside with either their hand or a tool as residents are not locking their doors. If successful they usually take keys to motor vehicles as well.
This is mainly happening in the early hours when most people are asleep.
Residents are advised to ‘double lock’ their doors, not simply lift the handle and to remove cars keys phones etc away from the door and out of sight.

Brixton Town Centre priority area for youth crime

Serious offences within this area include: ABH / Malicious wounding, Robbery of the person and Possession of Cannabis.
The peak days for offending are Wednesday and Friday
The peak time for offending was between 1400 to 2000 hours.

CCTV van to be tasked to the area

Window Cleaning scam

A respectable-looking man knocked at a door offering window-cleaning services, stating that his men were at that moment cleaning the back of a neighbours house and was able to give the neighbours name. He wanted money up front for the service.  He was asked to come back but did not.  Giving the name of a neighbour made it even more plausible.

Please report any sightings of rogue traders to Lambeth Trading Standards on 020 7926 6122

Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Tips.
When you leave your vehicle, even for a short period of time lock it up. Do not leave it open whilst you take shopping into the house or to put the shopping trolley back.
Do not leave any items view for example; Sat Navs, lap tops, mobile phones and disability badges.
If you are putting items in the boot out of sight, do so away from where you intend to park.
If you have a choice of parking places, choose the well lit area outside occupied premises.
If you have a driveway with a gate, park the vehicle on the drive and close the gates. if you have a garage use it and ensure you lock it
Do not leave vehicle keys in the house near windows or on a table by the front door.
Report non emergency incidents to the police on 0300 123 1212.
In an emergency always ring 999.

Burglaries of the elderly followed into their home

Recently in Lambeth there have been a number of burglaries where the elderly victim has been followed into their home as they opened their front door

If you think you may be being followed as you get near to your home

Do not go indoors if they are too close to be able to shut the door behind you.
Do go to the nearest public place e.g. shop/garage/library
Do call the police if they continue to hang around

     If you are at home and there is an unexpected knock at the door
Do not open the door without checking who is there by looking through a window/spy hole

     If you are unable to identify them
Do not let them in phone the police and
Do tell your neighbours