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Saturday 17 May 2008 19:30

To those who either travel themselves, or know friends and relatives about to go on holiday:


A very good friend has sent me the following important information about hotel swipe cards: the date they contain and the ease with which they could cause you grief! I would be grateful for any feedback - positive or negative:


HOTEL KEY CARDS

Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

Answer:
a. Customer's name
b. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.

Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.

But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!

The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.

For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!

If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.

Be warned and stay safe!


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Thursday 15 May 2008 11:17

Colleagues - My thanks to PCSO Becca Johnson for this weeks report - blame me for the two day's delay, 'cos I've been just a bit too busy, then followed immediately by a short totally knackered period - but I'm all right now!

Please note the changes - and a proper welcome to Becca into Bury - and we love for it! We'll try not to miss those went where they think the grass is greener!

Here goes:

Reply To: ecops.ramsey@cambs.pnn.police.uk

PLEASE RESPOND ONLY TO THE ECOPS E-MAIL ADDRESS BY USING YOUR REPLY BUTTON. ANY E-MAILS SENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER ADDRESS MAY RESULT IN THE E-MAIL REMAINING UNREAD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

What lovely weather we are having!! I hope this isn't our Summer though.

Ramsey -
09/05/08 GREAT WHYTE: Suspect has raised arm and swung it towards the window pane causing it to smash. Male has then run but has been identified and arrested.
09/05/08 NEWTOWN ROAD: Male has entered store and selected 19" LCD TV from
shelf, activated the alarm, then removed the security tag and left the store without attempting make any payment.
09/05/08 SCHOOL LANE: Wallet stolen from zipped pocket of unattended jacket.
10/09/08 LITTLE WHYTE: Unknown persons have have caused damage to aggrieves vehicle, damaging the roof by jumping on it.
10/05/08 THE AVENUE: Vehicle found with near side wing mirror kicked off - missing from vehicle, offside wing mirroe smashed. Front window screen has been hit or punched causing glass to shatter. No entry into the vehicle.
10/05/08 THE AVENUE: Offenders have damaged vehicle by pulling off drivers side wing mirror and electronics.

Somersham -
09/05/08 BILLUPS SIDING: Unknown person/s have set fire to straw bales.
09/05/08 THE GREEN: Front lounge window sattered - Hole in window that has spread cracking glass, neighbour saw two youths outside.
10/05/08 KINGS STREET: Plough stolen from allotment where it had been concealed from view.

Bury & Warboys -
09/05/08 JUBILEE AVENUE: Suspect was in conservatory and lit and thrown a cigarette behind a chair ignighting the contents of the conservatory. Fire has spread into the main part of the house also to the neighbouring property.
09/09/08 OLD MILL AVENUE: Liquid (believed to be battery acid solution) thrown onto the roof of a car causing damage to to near side rear light cluster cracked.

If you have any information about any of these crimes, please call us on 0845 456 456 4. All information we recieve is treated in confidence and fully appreciated.

NEWSLETTER!!

Just to make you all aware, there have been some slight changes to our NPT.

- PCSO Becca Johnson no longer covers the Somersham Ward. As from yesterday
she covers the Bury and Warboys ward along with PCSO Marc Robinson.

- PCSO Vicki Docking no longer covers the Bury and Warboys ward. As from
yesterday she covers the Somersham Ward along with PCSO Gill Goodfellow.

- We have a new sergeant!! Our new sergeants name is Laura Taylor and has
come to Ramsey from the BIG Peterborough!

- The Somersham police surgery is still being held every Thursday from
3:30pm to 4:30pm in the Library and resource centre in Church Street.


NEXT 'SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS' PANEL MEETING!! SPREAD THE WORD!!

Plans have been made for the next Panel Meeting. All is welcome to hear
what we have to say and have your say! The next meeting will be held at
ASHBEACH SCHOOL, ASHBEACH ROAD, RAMSEY ST MARYS. 7:30PM on MONDAY 2ND JUNE 2008. We look forward to seeing you there.

Enjoy the sun whilst it lasts and, we hope to see you soon.



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Monday 12 May 2008 07:06

Please be on the lookout for a young female barn owl , who failed to return after feeding on Saturday evening from its aviary in Biggin Lane. It should be easy to spot as she is a beautiful young owl, about the size of a small chicken; light coloured, with almost white wings when in flight. She is wearing a 'jesse' (long, dangly bits of leather with tassels fitted over one leg, which is used for holding the bird when perched on the gloved hand. Its flight, by the way, is silent, very graceful and has a distinctive low, swooping flight over the ground.

Barn owls don't call or hoot (as I understand) - but they do hiss loudly when a human is nearby - and that is a welcoming call, not a warning! If you should hear this, please call (numbers below).

This barn owl is named 'Gwyn' and is likely to remain in the vicinity of Biggin Lane, The Red House and any stand of tall trees around this area - possibly even as far as the golf course. I'm not sure how reliable calling its name out is likely to be as is this is likely to be the owners command . . .

Be careful if seen - just call any of the numbers listed below - as this owl will fly to the hand, but do not attempt to catch or hold her as the is trained to perch on a heavy leather gloved hand; as she is a predator, has incredible sharp and powerful talons for catching and gripping prey! Once gripped, it won't want to let go!

Being captivity-bred, it probably won't survive for long in the wild as it is likely to be mobbed by wild birds - crows, jackdaws, blackbirds and thrushes in particular as all are feeding fledglings. I have already investigated two possible sightings, but they turned out to be a weekly rooks convention about life, the universe and everything!

Here are the numbers to call:

Pippa Cadman: 01487 710 322; David Munns: 01487 813 204; Alan Wilcher: 07860 344 660

For those among us who may be unhappy about wild creatures in captivity, please be assured that captivity-bred birds such as this, have been bred from injured wild birds, who would not normally ever be released back in the wild, because they would no longer be able to feed or defend themselves. It follows that chicks resulting from captivity-bred birds, would similarly be disadvantaged and again would die without human intervention and protection. Life is tough in their world!



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Saturday 10 May 2008 06:20

Ladies and Gentlemen

Many thanks to PCSO Jill Tiernan for compiling the following crime report update - below the usual introductory notes. I notice she calls this "the E-Cops - Weekly Crime Report" and as I've repeated many times, I am/we are very grateful to have this information feed from the police as it encourages feedback in turn - whether directly or indirectly, from this simple information circulation. Likewise, as crime reports vary, so this circulation list is updated, so as to keep the relevant parties informed and that information is dispersed to other interested parties.

I don't know if anyone has tried to extract information from E-Cops or Cambs Police websites, but it isn't quite as easy as having expert Jill or Marc preparing the weekly crime report for us! And it has been proved that somehow, an indirect result of this circulation, is that other parties are encouraged to report suspected criminal activities - which when fed back to the police are always taken seriously - and that is good!

For those that might not know, I've decided to step down from Bury Parish Council after six-years. It has had it's fun moments and I used to enjoy pointing out the delights of nature from my early morning footpath patrols; taking a sideways swipe at the vandals, fly-tippers and persistent dog-owners fouling our walkways - as well as kicking out against those few urbanites whom, upon coming to live in our village, have to cut other people's trees or pave over wildlife corridors - and of course, other 'safer neighbourhood and neighbourhood watch' matters.

Also, I no longer felt that 'democracy' was accurately served by an almost total lack of public attendance or support, and the self-appointing, uncontested candidature that actually happens, was too close to small ponds and big minnows, than meritocracy. Now if I had attempted to put that opinion in the parish magazine, it would have been edited out on the grounds of 'lack of space'!

However, I shall continue as the Safer Neighbourhoods coordinator and Countryside Watch contact point for Bury village, to monitor and report on the wider issues of community safety. Also in those same roles, on the Ramsey and Area Neighbourhood Management board - just to ensure commonsense and simple English prevail over a tendency for jargonism (or the local government language called 'inner-speak') or power-base building.

Here is Jill's unexpurgated report:

_________________________________________________
Tuesday 29 April 2008 08:19

Today's crime report is short and fairly sweet (with thanks to PCSO Jill) - just a pity the traffic speeding up and down Bury Road, High Street, Bury and Upwood Road is increasing at least as bad as it ever was. Nothing to do with no specialist police speed check police, by any chance? (Answers on a postcard, etc, etc)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: 2008/4/27
Subject: E-Cops - Weekly Crime Report
To: alan.wilcher@gmail.com


Reply To: ecops.ramsey@cambs.pnn.police.uk

PLEASE RESPOND ONLY TO THE ECOPS E-MAIL ADDRESS BY USING YOUR REPLY BUTTON.
ANY E-MAILS SENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER ADDRESS MAY RESULT IN THE E-MAIL
REMAINING UNREAD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

Hello, the weather has been lovely this week although a bit grey today.

23/04/08 - Newtown Road, Ramsey.
Male was seen by security to remove steak from its packaging and place it
in another bag which he placed in his pocket.He then selected a bottle of
sauce and was seen to put it in the same pocket as the meat.Offender has
then gone to till and paid for other items but not for the meat and
sauce.He then made his way out of the store where he was challenged by a
loss prevention officer.

20/04/08 - Mill Lane, Ramsey.
Corner plot side garden set on footpath, found with pansies and wallflowers
all pulled up and kicked along the road.

19/04/08 - Ramsey Heights, Ramsey.
Stall damaged by unknown person, instrument used.

If you have any information please contact us on 0845 456 456 4.

Could i please ask if you see any person on or around our local schools
when they are closed could you please report it as we have had youths
playing football without permission and causing damage to school
property.We do patrol these areas but would be grateful for your help,
thankyou.Working together we can make our community a safer place to live.


We will be holding our next Neighbourhood Panel Meeting in May so will be
advertising the date shortly,we would be pleased to see you attend if you
can as it is your chance to meet your Neighbourhood team and make us aware
of any problems you might have.

Thankyou, Jill.


-
-
-

Please be aware that sometimes we will not reply if it is simply
information you want to pass inwards for our attention. Even if you don't
hear from us directly then please be assured that everything you send us
will be actioned or reviewed.

If the matter is more urgent or of a general nature then I would urge you
to ring 0845 456 4564 and you will then be able to get quicker attention.
If an event is in progress or very urgent call 999. If you need to report a
crime then please call 0845 456 4564. I would urge residents to report all
crimes however trivial so we get a good idea of where the problems are.



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Monday 21 April 2008 10:33

Ladies and Gentlemen

PCSO Jill Tiernan has has emailed the latest Ramsey & area weekly crime report - plus notice of a police surgery. Here you go:

Reply To: ecops.ramsey@cambs.pnn.police.uk

PLEASE RESPOND ONLY TO THE ECOPS E-MAIL ADDRESS BY USING YOUR REPLY BUTTON. ANY E-MAILS SENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER ADDRESS MAY RESULT IN THE E-MAIL REMAINING UNREAD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

Hello, Jill here with your Weekly Crime Report.

Abbey Road, Ramsey 11/04/08 - Unknown Offender has ripped off lower control panel for disabled lift and pulled wires out of panel.

The Avenue, Ramsey 11/04/08 - Mitsubishi Shogun parked on the street, entry gained no signs of forced entry.CD Player stolen.

Meadow Lane, Bury 11/04/08 - Unknown Offenders have smashed the ground floor window at the front of the Church Hall.

Charles Close, Ramsey 10/04/08 - Aggrieved found car has been entered by unknown means and items have been taken.

Ramsey Forty Foot, Ramsey 13/04/08 - Mitsubishi Pajero taken from rear of vehicle sales, keys not taken.

Bleinham Road, Ramsey 16/04/08 - Persons unknown have smashed a hole in telephone kiosk window. A rock was found on the floor.

Please contact us on 0845 456 456 4 if you have any information.

Jill - Now please now read below about our forthcoming FAMILY FUN DAY!"

Hello , I would like to let you know about a Family Fun Day that is being held on Saturday May 24th 2008 at Ramsey Football Club between 12 and 5pm.It will be a day for families to enjoy with Bouncy Castle, BBQ, Live Music, stalls, learning events, football, car boot sale and lots more.

If you would like more information about this event please contact myself or Penny Litchfield on 01487 814897.Penny is based at the Community Shop in the Gt Whyte. Penny is the Neighbourhood Management Manager for Ramsey.

________________________________________________
Thursday 17 April 2008 16:26

Good Folks - I'm sure some of you are fed up with hearing from me, but our trusty PCSOs (becca and Marc) have reported ad verbatim:

1 GREAT NEWS!!!

No crimes or incidents to update you with from the 12th April 2008. Please continue to call us on 0845 456 456 4 to report any incidents.

Somersham Ward:
If you are from Somersham, Colne, Old Hurst, Wood Hurst, Pidley or Fenton, please be reminded that your local police surgery is still running every Thursday at 3:30-4:30pm in the Somersham Library and Resource Centre in Church Street. Please come and see us :-)

From all NPT at Ramsey Police Station

2 Hi,

We have recently experienced theft of heating oil in the Warboys area. With prices rising heating oil may become more of a target, so we ask everyone to keep any eye out. Should you have any information please ring on 0845 456 456 4.

So it's a sensible to keep fuel tanks locked and under observations. Thieves may be on foot lugging cans around, or even pump into a van fitted with tanks or drums. Please be encouraged to take note and report any suspicious vehicles or strangers in your area behaving oddly. Know what I mean? That odd feeling that something insn't quite right at a neighbour's property. If in doubt, phone the police.

Keep well and stay safe!

_________________________________________________
Sunday 13 April 2008 14:39

Dear Everyone

Latest local area crime report, courtesy of PCSO Marc Robinson - for which we are grateful, aren't we? Yes! But there is more after Marc's piece . . .

Marc's report:

"Hope all is well!, here is the crime report for the above mentioned wards.

Warboys
06/04/2008 - Station Rd - 15:00 - Offender(s) have smashed the rear windscreen of a vehicle.

Broughton
07/04/2008 - Bridge Rd - 08:30 - Offender(s) have stolen 4 alloy road wheels from a vehicle left unsecured.

Somersham
10/04/2008 - Feoffees Rd - 21:00 - Unlocked pedal cycle has been stolen from front garden, the bike was a ladies blue giant mountain cycle.

09/04/2008 - Chatteris Rd - 07:30 - Offender(s) have stolen Diesel and batteries from 4 parked vehicles in a car park."

Here is some more important news, about which I expect a mixed reaction from some of you! Please give me feedback, as I'm particularly interested. Steel yourselves - here goes:

We have been advised that: Cambridgeshire Police Rural Community Action Team now have two officers trained as Wildlife Crime Officers. PCs Paul Carter and Tony Hales are now in position to deal with wildlife crimes and can also give advice to the public regarding wildlife legislation.

All crimes and incidents involving wildlife will be monitored by them. They will be working throughout Cambridgeshire with other agencies such as the RSPCA, RSPB and National Wildlife crime unit

Both officers can be contacted through the force switchboard on 0845 456 456 4 or on email 'RCAT@cambs.pnn.police.uk'

I rather suspect this latest initiative might give some livestock breeders, fish farms and the like, some consternation if they are plagued by certain vermin and whether or not they might be declassified under certain circumstances! I am aware that mink, cormorants and even heron, will clear a fish farm or breeding pond unless prevented - and that might not be particularly easy to do - or even be practicable to apply.

It has also been reported that even scaring off such predators could create an incident (as they so delightfully put it) should some well-meaning but inadequately educated member of public files a complaint about bird-scarers or shouting in the wind - or I suppose, even a domestic cat on a successful hunting could be 'fitted up' if it was seen bringing down an animal for food!

And if anyone is paying attention, don't get me started on foxes or moles!

Now the weekend of mixed weather is over, look forwards to getting back to work!

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Friday 11 April 2008 11:43

Ladies and Gentlemen - Be on the alert and contact those vulnerable around you and warn them of the possibility of evening telephone calls from unknown people, trying to extract information about banking habits and other sensitive information!

Please tell them to say nothing! Just terminate the call by hanging up. Try recall dialing 1471 - but so far the callers have withheld their number.

So far, there seem to be three male voices, one an apparent North American accent, the other two voices are foreign accented. The worrying factor is that these unsolicited callers, appear to know the names and addresses (or partial addresses) of the people they are calling.

The callers claim they are connected with some bank or other and are surveying banking habits. This morning I was told of three calls in the last two evenings, but wisely the 'callees' were suspicious and terminated the calls and determined that the numbers had been withheld.

I am not aware that anyone has inadvertently given out any personal information, but if this an organised, rogue call-centre scam, sooner or later someone will be taken in.

Despite having my own telephone 'flagged' by BT to block unsolicited calls, I still get the odd dumb call about every week or two, so there are flaws in the system.

Lastly, please don't raise fears when putting this information about, just be a gentle and good listener. If anyone does get any more information, please pass it on the authorities first, but kindly let me know as well, so I can do something about it from this end.

_________________________________________________
Ladies & Gentlemen,

Last years crime figures have just been released and I have the pleasure in
announcing that Ramsey/St Ives and the surrounding villages has the lowest
recorded crime in the whole of Cambridgeshire for the year 2007-2008.

This Sector had 2466 crimes recorded from April 2007 to March 2008. We have
over 300 less recorded crimes, over 300 less victims of crime than the
second lowest Sector. ST Neots Sector was the second lowest with 2778, with
March third lowest with 3364.

Secondly last year saw a 4.1% reduction in recorded crime than the previous
year, which means in real terms we had 106 less victims of crime last year.

These figures are very encouraging and shows you live in one of the areas
of Cambridgeshire which is least likely to be effected by crime. However my
Team and myself will not rest on our laurels, we must not become
complacent. We will continue work with all our partner Agencies to reduce
this figure next year as well bringing more offenders to justice.



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