Crime Figures Updated
The Crime figures have now been updated on the local beat pages. As always you can follow the below link and simply insert your postcode to take you to your local beat area, you can also check neighbouring beat areas. https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/
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Missing person appeal to find Ozzy Parsons.
We’re asking the public to help us in our ongoing search to find missing Ozzy Parsons.
Ozzy, from Somerset, was last seen at about 1.15pm on Saturday 15 August.
He was wearing at the time a red faded Nike bottoms, a black raincoat with a green camouflage print on the shoulders/hood and a grey Adidas backpack.
He is said to be about 5ft 8ins, slim and has blonde hair.
We believe Ozzy, 16, is known to have links to Taunton, Reading and the Lewisham and Camden areas of London.
We’d ask Ozzy to get in touch if he sees this appeal to let us know he is safe.
Anybody who sees him is asked to call 999 and give reference number 5220185014. If you know where he could be, call 101 and give the call-handler the same reference number.
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Rogue Traders / Gardeners (Tree Specialists)
We have been made aware that there has been a sharp increase in calls relating to bogus “Tree Specialists” who have been preying on the older population within our communities, offering to carry out gardening work. Several residents are reported to have paid vast sums of money for poor quality work to the so called "Specialists" who have also taken the money and never returned to complete the work.
There are a few things that you should be wary of before allowing anyone into your home or garden.
1. Did they put a leaflet through your door claiming to offer discounts for OAPs?
2. Do they offer 20 / 30 / 40 % off for calling within a particular time scale of receiving your leaflet?
3. Do they offer Tree work and then claim to offer a host of other services seemingly unrelated?
4. Does it look like a professionally printed leaflet?
5. If you speak to an operator, do not be bullied into committing to their services or an appointment.
6. If they are in your home, phone a friend and ask them to come round.
7. You can ask them to leave at any point during their sales pitch.
These are just a few points to look out for, but the best rule to go by is that if you require any work you should find the person yourself or go by the recommendation of others that you trust.
There are plenty of websites that can steer you in the right direction to find the right company.
And of course there are some genuine, honest companies so make an informed decision, but remember:
“If you’re not sure, don’t open the door”
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TV Licence Scams.
I am sure we have all received an email claiming to be from TV Licensing at some point in the past, but this is one scam that appears to keep on going.
One of our members has recently emailed me with a slightly new version of this scam and I have decided to share this with you to make you aware of what to look out for. The email has been sanitised to protect the members identity. I have placed a couple of obvious pointers on there for your information.
On the attached document is some additional useful information provided by the Age UK website. Attachments: latest-tv-licence-scam
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Important Scam Update
This morning one of our Coordinators has kindly advised us that another of their members received an automated telephone call claiming to be from Amazon stating that they had opened an Amazon Prime Account.
They are then told if they wish to cancel they should press 1 on their keypad.
The call is then transferred to a fraudster posing as an Amazon operative who will then advise them the purchase went through as a result of a “Security Flaw” on their computer.
They will then ask for remote access to your computer to “rectify this problem”, this is to steal your personal information.
NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO REMOTELY ACCESS YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER IF THEY HAVE CONTACTED YOU.
The helpful guidance attached has been sourced from the Genuine Amazon Website:
Attachments: how-do-i-know
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Rogue Traders (Let's get ahead of them)
There have been numerous reports of rogue traders throughout the South Gloucestershire area during the last two days. Two males have called on a resident of Bredon, Yate, offering to repair damage to the roof for £800 which was rejected, although it was agreed that the pair would clean the guttering for £180. The suspects then left after 5 minutes, after asking the resident to sign some form of document.
An elderly male was approached by a male as he walked along Quarry Road in Alveston. The suspect claimed that he had done work for the victim before, but fortunately an off-duty police officer noticed what was going on and the offender walked off when the officer approached.
Another vulnerable resident was stopped by a male on Alcacia Road in Staple Hill who said that he had done work for her before and asked if she wanted anything else done. The female said that she needed some damp work done and the offender said he wanted some money in advance to buy some materials. Fortunately the resident remembered that he hadn’t done any work for her before so refused to hand over any money.
We have sent messages previously about cold callers and doorstep traders, but we now want to extend that warning to include anyone who approaches people asking for work and claiming that they know you, or have worked for you in the past.
Always use traders who have been recommended to you by someone you trust. Get a written quote on headed notepaper and never pay in cash. Be wary of anyone asking if you need any work done or someone who “just happened” to notice that there was some damage they could fix straight away
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Appeal to trace two key witnesses following Hutton burglary
We are attempting to trace two people who we believe may be key witnesses to a burglary in North Somerset last week.
Between about 3.15pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday 5 August, a substantial amount of cash, plus jewellery and electrical items were taken from a Chinese takeaway and the adjoining flat on Main Road, Hutton.
Police have conducted house to house enquiries and have obtained dash cam footage taken at the time of the incident.
The footage shows a light blue Hyundai i30 N outside the takeaway at the time of the burglary. It also shows a man walking along the road in the direction of the takeaway and a woman stood outside the takeaway as the Hyundai stops.
We are particularly keen to speak to these individuals as they may have crucial information to assist in our investigation.
If you have any information regarding this incident, contact the Police on 101 quoting reference number 5220175601.
Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or via their online form. No personal details are taken, and they will never trace your call.
Attachments: key-witnesses-appeal-photo
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Renewed appeal for missing Lawrence Kemp from Glastonbury
Police are renewing their appeal and growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a man missing from Glastonbury for almost a week.
Lawrence Kemp hasn't been in touch with family members since late on Saturday night, 1 August, and hasn't been into work, which is out of character.
He is 32 years old, white, about 5ft 8ins (170cm) tall and slim with a shaven head and a bushy brown beard. He has a tattoo on his right forearm and a tongue piercing. The last confirmed sighting of him is in the early hours of Sunday 2 August in Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, when he was wearing a blue checked shirt similar to that in the photo, over a pale blue T-shirt.
He is believed to be using a red and black road bike with a slim frame, narrow tyres and curved handlebars. He is known to cycle to local wooded areas and beauty spots including Glastonbury Tor and Coombe Hill Woods near Street. However he has left home without his wallet, bank cards, cash, motorbike or van.
Lawrence, if you see this, please call your family, or ring 101. We just want to know that you are safe.
If you know where Lawrence is now, call 999 quoting reference 5220174041, or ring 101 with any other information.
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Appeal for information after several high value bikes stolen in Somerset burglary
We’re seeking the public’s help following a burglary at an address in Priddy, Wells, in which a number of high value mountain bikes were stolen.
The bikes, which were stored in a garage attached to the address, were taken overnight between the hours of 8pm on Monday 3 August and 8am on Tuesday 4 August. The offender(s) removed roof tiles from the garage in order to gain access and open the door from the inside.
Six mountain bikes, thought to be worth around £25,000, were taken in what is believed to be a targeted attack. A chainsaw was also stolen. We’re issuing images of some of the bikes stolen – a LOOK 785 Huez, a specialized P3 and a Deviate Guide Mountain Bike. Please see the attached document.
We’d ask anyone with information that could help with our investigation to call 101, quoting reference 5220174130.
Attachments: stolen-somerset-bikes
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NON DWELLING BURGLARY
MAIN ROAD, HUTTON, near to the junction with SOUTHVIEW CLOSE, between 3:15pm and 4:30pm on Wednesday the 5th of August, a shop and flat above have been broken into, an untidy search was carried out and cash has been stolen, entry was gained via the rear door, exit was the same way,
If you have any information regarding this incident, contact the Police on 101. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or via their online form.
No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.
Please quote Reference number 5220175601
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BURGLARY
SIDCOT, WINSCOMBE, approximately 3am on Monday the 3rd of August, the resident was woken by the alarm sounding, on checking, it was found the family car had a window smashed and the car moved from the front of the garage and the garage door help open by the bins, the sounding of the alarm may have disturbed the intruder, nothing appears to have been stolen.
If you have any information regarding this incident, contact the Police on 101. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or via their online form.
No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.
Please quote Reference number 5220173174
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Two charged following disorder in Weston-super-Mare
Two men have been charged with a public order offence following a disorder in Weston-super-Mare on the evening of Friday 31 July. The incident happened in the Italian Gardens at around 7pm.
If anyone has information relating to this incident, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5220171472.
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Community support helps officers disperse gatherings
We were able to disperse a number of large gatherings across our force area on Saturday 1 August thanks to support from our communities.
Events in Bristol, Bathampton and in Cheddar Gorge were disrupted after members of the public called to inform us they were taking place. It follows recent calls from the force for residents to let us know when events were happening.
We received several reports from 2pm onwards about an unlicensed music event taking place in Dame Emily Park in Bedminster, Bristol, which was attended by several hundred people. Officers attended and engaged with the organisers who agreed to stop the music at 6pm.
Emergency services subsequently received further calls about anti-social behaviour in the park at 9.30pm, with hundreds of people reported standing around a bonfire. Police returned to the park along with the fire service leading to those gathering leaving soon afterwards.
In Bathampton, several calls were made to our non-emergency number 101 about a rave being set up at approximately 11.35pm. Officers engaged with the land owners who did not support the event and additional resources were brought in. A large number of vehicles attempting to arrive were subsequently turned away while a dispersal order was put in place which required those already in attendance to leave.
The local neighbourhood policing team in Cheddar were also called into action when a large number of vehicles started to gather in the Gorge from 3pm onwards. Additional resources were again brought in and officers worked with organisers to bring an end to the event. Several motorists were also issued with individual dispersal notices.
Chief Inspector Nigel Colston said: “Our ability to disrupt large gatherings and raves is significantly enhanced when we have the support of our communities. We’re extremely grateful for the assistance provided to us this weekend which enabled us to take action and bring an end to events which started to frustrate local residents. We hope people appreciate we can’t always charge in to situations to bring them to an early finish and there may well be some disruption until we can safely disperse people from the area.
“All of the events we disrupted this weekend were in motion before officers attended but we were able to negotiate with organisers and participants and encourage them to leave or issue orders requiring them to. The sooner we’re made aware of events taking place the quicker we can act and I’d like to thank all those who called us yesterday to report their concerns, it helped enormously.”
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