Winter Security Tips and Safer Neighbourhoods Latest News

Hello everyone. We hope you are well now that the nights are drawing in and the days are getting shorter.

There has been another increase in residential burglaries in the Triangle from July - October 2017. Eleven burglaries, many of these in flats in Blackheath Road and Greenwich South Street, were notified to us by the Police at the October Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel meeting.

You can take these extra steps to remain safe in and around your home and when out and about:

• When walking alone at night stick to main well lit routes.
• Be vigilant when using your phone when walking alone at night.
• Install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically.
• If you go out after dark, draw the curtains and leave some lights on.
• Fit robust locks on windows and doors.  And remember to use them.
• Never leave a spare key concealed near the front door (burglars know all the hiding places).
• Stop letterbox burglaries by storing keys away from the front door.
• Don't label house keys, in case you lose them.
• If you live in a flat don't let strangers in via the entry phone system.
• Try and keep valuables out of sight from windows.  

At the Neighbourhood Watch meeting, also held last month, Tina Gibbons of Trading Standards gave a short talk on doorstep crime, scams and bogus callers.

There have been some worrying incidents where bogus callers have targeted and then charged elderly or vulnerable people for unnecessary repairs on guttering, leaking drains, missing roof tiles etc. Please look out for your neighbours particularly if they are elderly, be vigilant and report any bogus callers or rogue traders to the Police or Trading Standards on 020 8921 8223. You can also contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 for information about fraud and financially motivated crime.

Sadly our local West Greenwich police station in Burney Street has closed for good. The West Greenwich Safer Neighbourhoods Police team are now located in the Greenwich Park office by the Blackheath entrance gate. This is not a public office but they can be contacted in the following ways:

Phone: 020 8284 5494
E-mail: henry.lawton@met.police.uk (PCSO Henry Lawton)
E-mail: westgreenwich.snt@met.police.uk
By mail: Greenwich Park Police Station, Greenwich Park, Blackheath Gate, Greenwich, SE10 8QY

David Scales/Tina Pugh
Security Hub