Crime crackdown is a success
Saturday, 21 November 2009 19:19
A CRACKDOWN on burglary, car crime and robbery in Chipping Norton and throughout West Oxfordshire has seen these crimes fall by more than ten per cent in the district, compared to this time last year.
The Safer Communities Partnership launched Operation Jugular in July, following an increase in such crimes.
The partnership comprises West Oxfordshire District Council, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Partnership, Thames Valley Magistrates Court Service, Thames Valley Probation Service, Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service, South West Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, Cherwell Valley Primary Care Trust, North East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, Oxfordshire Race Equality Council, Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Cottsway Housing Ltd.
Thames Valley Police’s Detective Sergeant Craig Kirby, leading the operation, said: “We are extremely pleased with the results of this operation, which has involved many officers working hard to raise crime reduction awareness around burglary and theft in our local communities.
“We’ve also been focusing on the importance of information we receive from residents in rural areas who are more alert to strangers in their villages.
“We continue to ask them to report suspicious incidents and people to us.”
Crime prevention and reduction adviser, Bill Butcher, said: “Unfortunately we are still seeing thefts from vehicles where the driver has left valuable items on display.
“With Christmas coming we are reminding people, once again, not to leave bags of shopping or any items in view in their cars.”
The partnership is selling SelectaDNA property marking kits to the public for £15.
These can be used to security mark valuables and register them on a secure database.
If the valuables are stolen and the police recover them, officers can find the owner’s details on the database.
Residents can receive crime alerts for their neighbourhood through Community Messaging at www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org