Updates:
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Not sure? Don’t open the door!
Officers from the Urban Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) have been educating residents in Balby about doorstep crime, such as distraction burglars and bogus officials and offering advice about how they can prevent themselves becoming a victim.
Working in partnership with staff from Doncaster Council and the Lifewise Centre, officers attended the Cedar Social Education Centre and the Westbourne Gardens Community Centre in Balby. Both these centres provide care for elderly and vulnerable adults, who are usually the main targets for distraction burglars.
The officers took part in role-plays with the residents showing them how distraction burglars will try to trick their way into their homes by appearing as bogus officials, using convincing guises and appropriate dress. They gave them tips and advice on how to stop them getting into their homes and what to do if they do become a victim of a doorstep crime.
Distraction burglars aim to trick their way into properties to commit crime. They commonly pose as representatives of utility services, such as gas or water suppliers. There will usually be two or more ‘bogus callers’, as one will aim to distract you while the other attempts to steal your property.
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Kay Shackleton said: "Bogus official crimes target the most vulnerable people within our society and cause immeasurable amounts of distress to victims and their families. They are very convincing and can usually get into the person’s home by pretending to be from a company, or in some cases asking for a drink or to use the toilet. We hope these workshops will educate residents about how to spot a bogus official and prevent themselves from becoming a victim. The message is simple ‘Not sure? Don’t open the door."
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Volunteering to look after the vulnerable at night in Doncaster Town Centre
Special Constables from South Yorkshire Police, volunteers from Street Pastors and paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service have all joined forces to provide immediate assistance to people in Doncaster town centre on a Friday and Saturday night.
Two Specials and a paramedic are now based together in a police vehicle in the town centre on a Friday and Saturday night. If a 999 call comes through requesting an ambulance in the town centre, the team can attend almost immediately and treat the injured person, therefore reducing the amount of people visiting A&E on a night out and reducing the ambulance call out rate.
With the Specials also in attendance, should the injured person become aggressive or violent, they have the same powers as a police officer and the paramedic can still treat the person without having to wait for officers to attend. This in turn allows police officers to deal with other public order offences in the town centre.
Once the injured person is treated, a volunteer from Street Pastors, an initiative run by local churches throughout the UK, can stay with them if they are vulnerable or alone until a lift can be arranged or they can get a taxi, to ensure they are safely on their way home.
Street Pastors also patrol the town centre streets on Saturday nights from 10pm to 4am, seeking to help and support people on their night out should they have had too much to drink or if they have become separated from their friends and are in a vulnerable position.
Throughout the month of December, the Specials and paramedic attended 80 incidents. From these incidents, 73 people were treated for minor injuries at the scene, where ordinarily they would have attended A&E or have been taken to hospital via an ambulance call out. Throughout January, 41 incidents were attended with 38 people being treated at the scene.
The Street Pastors patrolled for 95 hours throughout December, attended 19 incidents, issued 70 pairs of flip flops to prevent any injuries to people found wandering the streets without shoes on, handed out 16 bottles of water and three foil blankets, helping in total 108 people.
Chief Inspector Neil Thomas said: “The Special Constables in Doncaster have a very important role and deserve recognition for their excellent contribution, as do the Street Pastor volunteers and paramedics, who are all working together to ensure people are safe and have help should they have any problems in the town centre.”
Rod Morrison, chair and local coordinator of Doncaster Street Pastors said: “We are all truly dedicated to ensure we can make a difference by caring, listening and helping people in Doncaster on a night out should they come into any difficulties.”
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Twenty three year old man sentenced to 14 and a half years for robbery in Doncaster
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 and a half years for robbery.
Ricky Langford was sentenced for robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, of which he must serve at least seven years and three months.
On Sunday, 3 April, 2011, at approximately 10.45pm, Langford and another man, Kyle Roberts, 25, attempted to gain entry to a property on Morley Road, Conisbrough.
The couple living at the address were aware someone was trying to gain entry to their home. They went outside where they were threatened on their driveway by Langford and Roberts, who were both wearing masks and one of them was holding a large knife.
They demanded the keys for one of the two vehicles on the driveway and stole one of the cars.
The car was crashed five minutes later on Sheffield Road. Roberts was found close to the vehicle, arrested and charged with robbery. He pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, 13 June, 2011.
Langford was later identified through forensic examination of the car. He was arrested and charged with robbery, however he pleaded not guilty and his case went to trial, where he was found guilty on Wednesday, 14 December.
They were both remanded and Langford was sentenced on Friday, 27 January, at Sheffield Crown Court.
DC Jon White leading on the investigation said: “I feel the sentence given reflects the horrific ordeal that the couple were put through and that they will now be able to move on with their lives and hopefully put this behind them."
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Do you know this man?
Police in Doncaster are trying to trace a man after an alleged distraction burglary at Emley House on St James Street.
The incident happened on Wednesday, 11 January around 4pm after the occupant, an elderly woman, was followed into the communal area of the flats by a man.
The man then tricked his way into her flat by saying he needed to check the water pressure. Once inside he asked the woman to hold the taps in her kitchen to feel for any changes in the water pressure. After around 20 minutes, the man left and the woman discovered that drawers had been opened in various rooms and £80 was missing from her purse, which was in her handbag in the living room.
Police have released a CCTV image of the man they are trying to trace in connection with this theft.
Inspector Amanda Hunter said: "I would urge anybody who may recognise the man from the CCTV image to contact us immediately. I would also like to advise residents to be vigilant to this type of offence. If someone calls at your door without an appointment, always ask to see their ID and check with their company before allowing them to enter. The simple message is if your not sure, don’t open the door."
Anybody with information should contact the police on 101 quoting incident number 671 of the 11 January 2012 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Keep vehicle keys out of sight!
Police in Doncaster are reminding residents to be extra careful with the security of their cars and to keep vehicle keys out of sight in the home after a slight increase in two in one burglaries over the last few weeks.
This is where the offender breaks into the house to steal car keys, which have been left unattended and on view in the home. Bawtry, Tickhill and Armthorpe seem to be the most effected areas but this is an issue across Doncaster.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector, Steve Whittaker said, "We are doing everything we can to prevent and detect these type of offences and I would urge the public to assist us by removing their car keys from view."
"Residents should treat their car keys as they would any other expensive item and not leave them lying around the house."
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Woman in Doncaster sentenced to three years in prison.
A 25-year-old woman has been sentenced to a total of 39 months in prison after she was charged with two counts of theft and two counts of burglary.
Mandy Vickers was arrested in August this year, and charged with two counts of theft, after she tricked her way into the homes of elderly people in Mexborough by asking for a drink or saying, she needed the toilet. When she left they noticed items missing, such as purses and mobile phones. She appeared at Doncaster Crown Court in September where she was remanded in custody.
She was later charged with two further offences of burglary after tricking her way into the homes of elderly people in Hexthorpe and Balby.
She pleaded guilty to the offences and appeared at Doncaster Crown Court on Tuesday, 6 December, where she was sentenced to 39 months in prison.
PC James Burton said: "I am really pleased with this result. Mandy Vickers targeted elderly vulnerable people in their homes and I am glad she has been given this sentence.
"I would urge the public, particularly the elderly to be vigilant to these types of burglaries. Distraction burglars will try anything to get inside the property. If you are not sure, don’t open the door. Always ask to see ID if they are claiming to be from a company."
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