Category: Thame news

THE Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team are planning a public meeting aimed at giving local people the opportunity to meet the members of their policing team, discuss local issues and to contribute towards the 2010 consultation.

The meeting will be on March 3, 2010, at Thame Snooker Club, Wellington Street, Thame, starting at 7pm.

Sgt Chris Hazell commented: “Please come along and have your say! The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) is currently conducting consultation in Thame. This is an opportunity for the community to help in identifying their concerns, and the results will be used by the NAG to problem solve the main issues.”

PHOTO: The Thame Community Policing team

THE police believe that the distraction burglary in Queens Close, Thame, over the weekend, is linked to two others in Oxfordshire.

The burglaries, all targeting elderly people, took place this weekend in Bicester, Oxford, Kidlington and Thame, and they all involved men pretending to need to check taps, washing machines or water pressure.

Det Sgt Gavin Collier, who is leading the investigation, said: “There is no reason why a stranger should ever come into your home. All agencies or utility companies should make an appointment and also use a password system.

?I would urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives, neighbours or carers to check their home security and alert them to the dangers of opening the door to a stranger.

?Distraction burglars prey on the elderly and vulnerable. If you see people calling at houses and are suspicious of their intentions, I would urge you to contact police immediately.?

Anyone with any information about these incidents should contact Det Sgt Collier at Banbury police station via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don?t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Malcolm Wills, Crime Reduction Advisor, offered the following advice to residents:

LOCKED – If someone knocks on your door and you are not expecting them, before you go to your front door make sure your rear door is secure.

STOP ? If someone knocks at your door, stop and think, ?Am I expecting someone?? Look through your spy hole or through a window to see who is at your door.

CHAIN ? Put your door chain on before opening the door.

CHECK ? Ask for the callers Identification and check this by phone.

IF IN DOUBT KEEP THEM OUT

Leaflets about bogus callers are available from your local police station

THE owner of a black and white cat, found injured last Thursday in the Coobe Hill area of Thame, is being sought.

A resident of Coombe Hill picked up a cat that had been hit and left in the road, at about 7pm last Thursday, February 12.

The cat was taken on to the vets but sadly died on the way. The resident, who has seven cats of her own, tried door knocking in Conduit Hill Rise and Coombe Hill Crescent but was unable to track down the owner. The vets are holding the cat in a freezer until it can be identified.

The cat was a male, black and white, more black than white, white chest and two white back feet. Not micro chipped not very old. Black bushy tail.

Anyone who recognises this description or would like more information, can call the finder on 01844 217690.

THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police.
On Friday February 12, at approx: 21:00hrs, a property in Queens Close, Thame, was the target of a Distraction Burglary.

Three white males knocked on the side door to the property and said they had fixed a washing machine down the road. They said there was a leak and that they needed to gain entry to check the water pressure. They gained entry, searched through some drawers, then left via the back door. It is not known at this time what has been stolen.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 1540 of 12/02/10.

Message Ends.

THE Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) locally is currently seeking your views on community concerns in Thame and the villages within Watlington and Chinnor neighbourhoods.

The feedback from the community will be used by NAG to problem solve the main issues and the data passed to relevant agencies. Community volunteers are completing questionnaires in the community.

Consultation forms can be located on SODC website and your views are welcome. See LINK

THE Police locally have reported several arrests as part of Operation Mickle during January and February 2010.

The aim of the operation is to reduce vehicle crime and burglary across the Thame sector. The operation has been led by the Thame Neighbourhood Team and has involved local officers, Roads Policing and the police Dog Section.

Thame’s Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have supported the operation using mobile ANPR (Number Plate Recognition divice).

SGT Chris Hazell, based in Thame, said: “The aim has been to target offenders visiting the area to commit crime and there have been arrests and a number of stop checks during this period.

“We will be continuing with proactive targeted patrols and operations to catch and deter people committing crime in our sector.?

A 29-year-old man from Thame has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The arrest is in connection with two burglaries on the nights of 27/28 January,2010, at Essex Road, Thame and 28/29 January in Nelson Street. He has been released on police bail until March 10, 2010.

During enquiries into the burglaries, a small quantity of class B drugs were found. A 29-year-old woman, also from Thame, has been arrested for possession of class B drugs and bailed until March 09, 2010.

ELECTION voting has already started all over Oxfordshire as thousands of people flock to new electronic voting booths to mark the card of their chosen candidate.

Education, climate change and crime are all on the agenda for seventeen hopefuls who have been campaigning to take their place in the UK Youth Parliament.

A new electronic system is being used for the first time – secondary schools, colleges, Connexions Centres and Youth Centres in the county have online voting papers for students to make their decision this week.

Last year 11-18 year-olds cast 10,000 votes to choose three Members of the Youth Parliament and three deputies to join 600 MYPs nationwide.

The UK Youth Parliament elections are run by Oxfordshire County Council. This year there are 17 candidates vying for the posts, four in South Oxfordshire, three in North Oxfordshire and 10 in Oxford City. One MYP and one deputy will be chosen for each area.

Oxfordshire’s MYPs made history by being amongst the first non-MPs in 300 years to take to the green benches and debate at a unique gathering of young people in the House of Commons last year.

TENTH YEAR OF UK YOUTH PARLIAMENT

Now celebrating its tenth year, the MYPs continue to advise the government on youth issues and have claimed national and local success on subjects affecting them.

Current hot topics include abolishing university tuition fees and reducing the cost of bus travel for young people. During their one year in office, MYPs will hold events and influence decision-makers on issues that matter most to the young people in their area.

The successful candidates will be announced on Friday February 12, 2010, at County Hall in Oxford. They’ll have more than the political spot light on them as a film crew will be present recording the event for a documentary about democratic and decision making processes for young people to be shown all over Europe.

Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, Councillor Louise Chapman will be on hand to congratulate the new young politicians.

She said: ?We are really excited about the electronic elections this year. This method gives the wider population of Oxfordshire?s young people the chance to vote. The candidates have been working very hard on their campaigns and there is no indication of who is in the lead and will be elected, which makes the process exhilarating for them and us.?

To get involved in UKYP or attend the event contact Emily Little at emily.little@oxfordshire.gov.uk or call 07824475793.

Full details of candidates and their manifestos can be found at www.bigvoiceoxfordshire.com

COUNTY Councillors have today agreed several speed limit changes on the county’s roads, including two in the Thame area.

The A329 and the A40 at Milton Common will change from a 30mph speed limit to 40mph; A40 NE of B4009 – 40mph limit to include Butts Way / Lambert Arms and the A418 – 50mph limit between A40 and A329 excluding existing 30mph limit at Tiddington.

LOCAL people seeking help and advice from Thame’s Citizens Advice Bureau, should now be able to see an advisor more quickly.

Volunteers are now being trained in just a couple of weeks to be the front line contact, or “Gateway” at the CAB, to enable each client to get to the best advisor suited to their particular problem quickly.

See the Thame CAB’s website for details about how to become a volunteer:

http://www.cabsouthoxon.org.uk/Thame.htm