Author: Sonja Francis

THE Police are appealing for information and warning residents of Little and Great Haseley to improve their security after a series of thefts from sheds and outbuildings in which thousands of pounds worth of tools were stolen.
Between March 16 and May 3, there have been six break-ins at addresses in Great Haseley and between April 13 and 14, a flatbed trailer was stolen from an outbuilding in Little Haseley.
Two sit-on mowers, chainsaws, power tools and generators were stolen in these incidents and between May 2 and 5, a set of number plates were removed from a car parked in Great Haseley.

These incidents, which are being linked, involve items being stolen from insecure buildings with the use of bolt cutters to remove padlocks.

Anyone with any information on these incidents, including if they have been offered such items for sale, is urged to contact Abingdon Crime and Incident Management Unit (CIMU) via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

Lesley Nesbitt, Crime Reduction Advisor based at Thame police station, said: ?We need people to realise that the items in sheds and outbuildings are a target to thieves and that better security needs to be implemented.
?Not only are the items easily sellable for quick cash, they are often used as tools for further crime, most worryingly is the increase in the use of spades and garden tools to break into homes.
?Burglars do not like to carry tools as they can be arrested for going equipped so they often see what they can find in an insecure shed first. For example, a spade is a handy way of forcing open doors and windows.
?By investing in some simple security measures you can help prevent losing valuable items and lower the risk of your home being burgled.?

Police issued the following advice:
ENSURE your shed or outbuilding is in good repair and replace hasp and hinge screws with non-return bolts.
INVEST in good quality locks for doors and windows, use grilles or even just chicken wire to deter opportunist thieves.
ALARMS can be fitted to sheds.
LOCK all tools and equipment away when not in use, use a long cable to lock them together inside your shed to make it even more difficult to take a single item.
POSTCODE or property- mark all your items of value; this will help us to return them to you if they are stolen and recovered.
EXTRA LIGHTING and natural barriers such as thorny hedges and roses can help keep thieves away.

For further information contact youR local Crime Reduction Office via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

LESS money may be made available for accident prevention measures during the next five years, because of transport budget cuts.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Latest Local Transport Plan, which covers the next five years, will only be implemented if funds are available from a budget which has been cut by

PARKING enforcement may be taken out of the hands of the police and managed by the district council.
South Oxfordshire, including Thame, will be the first area in the county to have their police-controlled Traffic Wardens replaced by civilians by 2008, if a business case for viability of the scheme, can be made.
While a survey of all the existing parking restrictions in the area is being carried out, there is likely to be an embargo on any new parking restriction orders.
According to Peter Ronald, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Environment and Economy, the changes could include an increase in residents’ parking permits because they may prove to be more cost effective.
Speaking at a meeting of the Thame Traffic Advisory Committee meeting last week, Mr Ronald said that, although the police will remove persistant offenders, clamping is only likely to be used in exceptional circumstances.

ACCORDING to end of year figures released yesterday,
crime has significantly reduced across Oxfordshire in the last financial year.
All five Local Police Areas across the county, including South Oxfordshire, which covers Thame, have achieved reductions in crime when compared to last year’s baseline figure set in March,2004, as part of three year targets.
Figures are measured to a national standard under the British Crime Survey. The figures include all key crimes such as burglary, assault, vehicle crime and robbery.
Compared with last year, South Oxfordshire LPA achieved the greatest fall of all the areas, 7.6% against the base line. Vehicle crime in the area came down and theft fell by a third against the baseline.

Chief Supt David McWhirter, of Thame Valley Police, said: ?I am encouraged by these figures, particularly since we have achieved significant reductions in a time of major change for the Force – moving to a basic command unit for Oxfordshire.
?The reductions in vehicle crime, burglary and theft are substantial and I want to ensure that this downward trend continues.
?We will keep the pressure on with street crime and continue our efforts against robbery. We are putting in to place robust plans across the local police areas to tackle criminal damage and neighbourhood policing teams are addressing local issues of damage and disorder.
?Domestic violence has shown the greatest increase of 42.4%. We have known for some time that this is a hidden crime and is greatly under reported. We launched a major campaign last year to increase awareness and encourage reporting of domestic violence which goes some way to explaining this sharp increase. The increase in reporting is also reflected nationally.
?We are taking a zero tolerance approach to those offenders and are working hard to bring them to justice. We have introduced a strict arrest policy which means more offenders are being brought into the criminal justice system and we have increased the size of our specialist unit assigned to dealing with them.
?We have been working with our partners to tackle domestic violence and have introduced specially trained ?champions? across our services to make reporting easier and to ensure victims get the right help. ?

Photo: Chief Inspector David McWhirter.
Image copywright: Thames Valley Police

A PROPERTY in Limmings Lane, Thame, has been the target of an attempted burglary.
The offence took place between Saturday, April 29, and yesterday, Monday May 1, when a sharp instrument was used to try and force the front door.
Anyone with information regarding this incident, is asked to please call the police Enquiry Line 08458 505505.