Author: Sonja Francis

THE police were called to Thame town centre earlier today, after a local woman recognised two men she suspected of stealing her purse.
The men, one in his late 20s, the other in his early 30s, were arrested at around 11am this morning, in Cornmarket, Thame.
The woman told officers that her purse was stolen whilst whe was shopping in the Sobell House charity shop in Thame, on October 22.
The two men remain in police custody awaiting interview by officers and have not been charged at this time.

THAME Police are repeating their appeal for witnesses following the report of a rape in Great Milton on Wednesday afternoon (31/10), with the release of new information.
Det Sgt Alan Clements from Thame CID said: ?This attack occurred as Halloween celebrations were starting. We believe there may have been parents with their children out trick-or-treating in the village at the time of the attack.
?Were you out with your children in Great Milton at around 5pm? If so, please get in touch.
?Also, a man was seen sitting in a light-coloured people-carrier parked near the churchyard at 4pm. We would like to appeal for him to come forward because he may have vital information.?

Local Neighbourhood Inspector, Jim O?Ryan added: ?We are taking steps to reassure the local community in Great Milton and nearby villages and will be increasing high visibility patrols.
?Our officers will be out and about in Great Milton this evening (02/11), two days on from the time of the attack to reassure residents and to answer to the best of their ability any questions they may have.
?While the incident may be worrying for some, I would like to highlight that this sort of attack is very rare, particularly in an extremely low crime area like South Oxfordshire.?

Det Sgt Clements can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don?t want to talk to police and don?t want to leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Photo: St Mary’s church, Great Milton

THE town name signs at the various entrances into Thame, are to be replaced with new ones, showing the town crest and its French twin town, Montesson.
There are currently eight signs sited at the vehicular entrances to Thame and the town council proposes to provide one new sign at each of the five entrances and to relocate a couple of the existing signs to another positions.

Replacing the existing, rather delapitaded signs, some of which still have ‘Nontron’ (a former twin town) on them, was a priority identified by the Open Spaces In Thame (OSIT) in reponse to a need identified by the Market Town Health Check carried out in Thame.

Funding is to be sought for the signs from the district council’s Market Towns budget, but Thame Town Council may have to find the funding (

THROUGHOUT November, some of the officers from the neighbourhood team in the Thame Police Area will bw visiting the outlying villages to engage with the residents there.
This will be your opportunity to speak in confidence with local officers about issues from neighbourhood disputes, problems with litter or speeding – any issue that affects you and your quality of life.

Below are the times and venues when the mobile police station will be visiting your area in November.

Friday 9th November 2007

Stadhampton ? On the Green 10am ? 11am.
Little Milton ? Car Park The Pines 11.30am ? 12.30pm
Tiddington – Village Hall Car Park 2pm ? 3.30pm.

Saturday 10th November 2007

Holton – Village Hall ? 10am until 11.30am
Wheatley – Asda Stores ? 12.30 pm ? 3pm

THE Police are appealing for witnesses following the report of a rape in Great Milton yesterday afternoon (31/10).
At around 5pm, an 18-year-old woman was walking past the graveyard of St Mary?s Church. She has reported to police that she was grabbed by a man who took her into the graveyard, then raped her.

The woman describes the man as over 6ft tall, wearing a dark hooded jumper, 25-30 years old with an English accent.

The woman has been left extremely shaken by the incident.

Police have cordoned off the scene and are searching the area.

A road check will be carried out this afternoon between 4pm and 6pm to ask drivers if they saw anything suspicious yesterday afternoon.

Det Sgt Alan Clements said: ?We are keen to speak to anyone who saw or heard anything at around 5pm yesterday afternoon in the area.
?If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, please contact me.?

Contact Det Sgt Clements via 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

THE design of a new library for Thame has been described as ‘horrible’, ‘a brick and glass box’ and ‘a step too far’ by members of Thame Town Council’s Planning committee.
The committee’s comments came during a meeting last night, whilst it considered an application by Oxfordshire County Council to demolish the Pied Pedaller toy shop, in North Street, Thame, and replace it with a state-of-the art new library.

Letters from members of the public read out at the meeting were equally scathing and included the comments: “Appalled”, “Ugly and out of keeping with the area”, “monolithic appearance”, “Blocky design with a harsh choice of materials.”
The Thame Conservation Area Advisory Committee commented that they felt the design was not in scale with the surrounding area and that the design represented “unwanted brutality.”

Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods liked the design for the interior but said: “We do live in the 21st century but this does not fit in with the street scene and I would like to see the front of the building somewhat softened – especially horrible is the green concrete!”

Cllr David Laver commented: “I do not think you can put the clock back but I think it is possible to be more sensetive and come up with a design that is more in keeping with the buildings around it. There is nothing wrong with modern architecture if it is done well but this is out of keeping.”

Cllr Lionel Morbey commented: “This building would look alright in a field in Moreton, but not in the centre of Thame. I would say, ‘Must try harder!”

Cllr Rob Parker did admit that, although he had at first thought the design “horrific,” it had grown on him.
The committee however voted unanimously to recommend refusal of the plan on the grounds of the design being out of character with the area and the choice of materials. They were at pains to make it clear that they were not opposed to the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new library, but that they could not condone the design presented to them.

PHOTO: An impression of how the proposed new library would look in North Street, Thame

A mysterious big cat was spotted by a Thame man last Saturday, around 10.30pm, in the countryside near Thame.
This is the latest in a series of sightings of what are believed to be Pumas and other big cats living wild in the Oxfordshire countryside.
Big Cat specialist and advisor to Thame Valley Police’s Wildlife Crime section, Steve Archibald, told ThameNews.Net that he believes that there are many big cats living in the countryside in Oxfordshire, sitings having been reported to him in recent years from an area stretching from Aylesbury, Bledlow, Princes Risborough to Chinnor and Aston Rowant.
Steve was reluctant to reveal where this latest sighting was made for fear that people less sympathetic to big cats may go out looking for them with a view to killing or injuring the animals.
Steve would like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen a big cat, to contact him immediately on 07731 787249. To find out more about these mysterious animals, visit the Oxfordshire Big Cats Research website:
www.bigcatsightings.com

AS the nights draw in, Thame’s Crime Reduction Advisor is offering advice to combat the increase in burglaries that often hits the area at this time of the year.
Lesley Nesbitt, who is based at Thame police station, gives the following advice: ?November is often the month when people start preparing for Christmas and getting those extra presents, storing them at home. In Thame last year we saw an increase in burglaries in November.
?Most burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves. In two out of ten burglaries, they don?t even have to use excess force; they manage to get in through an open door or window.
?Reduce the risk of your home being burgled by making sure you take some simple and inexpensive precautions. Take action now and don?t become a victim of burglary over the coming months.?

Here is a security checklist:

? Fit 5 lever mortise deadlocks (BS3621) to all front and back doors and locks to all downstairs windows and windows which are easy to reach.
? Keep your house and car keys safe and away from doors and windows.
? If you have a burglar alarm make sure it is installed properly and works.
? When you are away from home, use timer switches to turn some lights or a radio on when it is dark.
? Don?t leave your Christmas presents on display in your home ? burglars like to do their window shopping.
? Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries when you go away.
? Keep your garage and garden shed locked with proper security locks, and keep any tools secure and out of sight.
? Trim hedges and plants that a burglar could hide behind.
? Make sure you have up-to-date contents insurance.

There are a number of home security leaflets available from your local police station and if you would like to have a free security survey carried out at your home please call your local crime reduction officer via 08458 505 505.

If you have any information about any burglaries that occur in your area and you do not want to talk to the police you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 and remain anonymous.