Author: Sonja Francis

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DRIVERS and their passengers travelling through Thame today, were offered the chance to re-think their attitude to seatbelt wearing at a series of roadside checks.
In today’s operation, 71 people were given seat belt tickets, 10 were given tickets for using mobile phones whilst driving and three vehicles were found to have an unsuitable number plate or other minor defect.
Oxfordshire County Councils? Road Safety Team were helping Thames Valley Police to conduct the checks.
Those caught not wearing a seatbelt were given the opportunity to exchange their fixed penalty notice for an evening of seatbelt education on Thursday, September 27, where they will be shown graphic images of collisions where someone died as a result of not wearing a seatbelt.

Sixty eight people were killed and a further 2,887 injured on Oxfordshire?s roads last year. Twenty four of those killed were passengers in a car. More than half of rear car passengers and 1/3rd of drivers and front seat passengers who died were not wearing a seatbelt.

Investigations have revealed that as many as eight out of 10 of those who died as a result of not wearing a seatbelt in the Thames Valley over recent years would have survived if they had only worn their seatbelt.

Julie Jones, Road Safety Officer at Oxfordshire County Council, said, ?We hope some of those who attend the education evening will come away with a change in attitude, reducing the risk that they too may feature in our casualty report in coming years.?

PC Mark Pilling, Road Safety Constable, Thames Valley Police, said: ?It is almost the 24th anniversary of seat belt laws and tens of thousands have been saved from death and injury as a result. If everyone were properly restrained in a vehicle, we would immediately see a dramatic cut the number of people killed and injured.?

THE third, in a series of distraction burglaries across the Aylesbury Vale district last Friday, September 21, occurred between 8.30pm and 8.50pm in Chearsley Road, Long Crendon.
Three offenders entered the house from the rear while the owner was next door. When the 90-year-old resident returned to the house the offenders walked out. As they did one of the offenders approached their neighbour stating there was a problem with the water and he entered their house. He left after a thorough look around.
Nothing was taken from the neighbour?s house, although a clock and cash was taken from the first house.

Det Con Andy Netting, from the Priority Crime Team, 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. It is important to know that there is no such thing as the water board. In Buckinghamshire we use Thames Water and they rarely have to come into your home, even in an emergency.

?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.

?It is a good idea to have a chain or security bar on the front door, but it is still difficult to say ?no? to someone who is trying to get into your home. Many people are persuaded to take the chain off and let offenders in.

There are some simple rules to follow which will keep you much safer:

?Never open your door to a stranger. If someone comes to your door, use your intercom system, or shout through the door to see who is there.

?If the person is not expected, do not open your door. Tell them to make an appointment. If they say there is an emergency, check with the police.

?If the person is expected, put the chain on and then check ID if you are able to do that. If you do not have a chain, ask for ID to be put through the letterbox.

?Some offenders will not bother to ?trick? their way in if they find an insecure window or door. Make sure all your windows and doors can be easily locked and are locked whenever you leave the room. Padlock your side gate.

?If you are elderly and need any work done in your home or garden it is advisable to contact Age Concern to ask for advice. There are many ?bogus callers? who are offering to do work for people and it is difficult to check whether they are genuine.

If you are worried about your security, contact your local crime reduction office via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det Con Andy Netting, from the Priority Crime Team at Aylesbury police station, 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 on 0800 555 111.

You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station please call 0845 8 505 505 or visit: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bcu/buckinghamshire/bcu-info/stations.htm

More security advice can be found on the Thames Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reduction/saferhomes/safehome/index.htm

A POLISH cleaner has pleaded Not Guilty to the murder of a 94-year-old Thea Zaudy, whole burned remains were found near Thame, on July 13 this year.
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THAMES VALLEY POLICE have reported that criminal damage has fallen by over 43 per cent in Thame since Operation Mend was launched in June this year.
The figures compare June to August with the previous three months, March to June. Chinnor has seen a 36.4 per cent reduction and Wheatley has seen a 36.8 per cent fall.