Remember, remember to stay safe
Bonfire Night can be one of the busiest nights of the year for Police Scotland and a number of our partner agencies.
For that reason I will start this week’s article by offering some advice in relation to ensuring the night passes as safely as possible.
Official bonfire/fireworks displays are always the safest.
We’d always recommend going to an officially organised event for your own safety.
Such events are well managed, with bonfires/fireworks controlled.
However, if you are having your own bonfire make sure you keep it well away from buildings, vehicles, trees, hedges, fences, power lines, telecommunications equipment and sheds.
There’s always the threat that your bonfire could have dangerous consequences.
Always be considerate of your neighbours and remember that fireworks are noisy, which can upset some people and also animals as well.
If they are misused fireworks can cause serious damage to property and serious injuries to people and animals
Fireworks aren’t for children. Be aware that it is an offence to supply a firework, either for payment or free, to any person under 18 years of age. It is also an offence for any person under 18 to be in possession of a firework in a public place.
Remember, remember the fireworks curfew by-law. You aren’t allowed to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, although on November 5 this curfew is relaxed by an hour to midnight.
Throwing a firework at someone or setting them off in public (ie anywhere but your own back garden) is illegal.
Never leave a bonfire unsupervised. This is such an obvious point but every year there are still many who ignore it.
Leaving a large fire to burn by itself could allow it to spread and have devastating consequences.
Moving on to crimes of note over the last week, at about 7pm on Thursday, October 25, a householder was in her house in Mill Road, Hamilton, when she observed someone trying her front door handle. The lady made her way to her door and observed two males running away.
We have had some reported thefts from Larkhall. These include one occurring at 10.30pm on October 25 from a motor vehicle which was in a driveway in Machan Avenue.
We are also investigating a housebreaking from a nail bar in Union Street. Entry was forced and money stolen from within. This took place between 5pm on October 22 and 8am the following day.
Between 3.10pm on October 26, and 7.45am on October 27 there was a theft of plant equipment from a hire company in Lesmahagow Road, Boghead. A mini-digger and trailer were stolen.
We are also investigating the theft of three deep cell batteries from temporary traffic lights on Netherburn Road, Ashgill.
This occurred between 5pm and 11pm on October 29.
A works van was also broken into and tools stolen between 7pm on October 25 and 6.45am on October 27 in Buttercup Crescent, Ferniegair.