Charity lets you report crime anonymously CRIME BEAT Don’t be an easy target for thieves
Help to protect your vehicle withthese tips
A charity which helps trace some of West Lothian’s worst criminals is appealing directly to residents.
Crimestoppers Scotland has launched a campaign to encourage residents to report their crime concerns anonymously.
The ‘ It’s YOUR Call’ initiative will highlight the difference a call to Crimestoppers can make to people living in areas where crime can be a problem.
And one of the key messages is that those who report anonymously will remain anonymous.
Angela Parker, National Manager for Crimestoppers in Scotland, said: “For various reasons, people may not want to speak to the police or law enforcement, so independent charity Crimestoppers can pass on information to protect callers’ identities.
“Our message is that you can do something about it, you can prevent crime, so let’s make your area, safer together.”
Throughout the country over 10,000 public calls were passed to Police Scotland resulting in 367 criminals being arrested and charged, 35 guns, knives and ammunition items being recovered and £ 223,000 in drugs being seized.
Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice said: “My vision is of a flourishing, optimistic Scotland in which resilient communities, families and individuals live safe from crime, disorder, danger and harm.
“For that to happen we need to spread the message that if you see or suspect a crime being carried out, pick up the phone – don’t ignore it or hope someone else reports it.
“Whether it is someone breaking into a house or someone being attacked, we all have a responsibility to report that crime.”
Police Scotland figures showed that more crimes have been reported over the last year (7577) than the previous year (7506).
Officers were able to detect more crimes in 2015/ 16 ( 3144) than in 2014/ 15 (3099).
Mr Matheson added: “Crimestoppers play an important role by helping people do just that. By contacting Crimestoppers individuals help prevent, detect and solve crime.”
The organisation is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer.
It does this by operating the 24/ 7 telephone number 0800555111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously.
They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via the website www. crimestoppers-uk.org.
Police in Bathgate and Armadale Wards have seen an increase in vehicle related crime in recent weeks and months.
In some instances houses have been broken into and the key for a vehicle stolen or there have been works vans broken into and tools and other property stolen.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer some crime prevention advice and guidance in relation to securing your property and vehicles.
After all you work hard for your property, so protect it against criminals and improve the chances of it being recovered if it gets lost or stolen by considering the following advice.
Before setting off consider permanently marking valuables you use in vehicles, such as a Sat Nav, with your postcode and house number or name.
You can also register all your equipment at www. immobilise. com.
As we approach the autumn and winter months please never leave your car unattended with the keys in the ignition, for example when defrosting windows.
Car thieves actively target this practice and any insurance claim could be adversely affected as it may be considered driver negligence.
Try and keep your vehicle off the street if at all possible. If you have a garage then please use it and make sure you lock both the car and the garage.
If you don’t have a garage make use of the driveway if you have one.
If you are parking your vehicle in a public car park look for one with a Park Mark sign. These designated car parks have complied with specific measures to deter crime and antisocial behaviour.
After parking please lock all items out of sight, don’t leave anything on display and take valuables with you.
If y o u hav e p e r s o na l correspondence in the vehicle please take it with you. Don’t give others access to personal information or your home address.
My officers will be engaged in uniform and plain clothes prevention patrols throughout the coming months at various locations in the wards.
These patrols will be intelligence led and in conjunction with specialist officers from our Pro Active Unit in an effort to trace the criminals involved in thefts.
I would also urge all residents to be vigilant and report anything or anyone untoward in your streets paying particular attention to vehicles and persons not thought to be local to the area.
Since June there have been 17 vehicles reported stolen of which seven have been recovered and a number of people have been reported for various crimes and offences.
You work hard for your property, so protect it against criminals