Dear All

A couple of scams that have been highlighted recently involving cold calling via the telephone:

The first involves a company claiming to represent 'Neighbourhood Watch Support' who are trying to get people to advertise in a Neighbourhood Watch brochure they claim is going out to all local residents. There is no such organisation as 'Neighbourhood Watch Support'.  If you have any concerns, questions or issues that you would like to raise relating to this please call the following number 0116 229 3118 or e-mail enquiries@nationalnhw.org 

Information about the second incident has come from a NHW co-ordinator who was contacted by a male on the phone claiming to work for a company who fix computers. He stated that a lot of the computers in the area had been infected with a virus and he could help fix the problem by getting you to download his software (which would then infect your computer!).

Telephone calls such as the above two incidents should be treated the same as you would for anyone cold calling at your door. Do not agree to anything over the phone. Be polite just say 'no thank you' and put the phone down.

With the possibility of hay and straw being in short supply and therefore more expensive, in the coming months, please think about ways of securing your hay, straw, bedding and forage.

Cutting the string of small-bale hay or straw will make it virtually impossible for anyone to walk off with it. Marking the packaging of bales of haylage, bedding and feed with spray paint or permanent marker will make it identifiable and less attractive to thieves.

Hay is a difficult commodity to secure in closed barns, due to its combustible properties, but securing the area around the buildings should be a priority, using the best technology you can afford. Use lockable, metal feed bins to store your bags of feed. Review your security now, by imagining how easy or difficult it would be for someone else to gain access to your belongings, and take steps to make it more difficult for thieves to help themselves.

Be wary of anyone calling on the "off chance" or looking around the property. Take note of them and the registration number of any vehicle used. If you are at all suspicious, report the incident to the police.

Kind regards
Mims

WPC 235 Miriam Edwards
Beat Officer - Tadley Police Station
Tel: 0845 045 4545
Fax: 01256 405164
Mobile: 07770 471621
miriam.edwards@hampshire.pnn.police.uk 
www.hampshire.police.uk