Police Update for August 2009
Welcome to my second monthly update (Sorry, the Crier missed the first one.
Eds) happening in the area. However before I start telling you about crime I
thought I'd update you on changes to our staffing. Inspector Alan Savill is
leaving East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood team to take up a more senior post at
Parkside Police station in Cambridge and he will be missed by the team and
residents alike. However do not panic as his replacement is Inspector Andrew
Bartlett who has worked in the East Cambridgeshire Sector before as a Sergeant
at various times over the last few years and so knows the area well and I'm
sure will fit into the role with ease.
I am sad to say we will also be losing one of our old police cars BUT it is to be replaced with a new all singing all dancing car fitted with ANPR. "What is ANPR?" I hear you say. Well it stands for Automatic number plate recognition. As you may have seen on television this will allow us to target groups and individuals who use the roads to travel to commit crime and also will help us target drivers with no insurance and no tax. However to make this system work for us we need information. The public already provide intelligence about people and their vehicles but this can often soon become out of date. So if you have information about criminals and their latest vehicles or people you believe are driving without licences, tax or insurance please tell us and we will target them.
Finally don't forget that it is the annual Ely Police Station open day on Sunday 27th September where there will be a number of emergency services present with displays and activities for all ages.
So what is happening in the areas?
BOTTISHAM and LODE
There were 4 house burglaries and 1 shed burglary where 3 pony riding saddles were stolen.
There were 3 criminal damages including 2 separate windows and a vehicle.
There were 3 Thefts. One was a ladder another was 250 litres of red diesel and the third was a large grass cutter.
There was 1 theft of a vehicle for which a person has been arrested and charged.
However there were some more unusual crimes that are worth noting:
A distinctive pedal cycle was stolen in Bottisham which the owner had customised and has not yet been found. It is painted gloss black and the front wheel is larger than the rear wheel and looks a bit like a penny farthing.
A red IFOR WILLIAMS horsebox trailer was also stolen and may still be in the area.
Finally a taxi driver collected a male from Cambridge who asked to go to another village via Bottisham. The male got out saying he was going to an address and then ran off without paying. He is described as a male of Asian appearance of a slim build with a London accent and seemed to know the village and used the name Nazeem. If anyone has any information about this male please contact me via the Police Service Centre telephone number 0345 4564564 or via crime stoppers on 0800 555 111
BURWELL
There were 2 thefts from cars one was a handbag and the other was plumbing items.
There was one house burglary where a male was detained by a member of the public until police could arrive and he has been charged in relation to this offence, he is on bail in relation to another.
There were two other non dwelling burglaries.
There were 3 domestic related incidents. Two people have been arrested and charged with various offences.
There were two thefts one of some patio lights and one from the Co-op in Burwell. One person has been arrested and charged in relation to the Co-op crime.
THE SWAFFHAMS and REACH
There were 6 thefts in the area. Two were lead stolen, one was money and the rest were agricultural and equine equipment. Of the three other crimes reported 1 was a smashed car window, one was a male who had an item thrown at him by a passing car and the final and most despicable were some head stones pushed over in the Swaffham Bulbeck Cemetery.