DON READ’S CRIME COLUMN – MARCH 2010

Don’t get fooled by scam
Credit card scams are still rife and a new one popped up recently.
You get a phone call saying that someone has accessed your
card details. They read you the number on the front of your card
and ask you to verify the three digit number on the back. Assuming
that if they know the main number they must be genuine you may
be inclined to comply with their wishes. Don’t. No bank asks you
to reveal card details over the phone.
Miniature helicopter
Regular readers will recall that on a number of occasions I have
mentioned the miniature helicopter which is essentially a remote
controlled flying camera capable of travelling at 400ft at 30mph.
Designed originally for military use, it was adopted by the police,
and we hear that a 16-year-old thief on Merseyside has the
distinction of being the first villain to be caught thanks to the stealth
weapon. It may look like a toy but is rather less expensive to run than its big brother, a helicopter. Late news: The Civil Aviation Authority has ordered the aircraft grounded as it has no licence to fly. Watch this space for further developments.
In the news
David Cameron has recently been quoted as saying: “Burglars leave their human rights outside when they break into someone’s house.” He promised to give householders more rights to protect themselves.
Jack Straw promised to look into prisoners using social network sites like Facebook to threaten people and the practice has now ceased. How did they come to have this facility in the first place?
A drunk disc jockey who shone a laser pen into the eyes of a police helicopter pilot has been jailed for five months. He used the laser at least ten times.
A Nottingham burglar, responsible for some 30 burglaries, dropped his mobile phone in a house he had broken into as the owner returned. The burglar’s photo was on the mobile. He was soon apprehended. How careless!
Nottinghamshire police will be handing out 3,000 high visibility packs to motor cyclists in March. The kits comprise jackets or bibs plus rucksacks. 
Almost weekly we hear about computers being stolen from educational buildings. Surely these expensive devices can be securely locked on to desks or tables with toughened covers to protect them being smashed. So why aren’t they? Is it the ‘It can’t happen to us’ syndrome?
Latest West Bridgford crime figures Avoidable are my own assessment
TFV = thefts from vehicles
Week ending: 23/1/10
Total reported crimes 27
Avoidable 12 = 45%            
TFV 6
Week ending: 30/1/10
Total reported crimes 31
Avoidable 13 = 42%            
TFV 4