Crime Prevention
(Neighbourhood Watch)
Residents across the Bathwick Estate know all too well, that whilst this is a wonderful, friendly and relaxed place to live we are often the victims of theft – from vehicles and on rarer occasions our homes.
Together we can ensure that theft is reduced by taking simple but effective precautions on a daily basis.
Full advice on home and property protection can be found on Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s website Crime prevention advice | Avon and Somerset Police but here are simple and effective measures we all can take to minimise crime in our community.
Vehicle Theft
1. Always lock your car. In the day and at night. This means checking the door handles even if (especially if) you have automatic locking.
2. Keep your keys in a Faraday pouch in your home which blocks the signal from criminal unlocking devices.
3. Do Not leave valuable items visible.
Whilst these suggestions seem repetitive and obvious, as the police can tell you, the vast majority of crime in Bath is opportunistic when someone has not taken (or forgotten to take) these basic precautions. That in itself is good news for us all – that we can prevent crime by taking more precautions ourselves.
Where thefts persist despite all attempts to prevent it (and intentional malicious damage is done) we can come together as a vigilant to community (as we have in the past) to assist the police in catching those responsible.
Suspicious Behaviour
Many of us have seen individuals in the street acting suspiciously. This maybe looking down the side entries to people’s houses, glancing up repeatedly at security cameras. If you witness any of this behaviour call 101 to report this. Many opportunistic thefts occur on the Estate after a period of surveillance by thieves (looking for easy targets).
Security Cameras / Door Bell Cameras
Either invest in one or consider a dummy device (identical to the real thing) which can easily be found on websites, like Amazon and self installed. The value of cameras is that they DETER thieves from targeting your home. Good home security is about making thieves think twice and walk past.
You should not consider a camera as way to record theft (this is the point at which it is too late). Active cameras enable us to provide evidence footage to the police and has certainly enabled our community to identify and (where appropriate) prosecute thieves. But rarely does it mean the return of your, or your neighbours possessions. Think – prevention.
Outbuildings – Bike Sheds
Keep them locked. Have secondary, or even tertiary, locking for items of high value.
Doorstep Crime (Nottingham Knockers and Pedlars)
Genuine callers (utility company workers, charity workers or sales people) all carry identification. Ask to see it. Inspect it carefully.
This alone cannot prevent fraudulent callers, so if you are unsure, do not open the door.
The victims of “distraction burglary”, as doorstep crime is known, are usually older, more vulnerable people. The more our community encourages doorstep selling, the more likely vulnerable people become targets as word gets around that the Bathwick Estate is a place where doorstep conversations are entertained.
Do your part to keep everyone safe by insisting on (and carefully inspecting) ID badges and discouraging cold doorstep callers/sellers.
Reporting Crime
Call 101. Or complete Report | Avon and Somerset Police using the link above.
Share relevant information on the Bathwick Estate Community Whatsapp Group (please remember this will only alert neighbours and may elicit some helpful footage but is secondary to calling the police.)
Neighbourhood Watch Contact for Bathwick Estate – Amie Berkovitch (contact via Whatsapp Group). Where multiple thefts have occurred Amie will co-ordinate with our nominated PCSO for a swifter police response). We are awaiting the name and badge number of our current PCSO.
And remember that every precaution you take to deter crime is another step towards keeping this a relaxed, safe and wonderful place to live – a tightly knit community that watches over each other.
Together we can ensure that theft is reduced by taking simple but effective precautions on a daily basis.
Full advice on home and property protection can be found on Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s website Crime prevention advice | Avon and Somerset Police but here are simple and effective measures we all can take to minimise crime in our community.
Vehicle Theft
1. Always lock your car. In the day and at night. This means checking the door handles even if (especially if) you have automatic locking.
2. Keep your keys in a Faraday pouch in your home which blocks the signal from criminal unlocking devices.
3. Do Not leave valuable items visible.
Whilst these suggestions seem repetitive and obvious, as the police can tell you, the vast majority of crime in Bath is opportunistic when someone has not taken (or forgotten to take) these basic precautions. That in itself is good news for us all – that we can prevent crime by taking more precautions ourselves.
Where thefts persist despite all attempts to prevent it (and intentional malicious damage is done) we can come together as a vigilant to community (as we have in the past) to assist the police in catching those responsible.
Suspicious Behaviour
Many of us have seen individuals in the street acting suspiciously. This maybe looking down the side entries to people’s houses, glancing up repeatedly at security cameras. If you witness any of this behaviour call 101 to report this. Many opportunistic thefts occur on the Estate after a period of surveillance by thieves (looking for easy targets).
Security Cameras / Door Bell Cameras
Either invest in one or consider a dummy device (identical to the real thing) which can easily be found on websites, like Amazon and self installed. The value of cameras is that they DETER thieves from targeting your home. Good home security is about making thieves think twice and walk past.
You should not consider a camera as way to record theft (this is the point at which it is too late). Active cameras enable us to provide evidence footage to the police and has certainly enabled our community to identify and (where appropriate) prosecute thieves. But rarely does it mean the return of your, or your neighbours possessions. Think – prevention.
Outbuildings – Bike Sheds
Keep them locked. Have secondary, or even tertiary, locking for items of high value.
Doorstep Crime (Nottingham Knockers and Pedlars)
Genuine callers (utility company workers, charity workers or sales people) all carry identification. Ask to see it. Inspect it carefully.
This alone cannot prevent fraudulent callers, so if you are unsure, do not open the door.
The victims of “distraction burglary”, as doorstep crime is known, are usually older, more vulnerable people. The more our community encourages doorstep selling, the more likely vulnerable people become targets as word gets around that the Bathwick Estate is a place where doorstep conversations are entertained.
Do your part to keep everyone safe by insisting on (and carefully inspecting) ID badges and discouraging cold doorstep callers/sellers.
Reporting Crime
Call 101. Or complete Report | Avon and Somerset Police using the link above.
Share relevant information on the Bathwick Estate Community Whatsapp Group (please remember this will only alert neighbours and may elicit some helpful footage but is secondary to calling the police.)
Neighbourhood Watch Contact for Bathwick Estate – Amie Berkovitch (contact via Whatsapp Group). Where multiple thefts have occurred Amie will co-ordinate with our nominated PCSO for a swifter police response). We are awaiting the name and badge number of our current PCSO.
And remember that every precaution you take to deter crime is another step towards keeping this a relaxed, safe and wonderful place to live – a tightly knit community that watches over each other.