Archived News - Police
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Escaped horse dies following car accident
A horse had to be put down after it was involved in a collision with a car in Eaton Bray on Friday morning.
The accident happened around 6am after two horses had escaped from a field in The Comp during the early hours of the morning.
The animals had been wandering up and down the High Street, but their bid for freedom came to a sad end when both horses were in a collision with a Peugeot 106.
One horse, a 16-hand bay, suffered serious leg injuries and had to be put down at the scene; the other received a small cut to the mouth.
Police needed to cordon-off the road near to the junction with The Rye for two hours, to allow a vet to tend to the injured horse. The driver, who reported the accident, was not injured.
Van chase ends in hedge crash
Police have been hunting a driver who fled from the scene of a one-vehicle crash in Eaton Bray Road Northall, in the early hours of Friday.
A grey Ford Escort van overturned into a hedgerow and burst into flames but the motorist escaped the vehicle and ran off before police or firefighters could talk to him.
Leighton firefighters used thermal-imaging equipment to search the nearby undergrowth to check that he hadn't fallen injure.
Anyone with information about the crash, which happened shortly before 2am, should contact Leighton Police on 01234 841212.
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Source: Leighton Buzzard Today
Neighbours fighting crime together
Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch groups across South Bedfordshire have been urged to work more closely together to help fight crime.
The South Beds Home Watch Steering Group has been formed to help bring different schemes together, allowing good practice to be shared across the district, and to give local people a platform to tackle issues that affect them.
Alan Woolridge is secretary of the group and lives in Eaton Bray: "All we've got in South Beds is lots of individual groups who do what they feel they should do. What we're trying to do is build it up. All this is helping police make safer communities."
Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch schemes are community initiatives that are supported by the police but are owned and run by their members. Members can be sent circular email messages warning of recent crimes in their neighbourhood and steps to prevent becoming a victim.
To find out more about the steering group or joining a scheme, contact Brendan Murray, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator at Dunstable Police Station on 01582 473158 or by emailing brendan.murray@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk
Warning over thefts from vans and cars
A spate of thefts from cars and vans has been reported in rural areas near Luton and Dunstable.
Now the series of vehicle break-ins has sparked a police warning to traders and drivers.
There has been a rise in the number of vans broken into in the Barton and Silsoe areas in recent weeks. Power tools, including drills and circular saws, have been taken.
In Eaton Bray, more cars are being broken into and valuables have been stolen.
Det Con Richard Foulkes said: "We don't want to alarm motorists, simply to make them aware of this emerging pattern, so they can take the appropriate precautions and together, we can nip it in the bud."
Police advise traders to remove, where possible, all tools from vehicles at night and put the items in a secure place; ensure tools are security marked and adequately insured; fit vans with alarms, immobilisers and security chests; black out any windows and fit security grilles; back vans up to a wall to make it difficult for rear doors to be attacked; and attach stickers warning that no valuables are left in vehicles overnight.
Motorists are advised to park their cars inside a garage; fit security lights over driveways; remove valuables, including sat-navs, laptops and coats; use immobilisers or alarms; and fit index plates with tamper-proof screws.
Anyone with information that could help to catch the culprits should contact police, in confidence, on 01234 841212, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
For the latest news from Eaton Bray and beyond, get the Dunstable Gazette every Wednesday and make a daily date with Dunstable Today.
Source: Anne O'Donoghue, Dunstable Today, 30 April 2008
Two hurt in Eaton Bray crash
Two people were taken to hospital after a crash in Harling Road, Eaton Bray, yesterday, December 6.
A Ford Focus and a Vauxhall Corsa were involved in the accident, which happened shortly after 3.30pm. Police went to the scene, and the road was closed for a time.
Beware! Bogus callers
In July 2007, Beds Police launched a campaign called 'Second Generation', to get children, grandchildren, carers and neighbours thinking about older people and reminding them about the dangers of burglars and rogue traders. Posters and leaflets were distributed to relevant locations such as GP surgeries, nurseries, post offices, schools and parish councils.
Bedfordshire residents, particularly older and vulnerable people, need to be on their guard after a spate of burglaries in the county. Offenders have been pretending to be from utility companies, e.g. water, gas, electricity and phone, to bluff their way into your homes. They do this by keeping the occupier busy while an accomplice steals cash and valuables. Sometimes they even pose as Police officers.
Beds Police offer the following advice:
- Use door chains and spy holes.
- Always ask to see identification before letting someone into your home.
- Do not keep large amounts of money at home.
- Keep outside doors and windows locked.
- Call the Police if you are in doubt about the identity of a caller.
Other nuisance callers include:
- Cold callers: sales reps who turn up without an appointment and won't leave until you have signed a contract.
- Rogue traders: unqualified workmen who often do jobs in your home badly and expensively. Victims are usually older people.
Anyone with information about bogus callers can contact Beds Police on 01234 841212, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. In an emergency dial 999.
Source: Focus, December/January 2008
Millions of us are at risk of identity fraud
The calls come as part of the National Identity Fraud Prevention Week campaign which aims to educate consumers and businesses to the dangers of identity fraud.
Despite continuing efforts to combat identity fraud - still one of the UK's fastest growing crimes - a poll commissioned for the campaign showed that 75 per cent of UK adults have been personally affected, or have friends and family who have been affected, by identity fraud.
Over 19 million households regularly dump sensitive materials in their waste and recycling bins.
11 % throw away whole credit/debit card numbers - a combination of a complete card number with its associated expiry date and owner's signature was found in the waste and recycling of 13% of households.
A third of us are still throwing away everything a fraudster needs to steal a person's identity, including passports, driving licences, CVs, phone and utility bills.
DI Shane Roberts head of the Beds economic crime unit, said: "Identity fraud is a serious and growing problem which affects all our communities. From experience, we know that the best way to safeguard our personal information is through strong preventative measures, whether you're shopping online, or throwing out your bills."
Exclusive research carried out by Experian for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week showed that everyone, from the wealthiest and most creditworthy sections of society to council tenants and students were at risk.
Leaflets containing information on how to avoid identity theft are available from Beds Police Stations.
There are several ways ID fraudsters may potentially target consumers. These include: theft of personal documents or security information; stealing post from communal hallways; using mail which has not been re-directed after someone has moved; duping consumers to disclose personal details online; or bin raiding.
Further information on how to protect yourself, and how to cope if you are a victim of identity fraud. visit www.stop-idfraud.co.uk. or call freephone 00 800 1810 1810 to get a copy of the guide.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 9 October 2007
Police response under fire
Police may be promising to come down hard on nuisance motorcyclists in the area. But their response to them so far has been dubbed "absolutely farcical".
Last week it was announced that bikers who break the law could face having their bikes crushed.
But now a police spokesman has admitted that responding to calls about two-wheeled troublemakers quickly isn't always the top priority.
An angry Eaton Bray householder has said that her efforts to get the police on the case have so far been in vain.
Marion Heyland of Manton Road rang police last Monday because of the problems bikers were causing.
But she claimed that she didn't receive a response until several hours later, by which time the youngsters had moved on of their own accord.
"I'm concerned about the lack of response with the police," she said. "It's absolutely farcical."
Source: Dunstable Gazette, 11 April 2007
Hooligans damage cars in four roads
Cars parked in the High Street, School Lane, Wallace Drive and Knights Close had windows smashed and tyres slashed, leaving some owners with a bill for thousands of pounds.
Among the cars attacked were a Mercedes, Peugeot, Rover, Ford Focus and Mondeo.
Beds Police spokesman, Dave Cook, said: "This was mindless, wanton, criminal damage and we would like to speak to anyone who saw or heard anything that could help us catch the offenders."
Anyone with information is asked to telephone the divisional intelligence unit in confidence on 01234 841212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 22 August 2006
Brave shopper thwarts robber
A customer sprung into action to stop a would-be thief from raiding an Eaton Bray off-licence for possible the second time in a month.
The Good Samaritan was in Threshers, in Eaton Bray High Street, when a man made a snatch for the takings on Sunday afternoon. After wrestling the thief's arm away from the cash the crook darted for the door and made his escape empty-handed.
The incident on Sunday afternoon was a carbon copy of another till snatch three weeks ago and police are investigating to see if they are linked.
A police spokesman said: "A person walkin in, picked up a can of lager, asked for cigarettes and when the shop assistant opened up the till he put his hand in the cash register.
"Thankfully a member of the public was there and pulled the man away and he ran off empty-handed."
The thief was descibed as blank, late 20s or early 30s, with a tatoo on his neck, stubble, and wearing sunglasses, cap and baggy clothes. It is a description similar to that given after the previous theft.
Anyone with information abouyt the thief or the till snatches should call DC Vicky Clarks on 01234 841212 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, 0800 555111.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 20 June 2006
Police get new power to deal with intimidation
Police are using new legislation to crack down on gangs of youths who blight the lives of people living in Eaton Bray.
From May 26, the village is to become the subject of an official dispersal order, meaning officers will have the power to move on groups whose behaviour is intimidating, harassing, alarming or causing distress to residents.
The order, which was approved by South Beds District Council, means individuals can be excluded from the area for up to 24 hours and arrested if they refuse to co-operate.
It also means police, who will continue to take action against anyone committing a criminal offence, can take home any under 16-year-old found unsupervised and causing problems after 9pm.
Beds Police beat manager PC Neville Johnson said the dispersal order is designed to prevent residents feeling threatened by groups hanging around public spaces and causing problems. It is not a curfew and law-abiding young people have nothing to fear.
Notices highlighting the order, which will last for six months, are being placed in shop windows, at entrances to the village and in the local press.
PC Johnson said: "Eaton Bray is not noted for having excessive levels of anti-social behaviour, although there have been problems with a minority of young people spoiling it for others.
"Dispersal orders are not used in isolation, but are part of an integrated series of measures implemented across the division to discourage anti-social behaviour.
"These measures include everything from test purchase operations to reduce under-age drinking to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and more serious Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.
"With the holidays approaching, parents can help us by asking where their children are and what they are up to. It is also helpful to ensure there is no unsupervised access to alcohol in the home."
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 16 May 2006