This briefing covers the period 1 - 7 October 2008.
Information from Cheshire Police.
BURGLARY
A burglary occurred in the Gleave Avenue area of Bollington between 28.9.08 and 3.10.08. Entry was gained by forcing uPvc french windows and gaining access to the conservatory.
A burglary was reported at a property in the Chancery Lane area of Bollington on 4.10.08. Entry was gained via an insecure rear door and a small amount of cash was stolen.
Between 2.10.08 and 5.10.08 and reported on 7.10.08 a burglary occurred in the Chancery Lane area of Bollington. Offenders used a stone to break a window to gain entry to the property. After making a search they left taking a portable DVD player and a pedal cycle.
During the midweek hours of darkness offenders approach a detached house in the Fanshawe Lane area of Henbury and using unknown means, smash a single glazed window but failed to gain access to the property.
Offenders, unsuccessfully, tried to break into a pub in the Crompton Road area of Macclesfield on 1.10.08.
A laptop PC was stolen from a sofa in the Crescent area of Macclesfield on 1.10.08. Offenders entered the house during the day via an insecure front door and stole the property.
On 3.10.08, during daylight hours, thieves approach an unoccupied residential property in the Withinlee Road area of Mottram St Andrew and removed a quantity of York stone paving slabs.
Bottles of spirits were stolen were stolen from the cellar of a public house in the Pitt Street area of Macclesfield.
Overnight offenders broke into a farm shop in the Lees Lane area of Newton and stole food from inside.
Cash was taken from the bedroom of a property in the Flying Fields Drive area of Macclesfield.
A burglary was reported in the Peterhouse Road area of Sutton on 4.10.08 whilst the owners were away on holiday. The offenders used a spade to force the patio doors to gain entry. Property was stolen.
A burglary occurred in the River Street area of Macclesfield on 5.10.08. A latch was forced on a downstairs window to gain entry.
During the hours of darkness a secure garage was entered in the Kendal Close area of Macclesfield on 5.10.08 and property was stolen.
Offenders entered via an insecure door, a property in the Arbour Crescent area of Macclesfield and stole a TV and a handbag. The occupants were in bed upstairs when the incident occurred.
Thieves have tried to enter a locked and secure garage in the Wentworth Avenue area of Macclesfield but were unsuccessful.
During the evening unknown offenders tried to remove the beading around a groundfloor window at a house in the Tabley Close area of Macclesfield.
Disturbed by the occupant the offender then escaped in a Japanese 4x4 driven by an unknown party.
Offenders tried to break into a garage in the Cherryfields Road area of Macclesfield on 7.10.08. Unknown if anything stolen.
VEHICLE CRIME
Four tyres were slashed on a vehicle parked in a residential multistorey car park in the Clarence Road area of Bollington.
Between 30.9.08 and 1.10.08 offenders smashed the driver's side quarter light on a secure vehicle parked in the Cock Hall Lane area of Langley. Offenders then entered and made an untidy search of the vehicle before making off. Nothing stolen.
Four wheel trims were stolen from a vehicle parked in a public car park behind a restaurant in Prestbury village on 1.10.08.
During the daytime period thieves broke into a secure Ford Transit van parked in the Bridge Street area of Macclesfield by smashing a window and stole a Sat Nav from the glove box.
On 1.10.08 a moped was stolen from a residential parking area in the Dawson Close area of Langley.
On 1.10.08 offenders entered an outbuilding in the Coalpit Lane area of Langley and tried to steal a quad bike from inside, damaging it in the process.
A vehicle parked outside a residential property in the Robin Hood Avenue area of Macclesfield was damaged when thieves tried to gain entry to the vehicle.
A vehicle was scratched by an unknown implement all down the sides and over the bonnet whilst parked in the Lansdowne Street area of Macclesfield.
A secured mountain bike was stolen from hospital grounds on 4.10.08.
A four wheeled trailer was stolen from a property in the Sutton Close area of Macclesfield on 4.10.08.
A Nissan pickup truck was stolen from a farm in the rural area of Bosley.
On 7.10.08 offenders stole the rear number plate from a vehicle parked in the Ploughmans Way area of Macclesfield and then threw eggs and beans over the vehicle.
Paintwork was scratched on a vehicle parked in the Cambridge Road area of Macclesfield. Nothing seen or heard.
OTHER
Youths were seen jumping into a garden hedge in the Grimshaw Lane area of Bollington causing damage.
A church window was damaged during the weekend hours of darkness in the Jackson Lane area of Kerridge.
Two lawn mowers which were chained up outside a property in the Broken Cross area of Macclesfield were stolen on 1.10.08. The mowers were loaded into a white Transit van and were then driven away.
Offenders approached a secure and unattended boat moored at a marina in the Adlington area. They removed the canvas from the rear of the boat and then removed two padlocks from the engine covering. Offenders then stole the engine and the steering wheel and made their escape.
During the early hours of the morning on 3.10.08 a wooden fence panel at the rear of a property in the Maple Avenue area of Macclesfield was damaged by someone kicking at the fence.
A plant pot was thrown at a front door causing damage in the Aylesbury Close area of Macclesfield on 7.10.08.
A security light was removed from a wall of a house in the Chiltern Avenue area of Macclesfield.
COUNTERFEIT VODKA
Thousands of bottles of counterfeit vodka are thought to be in circulation.
Lancashire, Bolton, Cheshire, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford Trading Standards have all seized counterfeit vodka in the last few months and there are worries that the products are also being sold at car boot sales and from hold alls by street sellers.
KIROV, KREMLIN and GLENS Vodka, sold in 70cl bottles have been identified as the most common counterfeits with a recent problem over Spar Imperial vodka sold at non Spar outlets. It is stressed that there is no problem with the Imperial Vodka sold in Spar shops. These counterfeit Spar bottles are distinguished by blurred text and images on the labels.
Imitation bottles of Glens Vodka can be identified because they lack a small AGC logo on the base of the glass bottle and a distinctive glue pattern on the back of authentic labels. There is often a misspelling of the address on the base of the front label.
It is thought that the bulk of this alcohol comes from Eastern Europe where counterfeiters often create a product containing higher levels of methanol.
Counterfeit products should be reported to Trading Standards by calling 0845 404 0506.
"STOP! THINK! CHAIN!"
Don't let people you don't know into your home without checking their ID. If you don't know whether their ID is valid call their employer and ask. If they need something from within the home shut them out side a locked door while you get what they want - or just tell them to go away AND LOCK THE DOOR!
Special risk awareness ...
Bogus 'water board' operatives are a regular modus operandi for distraction burglars. Please don't let these people into your house! Make sure your elderly relatives and neighbours know not to let these people into their houses!
Genuine water company staff all work for United Utilities and always carry an ID card. They will let you use this card to phone the company to verify their identity if you wish to make sure. There are no 'water boards' any more! Meter readers work for other companies but do not generally need access to your house. Meter readers normally work alone so beware if two turn up.
Never let 'water board' workmen into your house without asking for their identity then checking up on it.
United Utilities operate a password scheme to provide further assurance. Call them for details.
And in Pickmere a company was offering free security and fire safety checks for your home. This is the same company that we have been warned about several times in the last couple of years and they have been operating in the Macclesfield division.
We cannot name the company but a typical approach is to telephone asking if you would like a company representative to come round to your property to complete a security survey. The caller intimates that they are working in conjunction with the fire and police services or with Group4 - this is untrue.
The security survey is actually a hard sell technique which gets a salesman into your home with the aim of getting you to purchase as much security equipment from them as possible.
As well as offering security and fire advice they are now offering advice on electrical problems.
The company seems only to contact the more elderly residents of an area.
As this company has been the subject of a BBC Watchdog report, I suggest you inform your local Trading Standards if this company contact you and you are advised to decline the security check.
Scams - a wide variety of ways to part you from your cash!
There are as ever a wide variety of scams on the go. Two favourites at the moment are the 'we'll put manure on your garden' scam and the 'phone this number to arrange a parcel delivery' scam.
The manure scam involves confidence tricksters who 'sell' garden manure but then want one or more open cheques to pay for it. Needless to say they write a large value into the cheque after telling the account holder that it would only be a small sum. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give out a blank, signed cheque to anyone, especially someone you never saw before!
The phone scam involves getting a card delivered through the door saying that they have a parcel for you, please phone this number to arrange delivery. Look at the phone number - if it starts 09 or maybe 03 or 001 then it is a premium rate call that could prove very expensive. Do not call it but consult the local Trading Standards officer to check it out.
There are frequently variations on all the common scams so be alert. Unfortunately the crooks tend to go for the elderly, those most likely to accommodate them, those most easily convinced of their story.
Door Bells
A message from Trading Standards (17 June 2008):
We have had a few incidents with a trader trying to sell doorbells for £50 (when, in fact, they are not worth this amount). The Trader may purport to work with the council/housing.
The Trader is possibly using the name FS Installations or FS Community Systems and using a green Mitsubishi Charisma.
If you have any problems with this company, or any other cold caller, please ring Consumer Advice on 08454 040506.
Our advice would be not to enter into any agreement/sale/contract on the doorstep. If you want a doorbell or any other product, we would advise that you shop around, get quotes and ask friends or relatives for recommendations.
Trading Standards, Macclesfield
Please stay vigilant!
