The END

Resident · Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:33 pm BEWARE: KEEP THINGS LOCKED AND SHUT.

From having spoken to a few folk over the last couple of days it would appear that a lot of UNLOCKLED sheds, garages and houses have recently become victims of thefts.

I wouldn't dare to say this could be down to the more undesireble travellers (Tinkers) that are currently residing in Elgin as we have so many class A drug users who will also steal anything they can.

So if you have elderly family please warn them or make sure everything is as secure as it can be for them and make sure your own property is as secure as possible also :!:

norma · Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:48 pm

Hi folks,
Thanks for the warning Resident! This actually happened to me a couple of years ago. I had gone to bed without locking the door. When I came down in the morning the door was lying open and my purse had gone! Luckily there wasn't a lot of money in it but it was a very unpleasant experience nonetheless! A neighbour lost his wallet with his bank cards, together with the pin numbers for them. They cleared over £1000 from his bank accounts. So please warn people as well to put their purses/wallets out of sight - and not to keep their pin numbers with their bank cards!
All the best
Norma

John Allan · Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:56 am

Yes very well said Resident. We have recently had sellers offering leather sofas and later on in the evening and night they are still going about the streets around our area. And there have been a lot of thefts from unlocked sheds and other outbuildings like Resident has mentiond, it is a real pity that in this day and age that nothing is safe :(

norma · Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:01 pm

Unfortunately, another thing to be wary of is leaving your door open during the day when you are out in the garden. A neighbour of ours, a couple of years ago, was out in the back garden. Somebody walked into the house, lifted her handbag, and walked out again. As you say John, it is sad that we have to take precautions like this - but better safe than sorry.
Norma

MTB Mad · Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:42 pm

Last year my downhill mountain bike worth 900 pound was stolen out of my garden at lunchtime and I never ever got it back :thumbdown:

Resident · Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:09 pm A couple of Grampian police, Moray division notices.

News Release: Security Advice for Residents of Moray - [16-Jun-2007]

Grampian Police at Elgin have issued an appeal to householders to help prevent crime by being more security conscious.

Sergeant Grant McCutcheon of Moray Community Unit said: "The community unit analyse crime data on a routine basis for undesirable trends that are developing so that we can address them and ensure that Moray remains a safe and pleasant place to live. Recently, we have noticed a slight rise in the number of sneak in thefts reported to us and we are seeking the help of the public to reverse this trend as it is an area in which they can make a huge difference.

"The point about sneak in crime is that the culprit does not need any special skill or have to overcome any security. All they need is the nerve. If you leave your door unlocked thieves need only seconds to enter a house and steal cash, handbags, purses and other valuables and they can do it without making a sound.

"In some respects it is an indication of the low level of crime in Moray that people are prepared to leave their vehicles or their houses insecure but people should be aware that this kind of crime does take place."

He concluded: "Our message is simple: make sure your property is secure. Keep your doors locked, even when you are in the house and close your windows if you are going out. Remember to lock your vehicle and don't leave valuables on display in it. Don't leave valuable items like bicycles lying unattended in gardens and keep garden sheds locked. It only takes a couple of minutes to make sure your property is secure and that's about the same time that it would take an opportunist thief with no special housebreaking skills to deprive you of it."

To obtain free crime prevention advice, contact Grampian Police on 0845 600 5 700.

News Release: Theft From Motor Car, Bishopmill, Elgin - [17-Jun-2007]

Grampian Police are investigating a theft from a motor car in North Street, Bishopmill, Elgin, which occurred about 1030pm on Friday 15 June 2007.

A two figure sum was stolen.

One of the males responsible is believed to be, 14-17 years of age, 5'2" in height, slim build, dark hair and was wearing a light coloured baseball cap and clothing.

Grampian Police are keen to trace the occupants of a silver coloured Mercedes motor car who were seen in the vicinity at the time and may have witnessed the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Grampian Police on 0845 600 5 700 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.

Masingo · Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:26 pm Re: BEWARE: KEEP THINGS LOCKED AND SHUT.

Resident wrote: From having spoken to a few folk over the last couple of days it would appear that a lot of UNLOCKLED sheds, garages and houses have recently become victims of thefts.

I wouldn't dare to say this could be down to the more undesireble travellers (Tinkers) that are currently residing in Elgin as we have so many class A drug users who will also steal anything they can.

So if you have elderly family please warn them or make sure everything is as secure as it can be for them and make sure your own property is as secure as possible also :!:

I think with regards to these sorts of matters we should be very carefull about the sort of jejorative language we use when refering to traveling persons as many are not as bad as they are made out to be however because these ones are less visable because they are behaving themselves and staying away from trouble it means that they are not acnowleged and are branded with the same stigma that is attached to those who choose to cause nuisence

Resident · Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:07 pm Re: BEWARE: KEEP THINGS LOCKED AND SHUT.

Masingo wrote: I think with regards to these sorts of matters we should be very carefull about the sort of jejorative language we use when refering to traveling persons as many are not as bad as they are made out to be however because these ones are less visable because they are behaving themselves and staying away from trouble it means that they are not acnowleged and are branded with the same stigma that is attached to those who choose to cause nuisence

Okay Masingo point taken regards my overall sweeping statements :oops: , however having known one of the last travellers to fish the upper reaches of the spey at an undisclosed island for freashwater pearls to then be sold in Perth as that was also the last remaining jeweller who made rings and an array of other items using the natural pearls, he would strongly aggree that there is a big difference between travellers and tinkers and I did try to get that point across. But point very much taken and thank you for the response and your other posts :thumb:

THERESA · Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:56 am Theft

Looks like most of us have been a victim to theft or know someone who has. While clearing out my house i had placed a weight bench out in the communual hall in our block of flats to go out to the shed. As i was busy with hoovering etc... someone came along and took the weight bench (what a nerve), in the middle of the day, someone surely would have seen them carrying this down the street..... This was last year, Police could do nothing but take a statement and discription.

norma · Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:49 pm

Hi Theresa,
Yes, it must take an incredible amount of nerve to carry out some of these acts! That is what makes them so easy - we just don't expect people to have that amount of nerve!
Norma