10
Dec
2013
By Calvin at 11:33 GMT, 12 years ago
An article in the This is Oxfordshire online newspaper today reminds us not to drop our guard during the build-up to Christmas.
The article tells us that Thames Valley Police (TVP) in Oxford is warning local people that ‘gadget theft’ in the city has reached a three year high. It seems that opportunist thieves are responsible for a 21 per cent increase in theft from the person with 509 reports since April compared with 421 the previous year. In response, TVP have launched a crime prevention operation whereby police officers are visiting hotspots such as bars, cafés and restaurants to warn people to look after their stuff and hopefully catch some of these offenders.
TVP make the point that stealing someone’s phone off a table in the café or from a handbag hanging on the back of a chair is a lot easier than committing a burglary and is also a lot less serious for them should they get caught,. This is because the maximum sentence for this type of theft is seven years whereas for burglary it’s fourteen!
I think the important thing for all of us to remember though is that what’s going on in Oxford will also be happening in all our towns and cities around the UK and so we should all take a little extra care.
It’s this time of year that we meet up with friends and colleagues for a quick (or not so quick) lunchtime drink and often the venues will be rammed. People enjoying themselves in busy venues create ideal opportunities for the opportunist thief so when you go out for that festive drink with colleagues and friends think about the following advice, which I give to my lads and their mates:
- Make sure your handbag is fastened at all times
- Don’t hang your handbag on the back of a chair (a Cardinal Sin if ever there was one!)
- If you hang your coat on a hook make sure you take out your wallet, keys and phone and if your coat is expensive keep it with you unless, of course, the venue provides a staffed cloakroom.
- Use the Chelsea clip at the bar or under the table for your handbag if the venue has provided them
- Once you’ve used your phone put it away in your pocket
- Use a front trouser or jean pocket for your mobile and or wallet wherever possible and if wearing a jacket or coat use an inside pocket which can be fastened.
- And finally, look after your mates and don’t drink so much that you can’t look after your stuff or yourself (a common reason for being targeted)
Apart from that – have a great time!
Read the full article in This is Oxfordshire: http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/10865633.Mobile_phones_and_gadgets_proving_to_be_easy_targets/?ref=var_0
Mobile phone crime prevention advice: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/property-identification--marking-tagging-and-tracking/597/mobile-phones/
