Statistics released on crimes reported in Ruddington through the festive period suggest that even many law-breakers were enjoying a Christmas break this year!
Figures for last month from Rushcliffe Police show there were only fifteen reported offences in our village – ranging from criminal damage, to racial abuse, to the non-payment of a bill by guests at The Cottage Hotel. Suspected perpetrators have already been identified for a third of these crimes.
The complete statistics for December 2018, listed day by day, were as follows:-
3rd. Clifton Road – Criminal damage – window smashed by unknown male
4th Loughborough Road – Theft of Wallet – from rest room at Service Station
9th Easthorpe Street – Theft non-payment by guests at Hotel
9th Loughborough Road – Criminal damage – wing mirrors ripped off parked vehicle
11th Kirk Lane – Violence against person (road rage incident)
13th Easthorpe Street – Fraud and Forgery from elderly resident
21st Church Street – Criminal damage to Doctors’ Surgery – known offender
21st Old Station Drive – ASB/ Neighbour incident
22nd Loughborough Road – Drugs offence
22nd Harvey Close- Theft from dwelling known – offender arrested
24th Loughborough Road- Hate incident – staff racially abused at service station
29th Easthorpe Street – Road Related Offence – drink driver
29th Packman Drive – Theft from motor van – window broken tools stolen
30th Asher Lane – Theft from motor vehicle – window broken stereo stolen
31st Clifton Road – Burglary – car keys stolen and vehicle stolen from drive
However, our low crime rate is of little consolation to those residents and traders who did fall victim. Therefore, if you have information about any of the unsolved offences listed above – or may have captured CCTV footage that could help – you’re asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 asap, please. Or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Meantime, Ruddington residents are being warned that a general increase has been reported in bogus police officer cold calls, with a worrying trend that tricks the victim into thinking they have verified that the fraudster is legitimate.
Nottinghamshire Police advise: “There’ve been a number of reports where people have been called by someone posing to be a police officer and told that their help is needed in an undercover investigation into a bank. They are then asked to dial 999 to verify that the person they are talking to is a police officer before they go any further.
“However, this is a tactic used by fraudsters where the suspect stays on the line without the victim realising. So they’ve actually stayed connected to the suspect and not dialled 999. Please make sure your elderly or vulnerable loved ones and neigbours are aware.
“If you ever get a call from an officer that you’re not sure about, we’d ask you to verify the officer’s details by calling the force in question via the 101 service, ensuring that you speak directly with the named officer in question. Please make this call from a telephone line other than the one on which the cold call was received. If you do not have access to an alternate line wait at least 10 minutes before calling 101 on the same line.
“A real police officer would NEVER call a member of the public asking them to disclose personal or financial information and then instruct them to take immediate financial action. And they would not take issue with you going to any length to identify their identity nor would they try to intimidate or coerce you into taking the action they suggest over the telephone.”
If you believe that you have been called by a bogus police officer, you’re asked report the incident to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, on 0300 123 2040 or by clicking >>HERE<<.
If you think you’ve lost money through this scam, please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 so that they can preserve evidence as quickly as possible.
