News : North Devon Insight

Laser Pens
Local officers in Barnstaple are becoming concerned about the misuse of laser pens after receiving a number of complaints from members of the public.

One of the reports was received from a bus driver where a laser had been shone into the bus whilst he was driving. Police community support officer Hannah Denton stated “This is a very serious allegation and one which is subject of a criminal investigation. I am concerned that the irresponsible actions of an individual could have put the safety of members of the public at risk. Shining a laser into the face of driver can be considered to be causing a danger to other road users, and any person caught doing this will face the consequences”.

Police are asking people to ensure that any laser pens are only used in the manner in which they were designed for and not directly at others.. PCSO Denton stated “Obviously laser pens used in the right way have a legitimate purpose, however I would remind people that they are not a toy and it is a criminal offence to misuse them”.

Laser pointers in the UK have special requirements to be legal under Health and Safety legislation , for a General public presentation.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident they are requested to dial 101, quoting log reference 648 09/12/2011

Rural Incidents
The Police have recently received reports of very mindless acts that involve horses in North Devon. “Tail Docking” is a distressing incident for the horse as well as its owner. If you haven’t heard of tail docking before it is where a person cuts of some or all of the horses tail. It is thought to be used for fly fishing or to restore antique furniture.

Every horse is different and having an inexperienced person handle the horse or pony is very upsetting.

Horsewatch
Horsewatch is a voluntary organisation made up of like-minded people who have an interest in reducing theft of horses, ponies, their transport and equipment. Don’t make it easy for thieves. All you need are some good security measures, most of which are inexpensive and you can do yourself.

Mark equipment using your postcode followed by your house number or the first two letters of your house name, for example EX1 5DB 14 or TR1 4BS CH. This is your unique code that pinpoints your address from all others in the country.

Firmly stamp your unique code into the leather, using a light hammer or mallet and metal dies that can be bought from most suppliers of engineers’ tools.
Keep a detailed inventory describing all your valuable tack and the serial numbers.
Secure saddles and bridles to their racks with chains and padlocks.
Fit good quality mortise locks to doors.
Fit bars or grills to windows.
Reinforce wooden tack rooms internally with a steel plate or mesh.
Keep the tack room door closed so people cannot easily see what is inside.
Ensure that the field is secure with a padlocked gate and use electric fence where necessary.

.How to join or set up a Horsewatch scheme
To find out about a Horsewatch scheme in your area or to discuss     setting up a new scheme contact:
Horsewatch Forcewide Co-ordinator
Gina Dale
C/o Okehampton Police Station
Tel: 01837 840716
or E-Mail Georgina via www.devon-cornwall.police.uk

PCSO Hannah Denton 30094
Whiddon Valley, Landkey, Bishops Tawton &
Swimbridge
Telephone: 08452 777 444

Email:
Hannah.denton@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

General Enquiries, to report a crime and for
information and advice:
08452 777 444

Hi Everyone

This month I have dedicated my article to one of scams. We start off this month, with an update;

In the January 2012 magazine article, I wrote about the information that was alleged to be kept on a hotel “Keyless” card, this information was provided by the Metropolitan Police Service. Since I reported this matter, I have been contacted by the manager of a local Hotel. He wanted me to assure all readers that though they also use this type of system that they do not store any guest information and that they are run from a separate system to guest check in and bookings. The key cards are allocated on arrival for the room and de-allocated on departure. If a card is lost it is de-allocated immediately to the residents.

I have also been made aware of websites that actually look into these alleged scams and are able to offer further information regarding the actual scam. I have looked at these websites and found that they contain information on a number of other scams. If you would like to gleen further information regarding this subject, you can do a search on the subject through an internet engine. Or equally visit the website below.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/Protectyourselffromscams/index.htm

I would like to thank the hotel manager and other residents for clarifying the situation and to offer my apologies for any misunderstanding that I may have caused.

Next, information on two possible scams, which were reported to me by several local residents, both of which appear to involve the use of computers.

It involves a person contacting you by phone claiming that they are from a computer specialist company, which usually has the words “Windows” within the title. The gist of their conversation goes along the lines of: “We have noticed that your computer is running slow and that you may have downloaded a computer virus”.

They then suggest that they are able to remove the virus for you, but to do it, they will require you to login to their website, this then allows them to see all your personal details on the computer!!!

Another similar scam, which was reported to me recently by a local resident, went like this:
The resident received a number of phone calls advising them, that unauthorised phone calls from overseas had been made from their computer. The caller then asked the resident, to go to the computer and await instructions, fortunately at this point the resident terminated the phone call.

It appears to me, that there is quite a similarity between these two reports, so please be mindful if you are contacted by anybody making such claims.

Please do not enter into any form of conversation with any such person(s) and most DEFINATELY do not login onto their websites, unless you believe them to be genuine.

Don’t get caught by the Criminal Cashback Scam

After advertising goods, you find an interested buyer contacting you, however, for some reason they want to pay you a cheque for more than the goods are advertised for, with you sending them the rest of the money back as change.

The buyer often has an elaborate explanation for why they are doing this, for example they may claim this money is to pay a shipping company. Once the cheque is received, the buyer can be very persistent in wanting to know when you will be sending their money.

You are about to become a victim of the Criminal Cashback Scam.

What the criminal will do is send a forged or stolen cheque. When this is uncovered you will be left with nothing while the criminal gets to keep whatever money you are sending. As the perpetrators of this scam are usually based outside the UK and all the information you have on them is likely to be false it will be next to impossible to recover your money.

This is a scam that usually targets businesses but also can be aimed at anyone who sells goods. Previous victims include Hotels and people selling vehicles online or via small adverts.

Find out more about this and other scams on the Devon Trading Standards Scam Pages: “Are You Scamwise” and “Scams affecting businesses”.

For clear, practical Consumer Advice call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

If you have fallen victim and lost money to a scam you can now contact Action Fraud on 0300 1232040 or visit their website at: www.actionfraud.org.uk

Buying Safe Online
With a few basic precautions you can avoid some of the risks of buying goods online:

Always read terms and conditions. Many offers may appear attractive initially until you do this. Common risks include offers of free trial periods, which when you read the small print you find become chargeable if a complicated cancellation procedure is not followed.

Check what the traders’ cancellation policies are. UK and EU traders must abide by the distance selling regulations which gives a cooling off period for the sale of most goods at a distance. However non EU traders do not have to do this.

Where is the trader? Never purchase from a trader unless you know his address in the real world. Even then, rogue traders can give false addresses. Many people assume that if a website has a .co.uk web address, uses the word UK in its title or asks for money in pounds that it must be based in the UK. That is exactly the assumption that the rogue trader wants you to make. You can check where a website is registered using one of the several “Who is” websites online.

Don’t be fooled by appearances. A rogue trader is often just as capable of putting together an impressive looking website as a genuine trader. Pick reputable suppliers, not just the first one or cheapest you find.

If an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. If it appears as if the trader cannot be making a profit on the deal then there is usually some sort of hidden cost. Goods may be counterfeit or may in fact never be delivered at all.

Avoid any offer that comes to you by an unsolicited spam email.

Pay by credit card if you can. You will be protected for breaches of contract over £100 by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. It will be often a lot easier to get your money back from the credit card company than from a rogue trader.

Look for the padlock symbol and the letters https in the website address at the point where you enter credit card information. The symbol should appear on the frame of your own browser window rather than the website itself. Click on the padlock to find if the certificate is registered to that website and is in date.

You can find more about buying safely online on the Trading standards website which is: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Regards,
Tony & Richard

LOCAL POLICE SURGERIES:
Woodville: The second Tuesday of each month and is held in the Children’s Centre (which is located in the grounds of Sticklepath Community School) from 2 – 3.15 pm

PC 11010 Richard Preston / PCSO 30093 Tony Charles
Contact Telephone Number: 08452777444, Barnstaple
Neighbourhood Beat Office

Email addresses:
Richard. PRESTON@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk, Terry.HODGSON@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk, Anthony.CHARLES2@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Jessica.MEAKER@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

'If you have been a victim of crime and would like assistance, please contact Victim Support on 0845 676 10 20.