Don’t give thieves a chance this Christmas

The government is reminding people to ensure that Santa is the only person who can get into their homes and cars this Christmas period.

Acting Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Andrew Powell said summer was the easiest time for thieves to enter homes through open doors and windows.

“No one wants to return home and discover their Christmas presents and other belongings have been taken by some opportunistic thief,” Mr Powell said.

“Marking all your property helps deter thieves and get property back into the right hands. Police stations and Neighborhood Watch groups all have engravers which can be borrowed for this purpose.

“When going on holidays or leaving the home or car, I urge all Queenslanders to lock up and be safe.”

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said that a number of break and enters occur in the warmer months when people have gained access to homes and holiday apartments through doors and windows that have been left open.

“We’re urging everyone to make sure your security screens, doors and windows are locked at all times, even when you are at home,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“Small items such as cash, laptops, wallets and car keys are often left in plain view by the front door and are commonly targeted by thieves.

“Every residence has the potential to be a target of a break and enter and it’s up to householders to ensure their property is not at risk by making it as difficult as possible to break in and arranging for a family member or friend to check your property if you are going to be away for an extended period.”

For more information about property security, please visit www.police.qld.gov.au and follow the links to crime prevention.

Fake Telstra Scam

Police are warning members of the public to be vigilant following reports of a scam which has already claimed several victims in Queensland.

The scam operates in a similar way to the “Microsoft scam” where victims are called by a representative claiming to be from Microsoft who then asks for access to their computer or payment of a fee to have it repaired.

In the Telstra Scam, victims are called by a technical repair company claiming to be operating on behalf of Telstra. Again the caller requests access to the victim’s computer remotely to “repair” the fault.

According to Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the Fraud and Cyber Crime Group, the caller “overcharges” the victim then offers to refund the money to them and asks them to establish an online money transfer account which needs to be linked to a credit or debit card.

“Instead of refunding the money, they take money from the account. Telstra has received several complaints of this occurring in recent weeks,” Detective Superintendent Hay said.

Telstra will never contact you asking you to verify your personal details. If you feel you have been compromised it is imperative you contact your bank and credit card provider immediately.

To ensure you are not becoming a victim of fraud, it is essential you remain alert and to those who contact you requesting access to your computer or banking accounts or details.

For further information on how to stay safe, visit the Queensland Police Service website or http://www.scamwatch.gov.au.

Take care when on the road this Christmas

The Queensland Police service is reminding people to take care and pay attention when travelling over the Christmas break.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey reminded drivers to remember the Fatal Five when they got behind the wheel.

“The Queensland Police Service will be out in force over the Christmas period, targeting all road rules, but specifically the Fatal Five: drink driving, speeding, driving tired, not wearing a seatbelt and driving distracted,” Mr Dempsey said.

“This year 259 people have died on Queensland roads, a figure which is far too high.

“This Christmas we want everyone to arrive at their destination safely and we can all do our part by taking care when on the road.”

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said his officers would be out in force over the Christmas holiday period focusing on the Fatal Five.

“If you speed, drink drive, don’t pay attention, don’t wear a seatbelt or drive while tired you will not only be caught by police, but you risk your life and the life of every other road user – and that is just not acceptable,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“Unfortunately some drivers take unnecessary risks when using Queensland roads – some of which end in disaster – whether this is serious injury or fatalities.

“The community’s safety is our priority and police will continue to target motorists who break the law.”

 

Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey and Police Commissioner Ian Stewart at the launch of the Christmas Road Safety Campaign

 

 

(Article and Photo Source: myPolice QPS News)

 

Don't become a crime statistic this Christmas

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also the season to be wary of burglars, thieves, pickpockets and other holiday Grinches.  Nothing can ruin the Christmas spirit faster than becoming the victim of a crime.  

Unfortunately burglars view the holiday season a little differently – for them, it is a time of opportunity to burglarize your home for cash, credit cards and gifts.  

Now is also a time of year during which many of us are busy with last minute shopping.  We must not forget that criminals will also be out and about looking for easy targets to steal from. 

The following are a few strategies provided on the NHW blog (http://nhwq.org/) that will help you enjoy the festive season without incident.

 Protecting your home

§   Make sure windows and doors are locked

§  Have locks all keyed the same

§  If you have a security door, lock it by using the key when you are home.

§  Engrave your property

§  Keep trees and shrubs trimmed

§  Put away tools, gardening equipment and ladders, thieves may use these to gain access

§  Remember to lock garden sheds and garages

 Protecting your home when you are away

§   Use a timer to turn on lights, radio or television

§  Ask a neighbour to collect your newspapers and mail

§  Never leave a key hidden outside, leave it with a neighbour, family or friend

 Whilst doing your Christmas shopping

§   Bag and purse snatching is a common crime.  It can happen anywhere.  Stop the bag snatcher by always carrying your bag over your shoulder and tucked down the arm.  

§  To discourage purse-snatchers, don’t overburden yourself with packages.  Have our purchases delivered whenever practical.

§  Do not leave your bag in the shopping trolley.

§  Shop before dark if possible.  Coordinate shopping trips with friends.

§  Lock your parcels and gifts in your vehicle’s boot.

§  Keep your vehicle’s doors locked and windows closed and ensure valuables are out of sight.

§  Have your keys readily available in your hand before you go to your car.

§  Avoid carrying large amounts of cash

§  Pay for purchases with credit card, or debit card when possible

§   Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason.  At this time of year “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.  

(Source: NHW Queensland Blog - NHW blog (http://nhwq.org)

 

 

 

Avoid charity scammers this Christmas

‘Tis the season of giving but don’t let your generosity be taken advantage of by charity scammers this Christmas.

It is the nature of Queenslanders to be there for others, to give to those who need it but unfortunately there are also people out there looking to make a quick buck under the guise of charity.

These scams not only cost you money, they also divert much needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes.

The Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has warned that charity scams operate in a number of different ways so it is important to be able to identify the difference between a genuine charity and a scammer.

Generally, if you are approached on the street the scammer will not have any identification, will put pressure on you to donate and won’t give you a receipt.

If it is an online charity scam, it usually operates via a fake website which is likely to be a very close replica to a legitimate charity site.

The Attorney-General encourages all Queenslanders to continue to give this season, but make sure the charity is the real deal.

Some tips to help protect yourself from scammers include:

·         Approach charity organisations directly

·         Only give out your personal, credit card or online account details when you initiate contact

·         Ask to see identification if you are approached

·         Check whether a charity or appeal has authorisation by conducting a free search on the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

·         Delete any suspicious emails

·         Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you think you have provided your account details to a scammer

Any organisation that wishes to publicly fundraise in Queensland must be registered as a charity or sanctioned community purpose organisation.

You can check whether a charity or appeal has authorisation by conducting a free search on the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

For more information on charities and appeals click here or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

 

Break and enter offences drop in Brisbane region

A bit of good news from the Queensland Police, who have advised that break and enter offences have been reduced by more than 900 offences, when comparing 1 July to 30 November to the same time period last year.

Brisbane Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Allan McCarthy said the reduction by 974 unlawful entry offences was a combined effort of the community and targeted police patrols.

“Residents throughout the community have been paying attention to our crime prevention messages and ensuring they keep their doors and windows locked, even while at home, keeping a look out for strange behaviour in their street and reporting it to police,” Acting Assistant Commissioner McCarthy said.

“With information received by the community we are able to set up targeted operations in certain areas and catch offenders. Our officers have worked very hard on a range of key strategies that have made a real impact in the past six months, resulting in a significant number of arrests and the recovery of quite a lot of stolen property.

“Their ongoing efforts are a contributing factor to this positive result.”

Along with the reduction in break and enter offences there has also been a reduction in stolen vehicle offences.

“Active patrols in the area and security measures by owners, has helped reduce the rate of Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicles,” Assistant Commissioner McCarthy said.

However, it is of course important that we always remain vigilant and ensure they keep taking appropriate security precautions. This is particularly important if people are going to be away over the Christmas holiday.

We can all work together reduce crime and make our community safer.

Visit www.police.qld.gov.au for crime prevention and security tips.

Free fitting of one way screws on 14 December

Our friends at Aspley Gardens Neighbourhood Watch Inc have advised that they have combined with the QPS Crime Prevention Unit and Aspley Hornets Club to conduct the following Event.

OPERATION NUMBER PLATE SECURITY
THE SECURING OF YOUR NUMBER PLATES BY FITTING ONE WAY SCREWS          

You are invited to have your Number Plates Secured with ONE WAY SCREWS for "FREE"

WHERE: ASPLEY HORNETS CLUB CAR PARK - 50 Graham Road Carseldine.

WHEN:   Saturday 14th December 

TIME:      9.00 am to 11.00 am

Lollies, Balloons, a Lucky Dip for the Kids and you can buy some tickets in their Christmas Hampers. 

Please note fitting has to close at 11.00 am sharp so don’t be late if you wish to take advantage of this offer.

Police warn to watch out for ATM skimmers

Police are warning shoppers and merchants to be vigilant during the upcoming festive season. 

The Christmas shopping period in the past has been a prime time for transnational crime gangs to visit major shopping locations around Australia and target ATMs and stores. 

Detective Superintendent Brian Hay from the police Fraud and Cyber Crime Group said “These criminals will fly into the country, travel around the major centres, attach skimmers to ATMs and EFTPOS terminals and fly out with thousands of electronically stored compromised accounts only to steal the money from those accounts in a coordinated manner from multiple global locations,” Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said.

“We can never afford to be complacent. Christmas is certainly an expensive enough time for families and to lose money to a fraudster during this time is something I’m sure most families would like to avoid,” he said.

Ensure when using an ATM you look for any suspicious device attached to the card entry point of the machine and always cover your hand when entering your PIN.

Also be sure to examine your monthly statement for suspicious transactions, especially transactions which may appear for 1 or 2 dollars – this indicates your card has been compromised and the criminals are testing the account is still active.  If you see this, contact your bank immediately.

Any suspicious people hanging around an ATM should be reported to police immediately.

Reminder - next Carseldine 6 NHW Update meeting - 7 November

The next Carseldine 6 NHW Update meeting will be held on Thursday 7th of November at the Craigslea State School P&C Building at 7.30 pm.

The P&C building is situated at the rear of the school.

Car parking - please use the western car park near the swimming pool. You can then walk through the covered play area to the last building on the left.

As usual, supper will be provided at the close of the evening. 

Our special guest speaker will be Cr Fiona King. Come along and hear about local and Brisbane City Council news or ask a question.

Your support of Neighbourhood Watch is of vital importance to the safety and security of our neighbourhood.  Come along, meet your neighbours and share a cuppa and a social word or two.

We hope to see you there. All welcome!!!

Energy Company scam

Notice from Energex - if you’ve had a call from someone claiming to be from “The Energy Company” needing to inspect your home - it’s a scam.

If you receive such a call please alert police -  phone131 444.

Stolen jewellery recovered - is it yours?

North Brisbane District Police have seized a large quantity of jewellery suspected of being stolen during burglary offences earlier this year.

A recent operation involved tracking down hundreds of items which were sold to second hand dealers and gold-buying establishments.

It is believed the jewellery, which is mostly gold, was stolen in the Brisbane area between March and August this year.

There is still a large amount of unidentified jewellery which has now been posted online in the hope it can be recognised and returned to its rightful owner.

Images of the jewellery can be located on the Queensland Police Flickr page: www.flickr.com/queenslandpolice.

Anyone who may recognise the jewellery is urged to contact police by emailing

op.lima-cypress@police.qld.gov.au. They should include specific details about the particular item and information about when the theft occurred.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.

Crime Stoppers is a registered charity and community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

For all non-urgent police reporting or general police inquiries contact Policelink on 131 444 or Policelink.qld.gov.au 24hrs a day.

Keeping little ghouls safe this Halloween

With Halloween gaining popularity in Australia, little zombies, ghosts and witches will take to our streets tonight.

Senior Sergeant Craig Williams said while the Queensland Police Service was prepared to respond to poltergeists wreaking havoc or the ever-present threat of a Zombie outbreak, ‘trick or treaters’ should be aware of other more likely dangers.

“While Halloween has not traditionally been celebrated in Australia, we have seen an increase in the number of Queenslanders who are actively celebrating Halloween,” he said.

“It can be a fun night, but some in the community are rightly concerned that ‘trick or treating’ can be fraught with danger.

“By taking a few minutes to familiarie yourself with a few safety tips, we can ensure tonight is a ‘frightful’ night for all the right reasons.”

Trick or treaters should:

• Be accompanied by a mother or father monster at all times (or another responsible witch, ghost or vampire);

• Black cats love to slink around, but you should walk, not run between houses and stick to the footpath rather than the road. Black cats don’t want to be seen, and for good reason, but if you wear black, it will reduce your visibility to passing motorists!

• Never enter a stranger’s house, even if they have invited you in after knocking on their door;

• Be aware that not everybody celebrates Halloween, and some may find a group of young witches, zombies or Frankenstein’s Bride on their door step very confronting!; and

• Consider joining your friends on your neighbourhood adventure – there is safety in numbers.

 

(Article from the MyPolice blog 31 October 2013)

UPDATE - Child Abduction Alert - Zillmere

The Queensland Police Service, in conjunction with officers from the New South Wales Police Force, has located the 2-year-old boy who it is believed was taken from Zillmere yesterday. 

The boy was found safe and well at an address in Merriwa, New South Wales around 3.15pm. 

Investigations into the incident are continuing. 

Police would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance.

Child Abduction Alert - Zillmere

The Queensland Police Service are still seeking urgent public assistance to help locate a two-year-old boy who was taken from Zillmere at 12pm on Sunday, October 27. 

Further information has been given to Police that: 

At about 12pm a woman took the boy from a Beams Road address and then walked him to the local shops in Taigum. 

The woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 29 years of age, with a slim build, blue eyes, and was wearing a brown skirt, black singlet, white sandshoes and was carrying a bag. 

The boy is described as being of Caucasian appearance, two years of age, slim build, blue eyes, blonde hair, and wearing orange shorts, an orange T-shirt with a blue stripe over the pocket, and black sandshoes. 

Ring 131 564 to provide any other information

Ring 000 to provide life threatening information about this incident.

Beware of Bogus Tradesmen

A bogus tradesman has been targeting elderly northside residents, according to a report in this week’s Northside Chronicle.

The article quotes Acting Senior Sgt Megan Dwyer as saying that the man asks for cash upfront to paint roofs and then leaves without returning.

Megan Dwyer advises that residents should not feel pressured or intimidated into making a decision on the spot when faced with a tradesman offering to do such work, and to be wary of handing over cash up front.

The man is described as aged between 50 and 60 and 175 cm tall with a large build and short white hair. He has been seen driving a white utility.

 

 

Warning on fake Woolworths customer satisfaction survey

A fake Woolworths customer satisfaction survey is going around at the moment that asks for bank account details in exchange for a $150 gift voucher.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned that they have already received 140 complaints since the scam resurfaced at the start of September.

According to the ACCC, scammers are sending this survey out of the blue – usually via email or social media sites such as Facebook - and asking you to complete questions before you can claim the voucher. They may also ask for banking details to complete the survey. If you are duped, you will find that the vouchers are fakes and retailers won’t honour them.

Once you have unknowingly sent your details to a scammer, they can steal your money – and possibly even your identity.

The ACCC gives the example of someone who was checking her Facebook page and found a friend had ‘liked’ a link to a Woolworths survey, which offered a $150 voucher for a five minute survey. She completed the questions and filled in personal details at the end. She received the voucher in her email yet discovered at the checkout that it was a fake. When she went home she was shocked to discover unauthorised transactions on her credit card.

Vouchers for surveys are often used by retailers, which is why it is easy to get caught out. If you see one of these surveys, call the business’ official customer service line before starting it. Don’t rely on the links or telephone numbers provided on the offer as these can link to a fake website or even a fake call centre.

Alarm bells should particularly ring if you are asked to provide bank account or credit-card details. If you think you may have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately.

Further information is available at the Scamwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au.

 

Do you know this bike?

Sergeant Greg Wathen with the unique style of bike

Logan Central Property Office is looking to locate the owner of this bike. Sergeant Greg Wathen of Logan Central Police hopes that the bikes outstanding features may help identify the owner.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Logan Central Property Office on 3826 1998 and speak with Deb or Jessica.

Movie in the Park

Date: Saturday 7 September, 2013 

Time: Starting at 5.00 pm

Place: Huxtable Park 

Chermside Burul Scouts & Cr Fiona King present The Rise of the Guardians at Huxtable Park.

There will be a free sausage sizzle and the fun begins from 5pm.

NHWQ State Conference

Each year, NHWQ holds a state conference to celebrate the achievements of the program, recognise the outstanding efforts of regional and state award winners and to discuss the future direction of the program.  It is also a great opportunity for NHWQ members and police officers to network with each other to share ideas and experiences.

Information and photographs about previous conferences is available at:

http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/nhwq/stateconf/

The 2013 NHWQ State Conference will be held at Ipswich on Saturday 2 November 2013.  More details will be advised when they are available.

Stolen property recovered by police - is any of it yours?

You may be aware that police recently recovered a substantial amount of stolen property from an address in Coopers Plains.

 

The police would like to encourage anyone who has had property stolen to view the images of the stolen property that has been recovered.

 

You can do so by clicking on this link:

 

 www.bit.ly/QPSRecoveredProperty

 

If you have any problems accessing this link, then please go to mypolice.qld.gov.au, click on Brisbane, select South Brisbane and you will find the link to the Coopers Plains article under South Brisbane.

 

If you still have any problems accessing the link or are not sure what to do, please email us at carseldine6NHW@gmail.com and one of our committee members will be happy to assist.

 

Recovered items include bikes, clothing, helmets, jewellery, tools and other items.

 

Please pass this message on, especially if you know of anyone who has had property stolen.

 

 

 

 

 

Queensland Police Museum - Sunday Lecture

Queensland Police Museum

Sunday Lecture

August 25

11am – 12.30pm 

Forensics solving road crash mysteries 

The Forensic Crash Unit uses analysis of road scars, vehicle positions and tyre marks to better understand the circumstances surrounding vehicle crashes. 

Senior Constable Sherryn Klump will present ‘Road Crash Investigations – Policing and Forensic Analysis’. She will explain the investigation techniques of fatal and serious injury road crashes, road incidents where there is evidence of criminal negligence, and other major traffic incidents. Senior Constable Klump will also outline the use of specialised equipment, such as electronic data measuring devices.

 The one-and-a-half hour presentation will begin at 11am on Sunday, August 25 and will provide educational and up-to-date content only suitable for high school aged youth and adults. 

The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Museum will open Sunday, August 25 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.  

Please pass this information onto your family, friends and other networks.

 

Warning about plastic bottles

Earlier this week, one of our nearby NHW groups sent out a notice warning about a possible danger involving plastic bottles.

With explosives in the news at the moment, the warning is quite timely even if the method involved may be different.

The warning pointed out that people (often kids) have been known to put drain cleaner such as Drano along with water and some other readily available household items in plastic drink bottles, putting the cap back on, then leaving it on lawns, in mail boxes, in gardens, on driveways etc.

Just waiting for you to pick it up intending to put it in the rubbish, but you'll never make it!

 According to the warning, if the bottle is picked up, and the bottle is shaken even just a little - in about 30 seconds, or less, it builds up enough gas which then explodes with enough force to remove some of your extremities. The liquid that comes out is boiling hot as well.

Don't pick up any plastic bottles that may be lying in your yards or in the gutter, etc.