Crime trends and prevention - news from our last update

If you missed our NHW Update meeting on Thursday night, you missed out on hearing our guest speaker Sen. Const. Donna Burley talk about crime trends and crime prevention.

She advised that unfortunately our NHW area had 2 cases of wilful damage in February and 2 break and enters in March, although nothing has been reported for April.

Regarding wilful damage, there seems to have been a spate of cars being scratched by objects such as keys or coins etc.

Across the district, there is a trend of break and enters happening when people are actually at home, and we are aware of at least one such incident in our NHW area recently. It can happen day or night.

During the day, they can sneak in an open door while you are out in the garden, doing the mowing or hanging out the laundry etc. Donna recommended locking the door when you go out in the yard, especially when no one else is home. She suggested carrying the keys with you on a lanyard.

There has also been a number of entrances through higher balconies and second story windows, which are often left unlocked. It is important to keep these secure, even if they appear too high for people to enter.

Car registration plates are being stolen and often used in petrol drive-offs. Carseldine Police Station can replace your rego plate screws with “one-way” screws that can only be removed with a special tool.

Since modern cars can now only be started with the keys, car keys are being stolen from inside homes and used to take the car. Donna recommended always keeping the car keys hidden out of sight.

Donna also asked if people could report to Policelink (131 444) if you see people lurking around or going in and out of yards. The police can take these people’s details and this information is often useful in apprehending offenders if a break-in is later reported in the area.

Donna also assigned “homework” to those residents who were there, handing out a Home Security Audit to complete, allowing us to access our level of home security. If anyone completes this and finds they have a lot of areas where their security is lacking, Donna is happy to come out to your home and provide advice on making your home more secure.

If you missed out on this sheet and would like a copy, please email us at carseldine6NHW@gmail.com and we can send you a copy.

Donna also handed out a number of brochures including a very handy Property Identification sheet explaining how to keep an inventory of your property to assist police in recovering stolen items or to help with insurance claims and how you can mark your property to assist police to identify ownership of recovered items.

“No Door to Door” stickers were also handed out.

In response to a resident explaining about a scam they had recently experienced, Donna advised that she can also supply a “Little Black Book of Scams” explaining what to watch out for.

Residents who missed out on any of these and would like to obtain them can contact Donna at Carseldine Police Station.

If you missed our update meeting, we hope you can come along to the next one which will be on the 1^st of August. This will also be our AGM.

Carseldine 6 NHW Update meeting - Thursday 2 May 2013

A reminder that the next Carseldine 6 NHW Update meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd of May at the Craigslea State School P&C Building at 7.30 pm.

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

There has unfortunatley been a few crimes such as break-ins in our area recently. We expect a representative from the Queensland Police will be at this meeting so we urge you to come along to hear the details and find out what you can do to help protect yourself and your property.

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.

Supper will be provided.

We hope to see you there.

Be alert and lock up

A local resident has reported that there appear to have been a number of handbags snatched from residences in our neighbourhood.

There also appear to have been some recent break-ins within our NHW area or in nearby streets.

It serves as a reminder that it is always important to be alert for any suspicious activity and ensure homes and garages are locked, even when we are at home. Keep valuables hidden and don’t leave car keys in the open.

Robbery - Stafford Road - Can you help?

Police are investigating after a 24-year-old man was robbed at Stafford last night (Monday 25 March) by a man armed with a hammer.

Around midnight the man was standing at the front door of a dwelling on Stafford Road when a man walking past approached him.

The man pushed the victim before punching him and producing a hammer and demanding money.

After obtaining cash the man then left and was last seen heading towards Webster Road.

The 24-year-old man received no physical injuries.

The man is described as Caucasian, 185cm tall and of thin build. He was wearing black trousers and a red hooded jumper.

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 - 131 444.

Beware of scam ATO email

Police are warning that an email doing the rounds which appears to come from the Australian Taxation Office indicating that you have qualified for a 2013 “subsidy benefit” is a scam.

The email has the official Australian Tax Office government logo and makes reference to a “secure message” but police advise it is false and suggest anyone receiving it should delete it immediately.

Crime Report - February 2013

Two reportable offences occurred in our NHW area in February.

Night of 9/10 Feb – Basnett St – someone has scratched a car with damage consistent with having been caused by a key or other sharp metal object.

Night of 24/25 Feb – Pullford Street – car window smashed.

If you saw anything suspicious on either of these nights, please call Policelink on 131 444 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Help for seniors learning to use computers

Local seniors and over 50s looking for a bit of a hand learning to use computers and the internet can do so by joining Brisbane Seniors Online (BSOL).

BSOL is a not-for-profit organisation that helps seniors and over 50’s use computers and the internet with confidence and safely.

Their volunteer mentors can come out to their home so that they can learn on their own computer on a one-to-one basis at their own pace, or they can go in to BSOL's Central Training Centre in the City.

BSOL is also seeking volunteer mentors who would like to give some of their time to helping train seniors to use their computers and access the internet.

If you or someone you know wants to learn computers and the internet or become a volunteer mentor, please contact BSOL on 3210 6983 or visit www.bsol.asn.au, which also contains details of membership fees and other information.