Category: Policing

Bromley Police Bank Card Scam Warning

Bromley Police are reissuing their warning regarding frauds targeting the elderly and vulnerable after a recent increase in these offences across Bromley, with one resident losing her £26,000 life savings.

Elderly residents have been receiving unsolicited telephone calls from fraudsters purporting to be from the police fraud squad or their bank. The fraudster will state that there is an ongoing investigation into fraudulent payments on their bank account/card.
The person will be asked to ring the police/bank back using the phone number printed on the back of their bank card or by calling 999. This helps to convince the person that the call is genuine. However, the fraudster has kept the telephone line open so even though the person has dialled a number, the call does not go through. Instead they are unknowingly still connected with the fraudster.
The victim is asked to provide their full bank card details and key in their PIN so that their existing card can be “cancelled” and a new one “activated” or “authorised.” The fraudster will then explain that the bank will need to collect the card. The fraudster will then attend the person’s address or send an innocent courier company driver to collect the card. The fraudster, having obtained the person’s name, address, full bank details, the card itself and the PIN, then used the card to empty the victim’s bank account.

Fraudsters have also pretended to be from the police cold calling members of the public claiming to be from the Economic Crime Department and that the person’s bank account has been compromised by criminals. The fraudster suggests that the person should withdraw the money for collection by a police representative for safekeeping until the investigation was complete.

Detective Inspector Louise Knipe from Bromley Police said: “If you receive such a call end it immediately. The police will never ask you for any money, either to assist with an investigation, or for safekeeping. Your bank will never attend your home, your bank and the police will never collect your bank card, your bank and the police will never ask for your PIN. If you do receive any call that you are suspicious about, please speak with a younger family member or relative before giving out any details or withdrawing any money and also contact the police”.

Bromley Police Pick-pocket warning

Bromley Police are warning residents to be wary of pick-pockets, after a recent spate of offences in The Glades Shopping Centre and around Bromley Town Centre.

The victims in each case had withdrawn money from a cash point before beginning shopping. Whilst they were shopping they were approached by a man and woman, who claimed they had paint on their coat and pretended to be wiping it off. Whilst distracted one of the suspects would steal the victim’s wallet/purse.

The suspects are both described as being white, with eastern European accents. The male is believed to be in his 50’s.

Bromley Police would suggest taking following precautions whilst out shopping in order to avoid becoming the victim of a pick-pocket or purse-dipper:

• Carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards. Keep it zipped up, and make sure your wallet or purse can’t be seen. Don’t carry large amounts of cash.
• When at a bar, restaurant or cafe keep your belongings safe. Keep bags where you can see them but out of reach of passers by. Use bag hooks under tables if they are available.
• If you use your mobile phone on the street be aware of your surroundings whilst you’re on the phone and after your call has ended.
• Spread your possessions about – keep your mobile phone separate from your purse, and your keys separate from your credit card.
• Beware when using cash dispensers. Criminals target people when using these machines.
• Cover up any expensive jewellery and, if you must carry other valuables, be discreet.

Anyone with any information should contact Bromley Police’s CID on 020 8284 8859 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

SCAM fake Police Officer – message from Bromley Police

Police were called to the victim’s home address after he had called 999 stating he had been a victim of a scam. On police arrival the victim stated that on 25/10/2012 at around 1330 he had received a call from a male who stated he was a police officer. This male knew the victims surname without being told and identified him self as DC Metcalf. This male stated to the victim that he was taking part in some form of operation to trap local criminals in the area and needed £4000 to do this.

The victim agreed to give the male the money but stated he would have to withdraw it from the bank. The male then told the victim that he could not tell anybody about this as it was secret. The male stated that one of his colleagues would come round later to the victim’s home address to collect the money. The victim was then given a reference number by the male which was 224498 and told that his colleague would give the victim this number to prove he was from the police.

Between 1330 and 1500 hours the victim has gone to Lloyds TSB in Orpington High Street to withdraw the £4000. The victim stated that he withdrew the money from his current account and was not challenged by bank staff as to why he was withdrawing so much money. The money was handed to the victim in a brown envelope.

At 1500 hours the victim had returned home from the bank and was alerted to a knocking at the front door. On answering the door stood a male (SUS 1) who was described as in his 30’s, F600 tall, olive skin, dark brown hair, with stubble and wearing a form of grey tracksuit with trainers. SUS1 showed the victim a piece of paper with the same reference number given by the male on the phone. The victim believed at this stage SUS1 was a police officer because of the reference number. No other identification was shown to the victim. The victim stated that SUS1 took two steps back from the door and appeared agitated.

The victim has then gone to hand SUS1 the brown envelope containing the £4000 in cash to which SUS1 has insisted it be put in a plastic bag instead. The victim has then gone to look for a plastic bag which has apparently made SUS1 agitated. The money was then placed in a plastic Wilson bag and handed over to SUS1. SUS1 has then left.

Bromley Police alert residents of scam involving bogus police officers

Police in Bromley are warning members of the public not to hand over money to men claiming to be detectives involved in a Bromley-led operation to tackle local criminals.Residents in Bromley have reported being approached by suspects posing as detectives and asking for money.

Officers in Orpington have recorded two incidents in the past week where members of the public have received calls from bogus detectives.

This is how the scam is carried out; a bogus detective rings the victim to explain that they are conducting an operation to trap local criminals and need money and assistance from members of the public in order to carry out their investigation. They appear to know the surname of the person they are contacting, which may make the call more credible. The caller also explains that the money provided will be marked with a special dye, as part of the bogus police operation.

Victims have been asked to provide large amounts of cash which is subsequently collected from their home address by another bogus police officer. The victims are even given a code or reference number. The fake police officer, who later collects the money from the victim’s address, will quote the reference number when he collects the cash, simply to make the scam look more believable.

Victims are also told that their money is being safely stored at Orpington Police Station.
In one case, one of the victims was also showed a fake ID similar to an officer’s warrant card.
One of the suspects is described as in his thirties, approximately 6’ tall, olive skin, dark brown hair, with stubble and wearing a grey tracksuit with trainers. A second suspect has simply been described as a black man.

Both incidents have taken place in Orpington and so far two victims have handed over a total of £12,000.
Bromley CID are investigating.
Chief Inspector Katrina Smith from police in Bromley said:
“We don’t ask members of the public to provide us with money in order to assist with our investigations. Please be extra vigilant and do not hand any money to anyone; it does not matter if they say they are from the police or if they say that they are working with detectives. Do not hand over any cash”.

She added; “It appears that the scammers are targeting elderly people and pensioners. If you have an elderly relative or friend, please make them aware of this scam and ensure that they do not hand over any cash to strangers under any circumstances.”

Anyone with information should contact DC James Coldham, Bromley CID on 020 8284 8783 or 020 8284 8785. Anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous should ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Message from Bromley Police – workmen being targeted by thieves

There have been a few incidents recently where workman have been doing there jobs and their tools and vehicles have been targeted. The tools have either been left out or the vehicles have been unlocked and the suspects drive past look around and if no one is seen they then take the tools etc.

Please can you make your workman aware, especially gardeners and window cleaners. Tell them to lock their vehicles even if they are popping around the back of the house etc.

 

Scam warnings from Police

1. A booklet has recently been produced about scams, which may interest you. You can see the e-version of the booklet on the Met Police website, by clicking through fraud alert on the website.
Here is the link: http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/docs/mps_little_book_big_scams.pdf

2. Watch out for emails claiming to be from the DVLA asking you to verify your driving licence details via an online link – it’s a scam.

The DVLA has not sent any such email, so if you get one delete it immediately. This is a copy of the email that is circulating:

From: DVLA Subject: Update Your License Details
We are currently upgrading our database and all drivers are required to update and verify their driver’s license details. To complete your license verification with us, you are required to fill out the form in the link below.

{Fake link}

Drivers that refuse to upgrade his or her details within two weeks of receiving this verification email will lose his or her driver’s License and will have to take a fresh driving test.

We sincerely apologise for any inconveniences this might have caused you.
Thank you for your co-operation.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea SA6 7JL

3. You may receive a phone call from an intruder alarm company saying that ‘home intrusion’ is up in your ‘postcode’ area (latest Home Office figures) and that you have been selected for a free Group 1 Security wireless system, one of only 3 to be approved by the police. Covers fire, medical and security monitoring.

Please consider the Police advice that is: ‘never deal with Cold Callers’ and only use companies known or recommended to you. Many cold callers do not offer good value for money.

Beckenham Police advise of rise of thefts on High Street

Recently in Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee in Beckenham High Street we have seen a rise in thefts from/of bags and mobile phones.

Bags are being left on the back of chairs some open some not and then they are dipped or in some cases stolen.

Mobile phones are being left on the table and the suspects are coming in handing out leaflets and either putting them on top off or next to mobile phones, once the conversation is finished the suspect then picks up the leaflet along with the phone. People are distracted by the conversation and then don’t realise until a little later that there phone has been taken.

We advise that everyone keeps there bag and phone in sight at all times or on there person.

Increase in theft from motor vehicles in Beckenham

Message from Beckenham Police

There has been an increase in theft from motor vehicles in the Bromley area. The suspects are targeting gardeners and builders vans at present and Beckenham has been hit a few times on Copers Cope Road. If you are having any work done please inform your workers to keep there vans locked up even if they are popping in and out as this is enough time for the suspects to get in and out.

On another note please can you make sure you never leave anything valuable on show in your vehicle, should you use a sat nav/in car phone holder please remove these from the car and also wipe away the ring marks that are left on the windscreen as this is a sign that you have one. Please take the property inside rather than locking it into your glove box.


Bromley officers equipped with Taser

From Monday 2nd July 2012 Bromley Police will be able to deploy Taser equipped vehicles to quickly and directly respond to emergency calls.

The arrival of Taser in Bromley is part of a gradual rollout of Taser to all London Boroughs, so that each borough will have two Taser equipped vehicle available to respond to violent incidents – in addition to the support that MPS TSG (Territorial Support Group) and CO19 (Firearms) provide.

The Metropolitan Police currently has 1140 Tasers, of which 446 are deployed overtly by CO19 Firearms Command (116) and the Territorial Support Group (450). The remainder are allocated to training sites, or used in covert operations that are not deployable in support of normal Borough operations.

Bromley will have forty officers trained in the use of Taser – at any one time a maximum of four of these will be on patrol in two vehicles.

Chief Inspector Darren Murphy from Bromley Police said: “Taser has been safely and effectively used by the Metropolitan Police since 2003. This is about making sure that our officers are best equipped in their duty to protect the public.

It enables restraint of violent individuals safely and efficiently, it is often less harmful to offenders than striking them with an asp or using CS spray and it is a less lethal option than using a firearm.

Any time that a Taser is discharged the circumstances will be looked at for monitoring purposes and for transparency. There is a robust system of accountability including unique identification on each discharge and downloads from the Taser itself”.

Fraud prevention booklet launched

Every year the British public loses billions of pounds to ‘scammers’, who bombard people with online, mail, door-to-door and telephone scams.
Officers within the Metropolitan Police Service’s Specialist and Economic Crime Directorate have produced a comprehensive fraud prevention booklet entitled, ‘The Little Book of Big Scams’. The guide explains some of the most common scams in existence, ranging from the simple to the sophisticated and provides the reader with essential advice to reduce the chances of them being parted from their money  – tips are included on how to avoid door to door scams, bank and payment card scams, mobile phone scams, internet scams as well as handy hints everyone can read to protect themselves.
The booklet is available in PDF format here http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/
People from all backgrounds and income levels are targeted by scammers – anyone can fall victim to fraud. This booklet is primarily aimed at the elderly and vulnerable in society as they are particularly at risk; but anyone who reads it will benefit.

Watch for the tricks of pickpockets and the tell-tale signs

As part of Project Spiderweb, a multi agency collaboration to reduce Theft of Personal Property on all modes of transport in London by 10% by July 2012, the British Transport Police have created some videos shorts that show examples of how thieves work on the transport system.  Check them out at the link below.

 

Latest Bromley Police figures confirm drop in numbers.

pengeandcatorcouncillors's avatarPenge and Cator Councillors

The latest statistics from the Met confirm that the number of police available in Bromley has dropped over the last year.

The Mayor of London’s monthly report shows that in April 2011 Bromley had 505.3 police officers while at April 2012 the number was 479.2 – a drop of 26. PCSO numbers had fallen even more dramatically.  In April 20111, the borough had 147.2 PCSOs and in April 2012 just 92.7, a drop of 45.  

The overall full time police numbers have been cut from 31,947 in April 2011 to 31,825 in April 2012.

Cllr John Getgood, Leader of the Labour opposition group on Bromley Council said: “Many of us will remember Boris Johnson’s election pledge of more police on the streets of London. Where are they? Bromley residents will be particularly concerned, wondering whether there are enough police on the streets of Bromley to ensure our safety. We will continue to…

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