Officers in Gosport are issuing crime prevention advice after seven reports of theft from and eight reports of theft of motor vehicles in the town which have been made to us since Friday, September 16.

We are trying to establish whether any of the incidents are linked, the items stolen from vehicles appear to have been taken from cars and vans . However the vehicles stolen all appear to be motorbikes or mopeds, some have subsequently been found burnt out. The vehicles have been taken from addresses including Bridgemary Road and Nobes Avenue over the weekend.

Officers would like to take this opportunity to remind people of the following crime prevention advice:

Motorbikes

•    Always lock your bike and set its alarm if it has one.
•    Try to use a designated motorcycle parking place with a stand and security loop.
•    When leaving your bike for some time, try to lock it to something secure. At home, you can fit special attachments to lock your bike to.
•    Don’t leave items such as helmets or other possessions with your bike.

Preventing scooter/moped thefts
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•    Park in safe areas where there are lots of passers-by and onlookers who will see if anyone is tampering with your scooter.
•    Never leave anything, including your helmet, unsecured and on display.
•    Have an alarm and immobiliser fitted – it is almost certainly worth the investment.

Thefts from vehicles 

•    Don’t leave anything in your car – if it’s not there, then it can’t be stolen.
•    Choose a stereo that can be removed and make sure you take it with you! You should also mark it with your registration number or postcode, in case it’s stolen.
•    Thieves aren’t picky, so don’t leave even low-value items in your car. Often thieves will smash and grab first and look later to see if what they’ve stolen is valuable.
•    Don’t hide it – if you hide items under the seat or in the glove box, chances are someone will have watched you. If you cannot avoid leaving something in your car, put it in your boot before you begin your journey.
•    Don’t leave valuables in your car even for a minute – it only takes a thief a few seconds to smash a window and get what they want, so don’t take the chance.
•    Your car isn’t safe to be left unlocked on your driveway – nearly half of all incidents where items are stolen from cars happen when they are parked overnight, close to the owner’s home.
•    Don’t leave your house keys or anything with your address on it in your vehicle – someone could steal your keys and then let themselves into your home.

Sat Navs

•    If it’s portable, take the sat nav with you together with the support cradle and suction pads.
•    Wipe away any marks left by the suction pads as thieves will look out for these.
•    Don’t leave your equipment in the glove compartment – thieves usually check here first.

Securing Cars

•    Always secure your car.
•    Always lock your car and wind your windows up, even if you are just posting a letter or going into a petrol station.
•    If you are stationary in traffic, keep your doors locked and don’t wind your windows too far down – someone could reach in and try to grab something off your passenger seat.
•    Use a steering wheel lock every time you leave your car – it makes life more difficult for the thief and therefore your car a less tempting target.
•    Get a car alarm – they not only deter a thief from stealing the car, but also from stealing items from inside it. Have it fitted by a professional.
•    Immobilisers stop the engine from starting if the car is being stolen and they are the best way to stop thieves. Having an immobiliser is a good idea if you have an expensive car, and it might help to reduce your insurance premiums.

Please be advised that possible rogue traders have been operating in the area, their green flyer titles “Tree & Garden Services”

We highly recommend that you do not accept any services of this kind from door to door salesman touting for work. If you do, please ensure that references and company credentials are checked thoroughly.

Please visit the following website for further consumer advise: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards.htm

The following message was sent by David Trowbridge (Police, PCSO, Test Valley District). One such character was reported in Monxton on Monday.

Yesterday saw a group of door to door sellers (also known as Nottingham Knockers!) moving around Test Valley Villages.
Please be vigilant and call us should you become anxious about such callers or you see them in your neighbourhood. We recommend that you read the following advice so that you are prepared to deal with a caller should they call on you! These callers tend to be selling cleaning materials and are usually male, from the north of England and carry large black holdalls.
• Always use the door chain when answering the door, if you are not sure do not open the door;
• Always check the credentials of unknown callers. Do not phone the number on the ID card, use a phone book or a bill;
• Never buy from cold-calling doorstep traders or engage with cold callers on the phone;
• Do not keep substantial sums of money in the home;
• Always keep front and back doors locked;
• LOCK STOP CHAIN and CHECK – if unsure do not open the door;
• Report any suspicious callers or activity to the police immediately;
• Keep an eye on elderly or vulnerable neighbours, friends and family;
• Call 101 to advise of any unexpected callers – this gives Police a better chance at building a picture of where potential criminals are operating.

Today Police have received 2 reports of purse thefts, where the purses have been taken from handbags while the victims were out shopping in Andover town centre.
We are now advising shoppers to take precautions when out and about.

The chances of you becoming a victim of purse theft are low, but they do still happen. You can make yourself even less likely to be the victim of this type of crime by taking a few sensible precautions.

Keep your purse or wallet close to your body and never in your back pocket or in the top of your handbag. And make sure you close your handbag and carry it across your body, with the flap facing you.

Other tips include:
•Be aware of who is near you when you are withdrawing money from ATMs, banks or post offices. If you are concerned about anyone following you, call the Police.
•Be aware of who is around you, especially when you are in a crowded or busy place.
•Ladies: carry your bag close to your body with the strap over your shoulder. Keep your bag fastened at all times.
•Gentlemen: keep your wallet in an inside fastened pocket, if possible.
•Do not place your purse or wallet down on the counter when paying for items.
•Do not write down your pin numbers or keep it with your cards.

This is a message sent via Hampshire Alert. This information has been sent on behalf of Hampshire Constabulary.

Between Thursday 30^th April at 18:30 and Saturday May 1^st at 08:20, a horse box was stolen from Monxton, Andover. The offenders broke into a stable yard on Broad Road, Monxton and cut off a wheel clamp to steal the trailer.

The trailer was an Ifor Williams 505 in red and white, similar to the attached picture, there was no partition in the rear and there were two navy blue single brace bars.

There was a non standard reversing mirror attached to the front of it and there were also £300 of new rubber mats inside. The serial number for the trailer is 5006642 and the draw bar code is 5-59750.

The trailer had the number plate KW04NAG attached to it; however it is likely that this will have been removed.

Please keep a look out for this trailer that may have been hidden away somewhere, or if you are offered or see any similar for sale, please call 101 quoting reference 44160163407.

This is a message sent via Hampshire Alert. This information has been sent on behalf of Hampshire Constabulary.

On 28/04/2016 at around 1400 hours, a suspicious vehicle was seen driving around a farm located off Monxton Road, Grateley.

The vehicle was a white Toyota Hilux, registration KS57*** with one male occupant driving.

The driver was asking if any vehicles and machinery were for sale.

This vehicle has been seen in several different locations over the last few weeks in the Andover area, please call Police on 101 to report seeing it in any suspicious circumstances.

Another timely reminder from the Police. There have been a few burglaries already this month in Test Valley north (the dwelling burglaries have been in Andover, but non-dwelling burglaries tend to be in the rural areas). So it pays to be prudent please.

• Check your insurance documents for any specific security requirements or upgrades.
• Ensure side gates are locked to prevent access to the rear of the property.
• Ensure rear fencing is in good repair.
• Lock all windows and doors, remembering to double lock UPVC doors (lift handle and turn key)
• Keep all keys out of reach and sight from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through letterbox).
• Do not leave ladders and garden tools in your garden, lock them away in your shed.
• Improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges.
• Consider fitting security lighting and a burglar alarm.
• Mark your property with postcode and house number and register your property for free with www.immobilise.com
• Make use of timer switches to make the property appear occupied.
• Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
• Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
• Remove valuables from view of ground floor windows.
• Store any high value items (i.e. jewellery, passports) in a properly secured safe or bank vault.

Who to call?
If the burglary is taking place when you call then it’s 999. If it’s happened and there are no suspicious persons on the scene then call 101.