Duxford Aware - Keeping Our Neighbourhood Safe.

Christmas shopping online is very popular and many people will start ordering their presents in November. Cambridgeshire Police have the following information to make your online shopping trip safer.

Using a computer is an extremely safe way of making a plastic card transaction. Follow these steps to keep Internet payments secure:

Use a computer that you know is secure - which means one with up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed. Be particularly wary of making a transaction using Internet cafes or public computers.

Only shop at secure web sites - ensure the security icon (the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol) is showing in your browser window before sending your card details. The beginning of the retailer’s Internet address should change from ‘http’ to ‘https’ when a purchase is made using a secure connection. Use sites you can trust, for example sites you know, or that have been recommended, or that carry the TrustUK logo.

Keep PINs, passwords and personal information safe – always be wary of emails asking you to click on a link or confirm your details. Reputable retailers, banks and the police would never ask you to disclose or confirm sensitive personal or security information, including your PIN. If in doubt phone the organisation to check first.

Keep a record of any transaction you make – preferably print it out. Make sure you understand what you are paying for, know the merchant’s refund policy and delivery conditions, and have the merchant’s postal address. This will help your card issuer take up your case if you subsequently have any difficulties.

For more information about preventing credit card fraud , check out Card Watch, a banking group that works with police and retailers to prevent credit card fraud.

 Cambridgeshire Police are warning they will not tolerate the misuse of fireworks in the days before and after November 5.

Officers are keen to avoid any incidents of anti-social behaviour and offenders could face an on-the-spot fine of £80.

Police also have the power to stop and search anyone they think may be in unlawful possession of fireworks.

Chief Inspector Steve Lodge said: “We want everyone to enjoy themselves this bonfire night but it is important people use fireworks responsibly for the safety of themselves and others.”

Remember:

• It is an offence for anyone under 18 to buy fireworks, or to sell fireworks to them.
• It is an offence for anyone under 18 to be in possession of a firework in a public place.
• It is an offence to throw a firework in, or into, a street or public place.
• Retailers have to be licensed to sell fireworks.
• There are curfews as to when fireworks may be used. This is normally between 11pm and 7am, although this is extended on November 5.

Download Firework Safety Poster

Cambridge’s annual fireworks display and bonfire, The Grand Arcade Fireworks 2007, is taking place on Midsummer Common on Monday, November 5 to celebrate Bonfire Night. Around 30,000 people are expected to attend the event, so the police are urging drivers to plan ahead before travelling to the city, especially as this year the event is on a Saturday evening. Police and organisers also urge people to view the event from the official viewing areas of Midsummer Common and Jesus Green.

Police will be closing Victoria Avenue, Newmarket Road/Maids Causeway, Trafalgar Road, New Square and Fair Street between 6.30pm and 8.30pm that evening.

Police will also be closing the Midsummer Common side of Elizabeth Way to pedestrians for the duration of the display, due to concerns for their safety. Viewing will not be possible from Elizabeth Way Bridge. All agencies involved with planning the event agree that the crowd build-up seen in previous years poses a significant danger to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. However access across the bridge will be maintained. Traffic becomes very busy here and drivers, especially bus drivers using the Bus Lane, should take extra care.

Chief Inspector Vicky Skeels, who is in charge of policing at the event, said: “With so many people coming into the city centre, we would ask all road users to be patient and to watch the fireworks from the official locations.

“One way of helping us is to arrive early rather than leave it to the last minute and to watch the fireworks from Midsummer Common or Jesus Green, where there is plenty of space. There is always a tremendous atmosphere during the evening and there is a fair at the Common, which starts at 6pm.

“We will be working with the local authorities to try and minimise any disruption. One way the public can help us is to use the Park and Ride systems.

“All the Park and Ride sites are open for the use of people coming to the event, with special event bus stops being placed in Maids Causeway and Short Street. An alternative would be to walk or cycle.

“From a safety perspective attending an organised display is much safer and is usually a much more spectacular way of enjoying the night. The only thing we would ask is that people do not bring sparklers and fireworks of their own to the event.”

Park and Ride systems will be running from the Trumpington, Madingley Road, Newmarket Road, Babraham Road and the Cowley Road sites.

There are also up to 40 disabled parking spaces within the grounds of Jesus College. The entrance to this car-park is via the Victoria Avenue entrance and anyone wishing to park there must arrive before 6.30pm.

Again this year, due to safety concerns, police and Cambridge City Council have agreed to close Lime Kiln Road, between Worts Causeway and Queen Edith’s Way, to both vehicles and pedestrians, between 6.45pm and 8.15pm.

Both the police and Cambridge City Council are concerned that the crowd build-up seen in previous years on Lime Kiln Hill poses a significant danger to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and as a result have decided to close the road.

Pupils at schools across Cambridge are also receiving safety talks from officers in the run up to November 5.

With the best of the summer behind us many people who own caravans will now be locking them up for the winter. The following advice is offered by Cambridgeshire Police to help protect your home away from home.

Immobilise your caravan, even if you’re stopping only for a short time. Use good quality padlocks, heavy-duty chains and hitch locks to secure your caravan. Fix lock nuts or wheel clamps to the wheels and padlock gas cylinders to fixing clamps.

Fit an alarm and switch it on every time you leave your caravan - even if it’s just for a short time.

Lock windows, doors, rooflights and the gas compartment when you leave the caravan, for any length of time. Always keep the keys with you.

Take all your valuables with you when you leave the caravan. If you can’t, lock them away. Never leave anything on display - even an old coat can tempt a thief to have a closer look.

Never leave the vehicle registration documents in the caravan. They can help a thief to sell the caravan on.

If your caravan does not already have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched onto the windows you should use an ultraviolet pen to mark it inside with an identifiable number. Security mark all the valuables you usually take on holiday with you too.

If you’re buying a new caravan, ask about built-in security features. All caravans manufactured since August 1997 should be electronically tagged for added security. Check it out.

If you’re buying a second-hand caravan, try to verify the seller’s identity and make sure the number plate on the caravan matches the one on the tow car. Also ask if it’s registered with the Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS) - if it is, you can check its history through this scheme. If it isn’t, call 01722 411 430 and get it registered. If you purchase the caravan call CRiS to register the details.

Get to know your neighbours on the site when you’re on holiday and think about joining a vehicle watch scheme at home.

You could fit a tracking device so that your caravan can be tracked by the police or a system operator if it is stolen.

Hopefully the warm weather is here to stay. Many of us leave doors and windows open during the day while we are at home but this can cause more problems than you might think. Thieves will take any advantage they can.

Many modern cars are now very difficult to steal without the keys. This means that criminals may break in to properties in search of car keys in order to steal the vehicle.

Some criminals may look through the house window, particularly the kitchen area to see if they can see the car keys. They may put things like fishing rods or clothes props with a coat hanger on the end through the letterbox to hook the keys and steal the vehicle.

Follow these simple tips to reduce the risk of you having your vehicle stolen from outside your property.

Don’t leave your car keys lying on a hall table, near the front door or anywhere where a criminal could “Go Fishing”

Don’t put your car keys in an obvious place but remember, if you do have your car keys attached to your house keys they do need to be within easy reach in case you need to escape from the property in an emergency.

If you have a high value vehicle and you have to park in the driveway, you may want to consider fitting substantial gates or security posts.

You should take other basic security measures to ensure you aren’t the victim of a sneak in thief. Make sure doors and windows are closed and locked.

If you have a garage, please park your car in it. Many people with garages use them for storage. Clear them out and use them for the purpose for which they were built.

Remember a thief will look for any opportunity to steal your vehicle and will look for keys left hanging around.

“Don’t leave yours hanging around”

Police are offering security advice following a spate of break-ins at churches in the south of the county.

Between June 10 and July 24, there were 22 burglaries - 17 in South Cambridgeshire, four in Cambridge City and one in East Cambridgeshire.

Many of the incidents happened overnight and most were break-ins, although in some cases the intruder got in through an unlocked door or window.

Cash was stolen in a number of the burglaries but in just under half there was only damage caused and nothing was taken.

However, laptops, DVD and CD players, food, alcohol and a vacuum cleaner have also been stolen.

Crime reduction officer Ellen Muirhead, from Parkside Police Station, said: “We are urging people who are connected with churches to be aware of security issues.

“Gates, entrances and windows should be locked at night and cellars should be locked from the inside. Offertory boxes should be emptied regularly and ideally should be set into the wall and bolted. It is also worth advertising the fact that money is not kept in the church overnight.

“Most importantly, keep an eye out for unusual vehicles or suspicious behaviour and call police on 0845 456 456 4 with any information, such as car registrations or descriptions, you may have.”

For more crime prevention advice visit the Cambridgeshire police website or www.churchcare.co.uk