Hullbridge

Update

As many people know; Essex Police is undergoing a change. From 1st March there will still be a Neighbourhood Policing Team for your area. As much as possible the Neighbourhood Constable will not change which reflects the Essex Police commitment to Neighbourhood Policing.

Your Neighbourhood Constable will remain unchanged as PC Emma CHAMBERS. She will be supported by a familiar face of Community Support Officer Zoe NUTH.

There will also be officers to respond to your issues and reports of crime and anti-social behaviour. Additionally Response Teams, Investigation Teams, CID, Traffic departments and Dogs.

The Neighbourhood Teams will be covering more hours especially evening and weekends.

Please continue to report anti-social behaviour to your Neighbourhood Team.
There is also a dedicated anti-social behaviour coordinator at Rochford District Council, Mr Kevin Hornsey; 01702 546366.

You can report complaints of noise nuisance to Environmental Health Office at the Council on 01702 546366.

Neighbourhood Watch are now on Twitter. @NHWRayleigh

Burglary is currently an issue in Hullbridge and surrounding areas. Jewellery & Cash are the most stolen property. Many crimes can be avoided: Securing your property and removing valuables items from your car whilst unattended would certainly help. Make sure UPVC doors are double-locked, if not the door is just as insecure as an open door.

Please consider buying a safe for your valuables. Installing an alarm or CCTV is a great deterrent and not necessarily as expensive as you may think.

Do you have a working smoke alarm?? Have you ever discussed an emergency escape plan with your family should a fire happen?? For further advice call Southend Fire station on 01702 614433.

**Please see events tab in due course for next meeting. **
The Neighbourhood Meeting is a monthly meeting for anyone living or working in Hullbridge to attend and highlight issues that directly affect Hullbridge. The meeting is open for any member of the public to attend and share their comments and concerns with the panel. At the conclusion, a vote is then taken by attendees to select up to three priorities as the most important issues and these will be progressed for updates at the following meeting. Please see the website for dates and details of the next meeting or call the team on 07813 953703.

Hullbridge is and remains an area of low crime levels but as the local officer I want local residents to be extra vigilant to keep it this way. If you see any suspicious behaviour in your road/street please call 0300 333 4444.

Why not start a Neighbourhood Watch in your street? If you are interested you can go to the link in the 'Take Action' section of this site or contact me and I will pass on the details of the Hullbridge NHW co-ordinator.

We would like to stress how dangerous the River Crouch can be with fast flowing water and strong currents. Please do not go into the water without the correct equipment and knowledge.

BURGLARY
There has been an increase in burglary over the past few months, these are occurring at any time of the day/night.
You can prevent becoming a victim if you give a little thought on how safe I have left my property.
Check doors and windows are closed and locked
Have I left a light on, this makes it look that someone is at home
If you go out during the evening, close your curtains
Close and lock your side gates to the rear of your property
Think of having an alarm fitted, if you have an alarm, make sure it’s turned on.
If you are going away for a long period of time i.e., holidays, over night or for the weekend, let one of your neighbours know so if they see anyone suspicious they near your property they can contact the police.

GARDEN SHEDS/GARAGES/CYCLES
Garden sheds/Garages are a regular place for theft, now that the better weather is just around the corner and boot sales are about to start again your shed could contain items easily removed then sold at boot sales.
Mark all of your electrical tools
Store them out of sight in a lockable cupboard
Put a bolt through your door hinges, so they can not be unscrewed from the outside
Fit a strong padlock, one that can not be cut with a bolt cropper
Fit an alarm

CYCLES
Have them coded
When stored, secure them within the storing area with a cycle chain
Don’t leave them outside in your front garden with a sign for sale, unless your have secured them with a cycle chain, if possible secured to a gate or fence post
Always secure your cycle when ever you have to leave it, for shopping, seeing a friend or at the rail station “IF LEFT SECURE” is the thing to remember

VEHICLE THEFT / THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLES
Once again these thefts have increased and you can help yourself from becoming a victim.
Lock your vehicle when unattended, this includes when it’s on your drive
If you have a garage, put your vehicle in it and lock the vehicle and garage
Don’t leave the vehicle keys on show indoors, i.e. hanging on a hook in the kitchen or hallway.
Keep all valuable property out of sight, lock it in the boot or pull the cover over the rear of the vehicle if you have a 4x4 or estate car
Sat-nav’s Remove them from your screen and lock them away in the glove box, if you are able remove the mark left on your screen as this will tell that a sat-nav has been used in the vehicle. That could be enough for someone to smash a window and look inside for it.

THEFT OF CARAVANS
If you store your caravan away from home, at a farm, industrial estate or at any other premises during the times you’re not using it make sure that it is safe and unable to be taken away.
Remove one or both of the wheels
Fir a hitch lock
Fit a wheel lock
Mark the van with an identifying number, one which can not be removed, i.e. stamp a number or name into the “A” frame, paint a number on the roof
If possible drive a long metal spike into the ground and secure a heavy chain to it and your caravan
Remove all valuable items from inside whether stored at a storage location or on your drive.

FERROUS METALS
The price of all metals remains very high and any metal item is worth something
If your occupation enables you to collect copper, lead, brass or any other form of metal, KEEP IT SAFE
Store the metal in a secure place, i.e. secure shed/garage and follow the advice as given above
Don’t leave it in the garden or the back of your van, it will cost you far more to have your van repaired than the value of you little collection of scrap

BOATS
If your boat is on a mooring
Where possible keep all the valuable instruments out of sight
Fit strong locks to outer doors
Draw the curtains when not being used
Remove the outboard motor

If stored in a boat yard or in the garden
All above applies
Secure the trailer, remove a wheel, fit a hitch lock and mark the trailer by stamping a identifying number/name into the “A” frame
Remove the outboard motor