Update
Dedicated Neighbourhood Constables and their colleagues are
dedicated to engagement and problem solving within the
neighbourhoods they serve.
If you need to talk to me for any Police Community problems, you
can contact me on 07967 466876, or 101ex 487607 (free phone) or
email me leslie.barnes@essex.pnn.police please note if you leave a
message I will try to reply to your call the day I am next on duty
PCSO BARNES
These are the incidents in Thorpe for the month of March
Noise Nuisance - High Street
Obstruction - High Street - (Harry's Bar, Vehicle parked across
driveway)
Suspicious Circumstances - High Street - (Phone calls)
Theft Other - Byng Crescent - (Trailer taken)
Burglary Other - Landermere Road - (TTC nothing taken)
Disturbance - Landermere Road - (TTC)
Assault - Landermere Road - (TTC)
Nuisance Youth - High Street
In total 4 crimes occured in your area in March
News letter for April
Gang of con men sentenced
A gang who conned two elderly people out of more than £150,000 have
been sentenced.
The six men, four of whom are from Tilbury, posed as landscape
gardeners and tricked their housebound victims from Leigh on Sea
into paying for work they had not completed.
Over a period of five years the gang, who traded as Chris
Landscaping Limited, charged an 89-year-old woman £44,000 to build
a garden path and collected a total of 67 cheques totalling more
than £113,000 from a disabled man.
The gang leader, 35-year-old Christopher Barnes of Jay Gardens in
Chislehurst, Kent, befriended his victims over a number of months,
taking his two young children to visit them and encouraging them to
introduce him to their families.
He then turned up unannounced on a number of occasions and demanded
money for work he had not been asked to carry out.
An investigation was launched when a neighbour of one of the
victims contacted police with concerns about how much money had
been paid to the landscapers.
Barnes and his five associates were arrested between June 2010 and
March 2011 and later admitted various charges of fraud, deception
and money laundering.
At Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, Barnes was
jailed for five years and nine months.
William Brazil, 48, of Sullivan Road, Tilbury, was jailed for nine
months, Daniel Chuter, 48, of Feenan Highway, Tilbury, was
sentenced to four years' imprisonment, Christopher Chuter, 56, of
Jay Gardens, Chislehurst, Kent received a six week prison sentence
suspended for two years, Allen Logan, 51, of Thackeray Avenue,
Tilbury was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment and
Danny Palmer, 31, of Stephenson Avenue, Tilbury was jailed for four
months suspended for two years.
Police were able to track down the gang by tracing the cheques that
had been paid into their bank accounts.
They disputed any crimes had been committed, claiming they had
carried out more work than police had been told, but detectives
were able to prove differently with the help of structural
surveyors.
Police found that despite posing as owner of the company,
Christopher Barnes had cashed very few of the cheques. Instead he
got his associates to cash them and even paid some into his
children’s accounts in attempt to disguise his involvement.
Investigating officer Dc Mike Buckingham said: “This gang purposely
targeted vulnerable elderly people who had been housebound for six
years or longer.
"Barnes cleverly befriended his victims by purposely taking his
young children to visit them because he knew they would be
delighted to have the company. He was not above using his children
to take money illegally and then to try and hide it from
police.
“Barnes and his associates appeared to be part of a professional
company, arriving in a sign written van and issuing professional
looking business cards and invoices. They were in fact nothing of
the sort and left two vulnerable elderly people almost
penniless.
“While his elderly victims lived frugal lives, Barnes showed all
the signs of a luxurious lifestyle. He lived in a nicely decorated
house with stables at the bottom of the garden, had a fleet of four
cars and went on lots of holidays to Florida.
“Bringing these men to justice has been the result of a detailed
two-year investigation.
"I hope this case will remind members of the public to think
carefully before agreeing for work to be carried out on the ir home
or garden. Always get a couple of quotes to make sure the price you
are being quoted is fair and don’t be fooled by professional
looking invoices and business cards.
“Finally if you think you’ve been the victim of scam, please report
it us. We need to stop tricksters working in our county.”
Please be aware that an increasing number of residents have
reported that they have been sent a letter indicating that they are
due to inherit a sum of money.
Whilst there are many variations to this theme, the current
apparent scam involves communication from China which indicates
that a relative has died and that the recipient of the letter is
due to be sent some money.
Whilst a direct request for cash may not be made initially once
contact has begun this request is likely to be made shortly
afterwards.
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Also please be aware that these types of scams are becoming
increasingly common and do not let yourself or your relatives
become a victim.
Should you receive a letter which you suspect is not genuine please
contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
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And the Office of Fair Trading are advising members of the public
of a scam that is claimed is being made by the OFT. Persons unknown
are calling and asking for money to assist them with help to assist
in getting your bank charges refunded. THIS IS A SCAM. Should you
receive a call you are to cont the OFT on 08454 04 05 06 or Action
Fraud 0300 123 2040.
PCSO Barnes 71909