Yesterday morning our tweeting PCSO’s @WednesfieldN issued a series of tweets (that we subsequently retweeted) that read;

“Been to Barclays bank in W’Field H’St after a fraud device has been fitted to the cash machine last night. Check cash machine before use – Look for anything out of place or any loose fitting objects! If unsure DO NOT USE and alert bank staff or Police immediately!”

With cash point crime potentially taking place this close to home we thought we’d share with you LINK’s, the UK’s cash machine network, guide to cash machine fraud prevention. It explains the scams that criminals use to get hold of cards and card details, as well as providing advice on how to stay safe from fraud when using a cash point.

You can download the full guide from the Action Fraud website but to summarise:

• Always look closely at the card insertion point of a cash machine before using it. If it looks like it may have been tampered with, do not use it.
• If you realise the machine has been tampered with after you have inserted your card, call your bank while still standing at the cash machine if it is safe to do so.
• Always shield your hand when entering your PIN into a cash point keypad.

Stay vigilant and if you spot something out of place report it!

New Police operation

Residents in Wednesfield North have today begun receiving letters from Sergeant Tracy Baker outlining details of a new police operation.

“Operation Intrusive” is a three month campaign to tackle what Police call ‘acquisltive crime’ such as burglary, vehicle crime, criminal damage and robbery. Although Wednesfield is not a crime hot spot, seasonal analysis by West Midlands Police suggests that the area may be vulnerable to these kinds of offences between January and March.

To try and prevent offences occurring and catch offenders Police are carrying out both high—visibitity and plain clothes targeted patrols over the next few months. The high visibility patrols are armed at deterring offenders and reassuring members ofthe public.

Police will also be visiting addresses across the area to offer ‘target hardening’, where they hope to improve the security of a building to reduce or minimise the risk of theft. Officers will offer crime prevention advice to residents and discuss how to keep safe and avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Report crime in your area

A great deal of Police intelligence comes from members of the community and Sergeant Baker is appealing to residents asking them to report any crimes they witness or are aware of.

“Anyone with concerns can call Wednesfield Police station at any time on 0345 113 5000 or submit information without leaving your details by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

“There is also the facility to send information to us via our website, however this should not be used to report crime in an emergency.”

Photo by Freefoto used under Creative Commons.

WRAP your rubbish! – that’s the plea from police to householders in Wolverhampton who are throwing out cardboard boxes before and after Christmas.

Many households across the region may be getting high value electrical goods like DVD players, games machines, mp3 players and widescreen TV sets.

Over Christmas many people will be throwing the packaging from these items out with their rubbish.

West Midlands Police are appealing to householders to break down and wrap up or recycle their cardboard boxes rather than leave them in plain view outside their houses where potential burglars can see what goods they have bought.

Other advice from police is to:

- Mark all new property with a UV marker making it easier for lost and stolen property to be returned should the worst happen. It is also a good idea to keep a record of where you marked the property and note down the serial number.

- Record all your new property on the national database, www.immobilise.com

Chief Inspector Jo Chilton said: “After Christmas you can often tell what your neighbours have received by looking at their rubbish, which means it is easy for a potential burglar to do the same.

“We are looking out for people acting suspiciously around homes but the public can help themselves by breaking down their boxes and wrapping them up in plastic bags or by taking them direct to a recycling centre.

“A burglar can take all of your enjoyment of Christmas away if you let them. Please don’t make it easy for them.”

This morning we received a call from a concerned WV11 resident asking us to make you all aware of a scam that that is again doing the rounds.

Fraudsters are calling people up claiming to the from their internet provider, from Microsoft windows or from a anti virus company saying there is problems with their computer and asking them to run some checks and install some software onto their machines.

This is often a malicious  attempt to gain remote access to your computer and once they’ve done this the fraudsters can then gain access to all the important files contained there. Further to this they will also ask for some form of payment probably using your debit / credit card which once they have the details leaves it open for further misuse.

The lady we spoke to this morning had just received one of these calls herself, but being savvy to the threat of cyber criminals politely informed the caller that she hadn’t got a computer and he swiftly hung up. She has reported the incident to the authorities and then called WV11 asking us to alert other readers to this threat.

This type of crime is nothing new but does seem to be having some kind of national resurgence at the moment with fraud attempts being reported across the country so just beware.

If you have any news or events to tell  WV11 about get in touch via our contact page or call / text us on 07855 409 319.

Image by damirme/Flickr  used under CC license.

A man was attacked and knifed as he cycled through the Black Country three years after being beaten up in an unrelated ambush by a gang of thugs, a judge heard.

Read more at the Express & Star.