Here is the latest Twyford/Ruscombe, Sonning/Charvil/Hurst and Wargrave/Remenham neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Anne Chalmers:
There has been an increase in shed break-ins and out-houses/garages in Hare Hatch and Wargrave area. On most occasions the building has been broken into and just searched but nothing stolen. This may be because something specific is being sought. Please ensure that your sheds and garages have locks on them and if you have access to your back gardens from the side of your house to make sure that your side gates are locked. You can also buy fence and wall spikes, which are long thin strips of plastic with small spikes which are designed to give maximum discomfort with minimum harm. They come in 50cm by 4.5cm strips and there are different colours to chose from (look up ‘cat spikes’ online).
The value of scrap metal is rising, this could lead to a rise in theft of scrap metal and older cars; there has been a report of theft of copper piping stolen out of an empty house in Twyford and large metal drive-way gates in Wargrave. We ask that you keep an eye on your old cars and any scrap metal that you have lying around your property, inside or out; especially if it is easily seen from the road which could attract unwanted attention to your local area.
Burglaries in dwellings has decreased with only three reports this month, two in Wargrave and one in Remenham. The popular mode of entry is still through windows by smashing the glass, usually from the back of the property. When you lock your windows and doors make sure you don’t leave the key in the lock or within eye site as this makes it much easier for someone to enter. Now the weather has started to warm up windows and doors will be being opened, please remember to shut these before you leave the house, even if it’s a small window, most PVC windows will lock shut when slightly open.
Theft of number plates has decreased this month with only one report in Crazies Hill, Wargrave. Theft from cars has also decreased with two reports, one in Waitrose car park where a bag was stolen by smashing a window and one outside the Bird in Hand in Knowl Hill where a window was smashed but nothing taken.
Railway Station Ticket machines are being targeted and broken into, this happened at Twyford Station in the early hours of Thursday 20 May and also at Henley and Marlow. If you see anyone breaking into these machines – please ring the police on 999 if it is occurring or if you have any information ring 0845 8 505 505 as we liaise with British Transport Police.
There have been two reports of fly tipping along the A4 and A321; we ask that people are vigilant to large vehicles tipping rubbish in private land or wooded areas. If you do see anything take as much detail as possible, most importantly the number plate and report it into 0845 8 505 505.
On 1 May – a 23 year-old man from Woodley was stop checked on London Road, Twyford and was found with cannabis. He was given a formal police warning for possession of cannabis.
On 4 May – a 39 year-old man from Twyford was given an Adult Restorative Disposal for common assault, no injury, which occurred in Bath Road Twyford.
On 6 May – a 65 year-old man from St Georges Avenue, Newbury was arrested by PC Harrison from Waitrose in Twyford for theft of two bottles of wine and a sandwich. Michael Morgan was remanded on 6 May and charged in court the next day.
On 6 May – a 19 year-old man from Maidenhead was detained by an off duty Metropolitan officer for stealing lead from the roof of Polehampton School. Joshua Grason-Heath was charged and will appear at court in Maidenhead on 9 June.
On 10 May – a 47 year-old woman from Yewhurst Close, Twyford was detained by staff in Waitrose for attempting to steal a trolley full of goods. Bettina Betz Portelli admitted to two other occasions where she has done the same thing. She is going to court on 28 June.
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) has been mainly concentrated within Twyford this month. Young people have been playing football and drinking in Jubilee Corner, this can be dangerous as the football can end up going across the road in front of moving traffic. We would like to reassure the residents and local businesses that we are aware of the issue and are doing our best to tackle the problem; we are liaising with the local parish council and wardens. We will continue to patrol the area; we ask that you keep ringing 0845 8 505 505 especially on Friday and Saturday nights when Operation Lion Cub is running.
ASB is rising at Twyford Rail Station, this could be linked to the ASB in Twyford High Street as the reports involve young people playing football and being abusive towards the taxi drivers. Racial abuse will not be tolerated and is an arrestable offence. If you are seen playing in an anti-social manner with a football in this area your ball will be confiscated, a train station is not a sensible place to play football.
We have had many reports of motorbikes and quad bikes being ridden on private property, across growing crops and near to people’s houses. The areas mostly affected are Wargrave and Twyford. This can be noisy, dangerous and intimidating. We ask that if you hear or spot any of these vehicles and they are being anti-social or riding on private property to try to take as much detail down as possible. We realise that they are fast but if you can record the number plate for us it can be very useful. We also ask that you call this into 0845 8 505 505 number as soon as possible so that we deal with the situation quickly. These vehicles can be hard to find as they can go down small path ways and across fields when we cannot.
There has been a report of ASB outside the shops on Longfield Road in Pennfields where mopeds have been riding around the private car park round the back of the shops and the riders have been abusive towards the local residents.
There have been numerous reports of ASB involving cars in the last month, the areas most affected are Wargrave and East Park Farm, Charvil. There have been two reports of cars driving in a dangerous manner in the car park of the Old Devil Inn, where they have been doing handbrake turns. Reports on dangerous driving down Braybrooke Road in the chalk pit. Those that have good music systems in their car; can you please be more considerate to your neighbours when playing your music. Your car is not an extension of your bedroom, not everyone will enjoy the same music taste, please keep the volume down and don’t play it late into the night.
Responding to to our neighbourhood priorites we continue to patrol Pennfields estate, Hurst, Wargrave and East Farm Park, Charvil addressing young people involved in ASB. We continue patrol areas in which criminal activity or ASB has taken place, which include the A4 corridor car parks, Sonning Cricket and Hokey club.
PCSO Anne Chalmers attended the local Sonning Parish Council meeting where she gave a police update and information on ASB and Op Lion Cub, she also attended the Ruscombe Parish Council meeting and the Hurst Parish Council meeting. PCSO Chalmers also attended the Sonning Neighbourhood Watch meeting.
PCSO Chalmers visited Sunrise to give a safety talk which was well received. A safe and sound talk was also given by PCSO Nicola Shepherd and PCSO Chalmers for the Hurst Air Scouts and Charvil Brownies which we enjoyed greatly.
A street briefing was held in Wessex Gardens with PC Terry Neblett, PCSO Shepherd and PCSO Chalmers. The main issue brought up was the problem with parking. We would like to remind people who use this area to park and commute using the train to park considerately. Don’t park too near another car or directly opposite, there needs to be enough room for emergency services to get through as this is a no through road.
A walkabout was held in Highfield Park, Wargrave, those who attended were; PC Neblett, PCSO Chalmers along with housing officers from Wokingham district council Anne Siobhan and the senior housing officer, environmental officers and 15 local residents. Areas of concern were graffiti in an ally way which was removed whilst there and a large hedge which needs cutting back.
A Have your Say Police Surgery was held at the Cricket Pavilion in Wargrave with PC Neblett, where local issues were discussed.
There will be a Have Your Say meeting on 12 June in Twyford Library from 10.30am-11.30am. There will also be one in Remenham Parish Hall on 14 June 7pm-8pm.
PCSO Shepherd will be holding a street briefing in Byron Road, Twyford on 20 of June at 3pm.
PCSO Nicola Shepherd carried out speed indication work out along the London Road in Twyford. A number of cars were seen driving over the speed limit; the owners will be sent a letter warning them of their speed. We are hoping to do more speeding enforcement and more Speed indication device work within the Northern Parish.
We are still working hard to patrol as often as possible in Station Road, The Grove and Wargrave, issuing fixed penalty notices to cars that do not hold a residents parking permit and have stayed over the time limit or to any parked on double yellow lines.
We have had recent reports of parking issues in Byron Road, Twyford where commuters park their cars obstructively blocking pavements. We have been giving out fixed penalty notices and reassuring the local residents that we will do all we can to help ease the problem.
We are aware of the concerns over parking during school drop off and pick up times. These concerns are raised by residents and parents. We will patrol during these times as regularly as possible. If you have any concerns or want to talk to one of the neighbourhood team please ring 0845 8 505 505 and ask to be put through to the Twyford police office.
You can contact your neighbourhood policing team by calling 0845 8 505 505
Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford