The site contains details of Police Stations and opening times, news, appeals, events and meetings. If you live in Hillingdon, you can visit the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) pages and identify the officers responsible for your area.

The SNT's hold drop-in surgeries where you can speak to them about any concerns that you have about crime or anti-social behaviour in your local area.

If you have a keyless car, you are in danger of what is termed "Relay Theft" where the signal from your key fob inside your house is relayed via a device to your vehicle on the driveway, at which point the vehicle thinks the key is in close proximity and the vehicle can be driven away.

The majority of vehicle thefts on Hillingdon Borough take place using this method.

There is a new product that uses microelectronic sensors that has recently been Police Approved and which is so small that it fits into the battery compartment of your key fob (see image). When you put your fob down the device detects that it has stopped moving, and after 20 seconds it prevents the fob from transmitting a signal until you pick it up again and ready to go - you don't even notice that it's installed, it works entirely automatically.

You can read more about the device here on the manufacturer's website: Hard-Off Security Ltd.

The popular publication The Little Book of BIG Scams contains a number of hints and tips to stop you becoming a victim of fraud and the newly updated 5th Edition has been released.

Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch gets to hear about many real cases of residents who unfortunately fall for the scams which are described in the book, and the best advice is to start out by suspecting cold callers at the door, or on the phone, to be fishing for ways to make you part with your money.

Some residents have given away their credit card an PIN number to someone calling at the door pretending to have been sent by their bank. These scams really do happen, and the scamsters are very plausible, so we can all play our part in making sure that we don't fall for them, and that we make sure that we keep an eye on our elderly neighbours.

Whether it's someone calling at your door to ply for trade, or someone calling you on the phone to say that you owe money or have had an accident, or perhaps an email telling you that your TV licence payment hasn't gone through, then the same advice always, always applies:

If it's unexpected - reject it!

So, the message is clear - read the book and stay alert!

Click here to view The Little Book of Big Scams.

A reminder that it is perfectly legal for a household CCTV system to film beyond the boundary of your property and into a public area (such as the road or footpath).

There is no need to register with the ICO in these circumstances, however you should display a small sticker telling people that your property is protected by CCTV, which should be visible from the boundary of your property.

This rule also applies to video doorbells that film down your path and into the road, for example. Stickers are available online, for example at popular auction sites, and examples are shown here..

The rise in the number of video doorbells across the Borough is proving to be of huge assistance to officers investigating crimes, and they are providing images of evidential quality.

If you live on Hillingdon Borough and are signed up to OWL (see article at the top of this page) then if you have a domestic CCTV System or Video Doorbell then you can advise the Police that you are happy for them to contact you in the event of a crime near you to view your footage, by emailing the central inbox at hillingdoncctv@gmail.com with your Ward, Postcode and House Number. Only Police Officers and Senior Coordinators on OWL will be able to see the fact that you are willing to allow the Police to contact you in relation to potential CCTV evidence.

UPDATE: Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch have been working with the Police to produce a Factsheet to assist residents in preparing a download from their CCTV System ready to hand to the Police, along with a template Statement.

You can access these documents below:

Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch has updated its publicity leaflet which tells you how to start a new Watch and what is involved.

You can view a PDF copy of the leaflet HERE, or printed copies are available from Ruislip Police Station - you can contact us via the Contact Us page of this website.

Why not email a friend in a road that has no Watch and ask them to visit our website and read the leaflet?

The more Watches we have on the Borough the greater our chances of preventing and detecting crime. Don't let them get away with it - Join a Watch, Start a Watch and be an Active Good Neighbour!

Acting Police Sergeant Tristan Brown from Team 3 North SNT updates us on some useful facts regarding vehicle crime:

Recently I have viewed CCTV footage of suspects stealing a four week old car. Top of the range and full of all the latest security features the manufacturer provide. It took them a whole 40 seconds to steal the car and drive it away. WITHOUT THE KEY. Time for a reminder of my security advice of a few months ago. Please read and digest, particularly if your vehicle is fitted with keyless entry.

Over the last few months there has been an increase in the number of 'theft from' and 'theft of' motor vehicles. Many of these crimes have been reported where there has been no sign of forced entry to the vehicle or the vehicle has been stolen with the lawful owner still in possession of the keys. I have made contact with PC Pick of Thames Valley Police who has been in contact with an expert at the vehicle testing centre in Thatcham. He has offered the following information;

There are currently two main locking systems for vehicles. These are key fob and keyless entry. Both can leave your vehicle vulnerable to crime if certain precautions are not taken.

Key Fob entry

The system works by sending random combinations of code to the vehicle each time the fob is pressed. Therefore, thieves copying the code is useless so they have come up with another way to prevent you from locking your vehicle.

Thieves are overcoming this by jamming the signal from your key fob to your vehicle by using a number of different devices. These devices can be purchased from as little as £2 from the internet and come in many forms such as garage door openers and house light controllers/dimmers. Many of these devices act to block your key fobs when you attempt to lock your vehicle.

Thieves are able to block signals in whole areas such as car parks or streets by hiding these devices in bushes with a clothes peg activating the device for long periods of time and without the need for them to be in the vicinity.

There is a solution. Once you have activated your key fob, YOU MUST ensure the lights have flashed indicating the car has received the signal, and then check the vehicle is locked by lifting a door handle.

Keyless Car entry

The signal for a vehicle with keyless entry cannot be jammed so thieves will simply smash a window to steal your property.

The signal used for vehicles with this form of security system is unchanging and broadcasts continuously between the fob and the vehicle. IT CAN BE COPIED.

Fobs made by different manufacturers use different ranges and the signal can vary in terms of strength and useable distance. This is the distance between the vehicle and the range in which the vehicle will be unlocked. This can be up to 30 feet from the vehicle. For many people this could be less than the distance between your vehicle and where you leave your keys once inside your home. YOUR VEHICLE MIGHT NOT BE LOCKED. Alternatively, if your fob is transmitting continuously, the distance between where the device is in your home and the pavement, driveway etc. may be sufficient for a potential thief to copy the signal. Once copied the thief can not only enter your car but also steal it or any property within it.

The advice from Thatcham is as follows;

If you have a vehicle with a keyless entry system, keep the key in a 'Faraday Cage' where the signal cannot escape. This is the same advice as given to us in relation to tap credit and debit cards. You can now purchase small metal credit card cases at an affordable price. You can then remove the plastic card holders and keep your key fob in there. Search for RFID blocking case/wallet.

DO NOT leave anything on display that a thief may find attractive. This includes any electronic/valuable items such as phones and sat navs, but also be aware of other items such as bags, child seats and clothing.

Editor's note: Also remember to fit those physical barriers that add an additional level of visible frustration for the car thief, such as locking wheelnuts and a sturdy steering wheel lock, as shown in the images within this article.

A Hillingdon Neighbourhood Watch member has written in to tell us about a useful Cyber Crime guide that he has put together in a specific format, so that it can be printed out and given to an elderly relative of his who has no access to a computer.

The guide covers a useful range of topics and supplements the work already published on this website in powerpoint and booklet format.

This guide gives the facility to be able to print out a list of key points on a few sheets of paper with minimal ink usage, and our contributor has given us permission to share this with you in the hope that it may prove useful.

To view the guide please click HERE.

The Metropilitan Police are asking bike owners to focus on bike security. If you own a bike, remember to get it security marked and registered at BikeRegister. Getting your bike security marked and registered is a visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught in possession of a registered bike, the rightful owner can be traced and they will be arrested. Find out if your local Met Police Safer Transport Team has any marking events planned.

• Record details of your bike: frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in); BikeRegister number; other distinguishing features; and take a photo.
• Use locks that meet the gold 'Sold Secure' standard. Also, use two different types of lock, with at least one being a high quality D-lock. It takes thieves a few seconds to cut through poor quality locks - make it as difficult for them as possible. Lock the frame and both wheels to the cycle parking stand. Make the locks and bike hard to manoeuvre. Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible.
• Take parts that are easy to remove with you. For example, saddles and wheels. Or use secure skewers, which can increase security by securing the bike's components to the frame permanently, making it difficult for thieves to steal parts such as saddle or wheels.
• Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking. It should be well lit and covered by CCTV.
• Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home. Bikes get stolen from communal hallways, gardens and sheds.
• Don't buy a stolen second-hand bike. Insist on proof of ownership and check the bike frame number at BikeRegister.
• If your bike has been stolen, contact the police. Give them your frame number, BikeRegister number, photo and any other details.

  Be security savvy about your bike - and make sure that it stays yours!

  Click here to visit the BikeRegister website:

  

Hillingdon Police have asked Neighbourhood Watch to publish an urgent warning about the increased appearance of Rogue Traders operating on the Borough.

Rogue Traders continuously trawl the streets looking for suitable victims, with the intention of persuading them that work is required to fix a problem with their property, when in fact there is absolutely nothing wrong at all.

Some Hillingdon residents have literally been taken for thousands of pounds, as the rogue traders return time after time to escalate the need for more work, and more money.

The rogue traders pictured here didn't get away with it - having conned an elderly gentleman into parting with thousands of pounds for unnecessary repairs, Neighbourhood Watch, Trading Standards and Hillingdon Police joined forces with the help of covert CCTV installed in the victim's porch by local residents.

Shortly after this image was captured, the two men concerned turned around to discover Police and Trading Standards Officers were standing right behind them.

Look after your elderly and vulnerable neighbours - if you suspect rogue traders are conning someone then don't approach the conmen, but talk to the resident and inform the Police on 101. If possible, discretely take down registration numbers of any vehicles that they use, along with the date and time.

Remember - ONLY use reputable traders, preferably those recommended by neighbours, friends or family.

Vehicle crime is more than just a nuisance, it can affect people's livelihoods if tradespeople are unable to travel or unable to work at all because their specialist tools are stolen from their van.

Although many people think that advice on vehicle crime is stating the obvious, it is clear from incidents around the Borough that many of these could be prevented if only that advice was followed every time.

This month we publish the Metropolitan Police Vehicle Crime Leaflet. Please take time to read it and follow it every time you leave your car.

With the move towards "keyless" cars seen as a selling point by motor manufacturers, this technology gives thieves yet another way to break into your vehicle. Fitting a mechanical lock that fits to the steering wheel (devices that were previously popular but which fell out of fashion with the advent of immobiliser systems and deadlocking) will put off many potential vehicle thieves as it is just one more barrier to delaying them.

Hopefully all of this will help you to avoid your car ending up like the one in our picture.

Image: Chris Talbot

The Crime Prevention Website has a wide range of information on how to prevent crime, plus a Home Security Survey which can be taken anonymously. The site is run by retired detective Calvin Beckford who is a Hillingdon resident and who is available to come and talk to local watches on request.

You can view previous editions on our Newsletters page.

Eastcote
Ruislip
Northwood

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