Criminals operating in Charlbury

Tue 2 Sep, 20:56

I walked past this car at about 4pm on Monday 1/9 and this had already happened by that time.

Tue 2 Sep, 18:51 (last edited on Tue 2 Sep, 18:54)

T V P have today at sent out a Thames Valley Alert message about this and asking for dash cam footage etc but they said it was Monday 2 Sept, between 16.20 and 17.20,  although from the times of their message and the theft it was clearly Monday 1st.

They also told of theft from a car on The Green, reported 30 August but possibly having taken place up to two days earlier.

Mon 1 Sep, 18:48

It may be unrelated to this and the 'Two strange men' post, but I just stopped to comfort a distraught young woman whose car had been broken into near the Pre-school (just round the curve on Grammar School Hill). The passenger side window was completely shattered and some belongings stolen. She said this 'happens all the time' in Chad, where she's from. (I hope not.)

So, vigilance is clearly important. As might be parking in good sight, where possible. The victim in this case said the police 'we're interested' (presumably, they weren't about to send someone out). Not sure where that leaves us. Perhaps the Town Council ought to take a view.  

Sun 31 Aug, 20:23

I may have posted this previously, but it's a pleasant revenge fantasy:  when I was working in South Africa the crime rate was such that it was almost mandatory to carry a very visible immobiliser that could be clamped to the steering wheel.   A friend of a friend reported that they were given a lift by someone who didn't carry such a thing; on being questioned he said that if ever his van was stolen he'd get it back within 48 hours. 

Sure enough, it was stolen, and he did get it back: in his glove compartment was a Gordon's gin bottle filled with paraquat.   

Dunno whether it's true, but sometimes you just dream about revenge.  

Sun 31 Aug, 20:12

Again not to startle anyone but just a warning to stay vigilant and if you do have ring door bells make sure they’re charged/plugged in. Last night there were more sightings of suspicious activity in the early hours of the morning on Dancers Hill and Lee Close. Two men wandering around and another a Luton van going up and down Lee Close around 4am.

If anyone manages to get registration plates of suspicious vehicles in the small hours it might be good to report to the police so they can use the ANPR systems. This is how they caught the last group of thieves who came from Coventry.