Break ins on Spelsbury Road

Sun 19 Nov 2017, 09:28

I know of two burglaries in Charlbury in the last few weeks. Is it not likely that these are connected to this break-in? I would have thought that collecting evidence might lead to catching the culprits of all these crimes. I urge everyone to keep their eyes open. Such crimes are usually planned in plain sight. Posing as tradesmen etc. Nobody is more overlooked than those wearing hi-viz! (As someone who wears hi-viz frequently)

Sat 18 Nov 2017, 22:20

Scenes Of Crime Officers used to be police officers, but the role was civilianised by TVP, along with others, to reduce officer headcount and save money on salaries & pensions, so now you get a weekdays only, office hours service, except for the most serious crimes.

Some politicians call this "focusing officer resources on front line policing". Be careful what you wish (vote)for!

That said, in my experience, SOCO response in this area over 20 years ago was variable at best. TVP has bigger fish to fry in Banbury, Oxford, MK, Reading and Slough to name but a few.

Had a gun been stolen, or reported as missing, that might have elicited a different, more rapid, response!

There is (or used to be) a section of TVP that specialised in footprints at crime scenes. If this evidence has been ignored, you might want to contact Supt. Mark Johns, the Area Commander for Cherwell & West Oxfordshire to highlight this and voice your concerns.

Sat 18 Nov 2017, 11:09 (last edited on Sat 18 Nov 2017, 11:10)

Clare PCSOs are not voluntary they get paid,

Fri 17 Nov 2017, 16:52

I am sorry to hear about this, and I think it is essential that those people affected DO complain. Nothing will change otherwise. In today's target driven culture a few official complaints are what is needed to draw the attention of senior people in the police force and elsewhere. Complaining about a poor service does not mean you don't appreciate the efforts of the ordinary police officers and PCSOs.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 23:34

I do mind and I do feel let down that the police did not attend this scene of a crime or do forensics when my property was broken into violently, and my possessions damaged or stolen, at the same time as the property of half a dozen other people on the same site were similarly treated. I had the sledgehammer and bolt cutter used in this crim in my property, the burglars had used my torches to light the ransacking of my premises and there were muddy boot prints on my floor, all of which was apparently of no interest to the police. Of course the thugs who are driving around in balaclavas with crow bars looking to break into the property of others know that they don't have the resources to catch them. It must be depressing being a police officer knowing that you are being prevented from serving your community and yes the fault does lie with government. It is pretty depressing as a citizen and a tax payer to discover that when you are the victim of crime that nothing will be done about it.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 21:26

I don't see that you shouldn't criticise police if break ins chased up by the police my van was being broken in to 8.00 on a Sunday I scared them off after they forced the side door I rang the police, I was told don't touch any thing they came out 3 days later. Sorry but it should be followed up as a tax payer I would expect nothing less.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 18:46

Criticising Local Goverment is different to critisising the actual policemen and policewomen who do a fantastic job under increasingly difficult circumstances.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 17:12

Martin - you are easily staggered. Why not criticise an under-performing police force? The police ARE overstretched and the fault is that of central government, not the police force's.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 16:21

Actually the Police House mentioned is not a police house. It is privately owned and has a tenant in it.
Liz; when you suggest "our own community police"; what exactly are you suggesting?

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 13:00

"If the police stop trying to solve minor crimes, they save money but fail the communities who need them most."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/15/suffer-most-police-retreat-poorer-people-crimes-communities

C/b crime maybe not quite at the inner city level, but the principle applies.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 09:24

Find it staggering that people are criticising an already overstretched police force.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 09:03

Community police?

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 08:07

There's still a police house sitting empty in Charlbury, tho' not for much longer. Maybe it's time for our own community police.

Thu 16 Nov 2017, 08:07

The landlords have been doing all they can to help the police but I guess the police just can't give much time to incidents like this. It seems a better use of time to work on increasing security !

Wed 15 Nov 2017, 17:49

Saw two police walking round Charlbury today at about 1pm, it was on the tip of my tongue to say been to Spelsbury workshops yet??

Wed 15 Nov 2017, 17:42 (last edited on Wed 15 Nov 2017, 17:44)

Clare - perhaps a call to the Oxford Mail or Times may be of use- if there is a spate of these incidents, which there now obviously is,then it makes for a story and may rattle the cage of the local constabulary. It keeps the public vigilant too which is not a bad thing.

Tue 14 Nov 2017, 09:07

I know it will not solve these immediate problems, but we pay for the Police through the Council Tax; if we are not receiving the service that we pay for, then do not pay!
To quote that well-known saying, "it's not rocket science!!".

Mon 13 Nov 2017, 22:36

I think Lord C has moved now, so there will probably be another in his places..

Mon 13 Nov 2017, 22:12 (last edited on Mon 13 Nov 2017, 22:23)

Astounded and disturbing that the Police won't come. The money can be found for aircraft carriers et all!!
We live in Spelsbury and often see the Lord C and his Grant Mitchell entourage doing at least 50 in a 30. (They are not the only ones.)

Sat 11 Nov 2017, 22:47

Two voluntary community support girls turned up but they can do nothing. The landlords were on and off the phone to the police all day but no police officer turned out. I have items that could be evidence in my studio and until it has been looked at I can't touch it. I feel let down that a crime that has impacted so many of us is not regarded worthy of attendance by police officers. Thanks for your offer of help Simon but I can't get in there just now and until someone has dusted the items for prints I don't want to. I have a horrible feeling no-one is going to bother about us though. I bet if our workshops were in Dean they'd have had teams of officers there in minutes !

Sat 11 Nov 2017, 21:07

I find it shocking that the police didn't come out. My container escaped luckily. I feel so sorry for the others who were hit and if you need any help putting things right I'd be happy to volunteer.

Sat 11 Nov 2017, 20:45 (last edited on Sat 11 Nov 2017, 20:47)

Several storage containers and two workshops on Spelsbury Road were broken into last night and ransacked. Some items were stolen including an expensive telescope in a yellow container. Several items were dumped in a nearby field. If you find the telescope do please contact. All our premises were ransacked. The bolt cutters and sledgehammer used were left in my space as were boot prints. The police were too busy to come and our workshops are now boarded up in the hope they might come next week. Several people have been affected by this crime and we are disappointed that no police officer came out and no forensics were done. We know there are lots of burglaries in the area currently so do be extra watchful. These premises have security lighting and CCTV and it was no deterrent !