Devon and Cornwall police warnings and notifications
Community messaging
Community messaging is a free service which enables the police to keep you informed about crimes and incidents affecting your local area. When you sign up to the community messaging service, they will send you messages containing up-to-date information to help them prevent or solve crime in your community. You can choose to receive your messages by fax, email or recorded telephone message. For more information on the service and how to join it see:
https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/our-services/community-messaging/
Recent messages from the police:
4 May 2016
Between 1800hrs on Tuesday 3rd May and 0900hrs on Wednesday 4th May 2016 multiple vehicles were interfered with and items stolen in the Halberton, Willand and Sampford Peverell areas. These included vehicles parked on private residential driveways, vans were also targeted and tools stolen. Please make sure your vehicles and outbuildings are secure and valuable items are removed. If you see anything suspicious call the Police promptly.
09 Nov 2015
Devon and Cornwall Police have received reports relating to a professionally run national scam. This has led to many vulnerable people, who are often elderly, being ruthlessly defrauded out of thousands of pounds. There have been a considerable number of victims nationwide, including many locally in the Devon and Cornwall area. The average age of victim appears to be 70 years old, with losses ranging between £4000 - £100 000+.
The offenders call unsuspecting victims pretending to be an official body, such as the police or bank. At present the common theme is for the caller to claim to be a Metropolitan police detective. The offenders then convince the victim that there has been some form of fraudulent activity with their bank account. They sometimes claim to have someone in police custody who was found with the victims bank details, or that their account has, or is being used, to withdraw substantial sums of money. The caller requests bank account details, PIN numbers and other details as a matter of urgency to prevent further substantial losses.
The caller often invites the victim to hang up the phone and call their bank or local police to confirm events. What the victim is unaware of is that the caller has maintained an open phone line, so on re-dialling the victim is actually connected to and conversing with the same offenders throughout the whole process. Once having attained all bank details the caller eventually tries to convince the victim to package their bank cards, seal them in an envelope and wait for a courier to arrive and collect. On occasion the caller also convinces the victim to visit their bank and withdraw substantial sums of cash from their accounts and await further instructions; usually involving a courier as described. The offenders sound professional, use decoding electronic devices as part of the process and even have automated messages and background music if on hold; it is a sophisticated and well planned operation which gives the impression of being genuine.
If you believe a member of the public is in the process of being defrauded or has been the victim of this type of incident, please contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101 immediately.
26 Aug 2015
This message relates to Crime No. 59520/15. Between Friday 21st August and Monday 24th August 2015 a Brian James boat trailer was stolen from farmland in the Sampford Peverell area. Please be aware of this theft. If you noticed any suspicious activity or vehicles in the Sampford Peverell area over the weekend which may be linked to the removal and theft of this trailer please contact 101 quoting Crime No. 59520/15. Thank you.
31 Jul 2015
Between Monday 3rd August and Saturday 15th August 2015 The British Red Cross will be conducting house to house fundraising in the Mid Devon Area. Police are aware and all collectors will have a photo ID badge. The fundraising agency are The Cobra Groups Plc trading as Appco Group Support. Thank you.
21 Jul 2015
There have been several reports during the last few days of Irish males trying to sell generators and power tools from the back of their vans. It appears they have been very intimidating and forceful to members of the public. They have also been asking for cash for gardening services which they have not carried out. Police are advising people not to part with any money, or buy power tools from these males, as they are most likely to be sub-standard and/or dangerous. If you feel threatened or worried by these males, please dial 999 immediately Thank you.
30 Jun 2015
People are being approached by letter and by telephone informing them they have won a large sum of money. They are then being asked to pay either monies for "insurance" purposes or as "release fees" to get the prize money released. There is no prize money and this is a variation on previous attempted frauds. Residents are recommended Not To Make payments any such requests and not to provide any personal information or banking details. Refer any such attempts to the Police or Trading Standards. Thank you
09 Jun 2015
Crimestoppers would like to warn the public against scammers impersonating the charity
Crimestoppers has been alerted to a group of scammers who have 'hijacked' the 0800 555 111 number. The scammers are calling people, saying they are "Crimestoppers at the Home Office" and directing them to the website to clarify the number and asking for personal information like bank details.
Crimestoppers has never, and will never, make cold calls to members of the public asking for any personal details, if you receive from someone asking for personal information and claiming to be from Crimestoppers, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Roger Critchell, Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, is currently talking to their phone service provider to attempt to resolve the situation and hope this can be rectified as quickly as possible. "People can still call the 0800 555 111 to pass on anonymous information about crime, but we wanted to make sure people are aware that Crimestoppers will never, ever contact members of the public asking for personal details, Please do not hand offer any personal information from cold callers claiming to be Crimestoppers." Thank you
Between 1800hrs on Tuesday 3rd May and 0900hrs on Wednesday 4th May 2016 multiple vehicles were interfered with and items stolen in the Halberton, Willand and Sampford Peverell areas. These included vehicles parked on private residential driveways, vans were also targeted and tools stolen. Please make sure your vehicles and outbuildings are secure and valuable items are removed. If you see anything suspicious call the Police promptly.
09 Nov 2015
Devon and Cornwall Police have received reports relating to a professionally run national scam. This has led to many vulnerable people, who are often elderly, being ruthlessly defrauded out of thousands of pounds. There have been a considerable number of victims nationwide, including many locally in the Devon and Cornwall area. The average age of victim appears to be 70 years old, with losses ranging between £4000 - £100 000+.
The offenders call unsuspecting victims pretending to be an official body, such as the police or bank. At present the common theme is for the caller to claim to be a Metropolitan police detective. The offenders then convince the victim that there has been some form of fraudulent activity with their bank account. They sometimes claim to have someone in police custody who was found with the victims bank details, or that their account has, or is being used, to withdraw substantial sums of money. The caller requests bank account details, PIN numbers and other details as a matter of urgency to prevent further substantial losses.
The caller often invites the victim to hang up the phone and call their bank or local police to confirm events. What the victim is unaware of is that the caller has maintained an open phone line, so on re-dialling the victim is actually connected to and conversing with the same offenders throughout the whole process. Once having attained all bank details the caller eventually tries to convince the victim to package their bank cards, seal them in an envelope and wait for a courier to arrive and collect. On occasion the caller also convinces the victim to visit their bank and withdraw substantial sums of cash from their accounts and await further instructions; usually involving a courier as described. The offenders sound professional, use decoding electronic devices as part of the process and even have automated messages and background music if on hold; it is a sophisticated and well planned operation which gives the impression of being genuine.
If you believe a member of the public is in the process of being defrauded or has been the victim of this type of incident, please contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101 immediately.
26 Aug 2015
This message relates to Crime No. 59520/15. Between Friday 21st August and Monday 24th August 2015 a Brian James boat trailer was stolen from farmland in the Sampford Peverell area. Please be aware of this theft. If you noticed any suspicious activity or vehicles in the Sampford Peverell area over the weekend which may be linked to the removal and theft of this trailer please contact 101 quoting Crime No. 59520/15. Thank you.
31 Jul 2015
Between Monday 3rd August and Saturday 15th August 2015 The British Red Cross will be conducting house to house fundraising in the Mid Devon Area. Police are aware and all collectors will have a photo ID badge. The fundraising agency are The Cobra Groups Plc trading as Appco Group Support. Thank you.
21 Jul 2015
There have been several reports during the last few days of Irish males trying to sell generators and power tools from the back of their vans. It appears they have been very intimidating and forceful to members of the public. They have also been asking for cash for gardening services which they have not carried out. Police are advising people not to part with any money, or buy power tools from these males, as they are most likely to be sub-standard and/or dangerous. If you feel threatened or worried by these males, please dial 999 immediately Thank you.
30 Jun 2015
People are being approached by letter and by telephone informing them they have won a large sum of money. They are then being asked to pay either monies for "insurance" purposes or as "release fees" to get the prize money released. There is no prize money and this is a variation on previous attempted frauds. Residents are recommended Not To Make payments any such requests and not to provide any personal information or banking details. Refer any such attempts to the Police or Trading Standards. Thank you
09 Jun 2015
Crimestoppers would like to warn the public against scammers impersonating the charity
Crimestoppers has been alerted to a group of scammers who have 'hijacked' the 0800 555 111 number. The scammers are calling people, saying they are "Crimestoppers at the Home Office" and directing them to the website to clarify the number and asking for personal information like bank details.
Crimestoppers has never, and will never, make cold calls to members of the public asking for any personal details, if you receive from someone asking for personal information and claiming to be from Crimestoppers, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Roger Critchell, Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, is currently talking to their phone service provider to attempt to resolve the situation and hope this can be rectified as quickly as possible. "People can still call the 0800 555 111 to pass on anonymous information about crime, but we wanted to make sure people are aware that Crimestoppers will never, ever contact members of the public asking for personal details, Please do not hand offer any personal information from cold callers claiming to be Crimestoppers." Thank you
Police warning 11 Oct 2016, repeated 09 Dec 2016
There has been a series of thefts from motor vehicles in the Uffculme, Sampford Peverell, Halberton and Willand areas where items have been taken from unattended vehicles, some vehicles have been secured, whilst others have not.
Drivers are asked to ensure your property is safe, where possible remove it from your vehicle or make sure it is out of sight and remember to lock your vehicle before leaving it unattended.
Police are actively investigating the thefts and would appreciate prompt reports of any suspicious activity seen, especially in the early hours of the morning or late at night.
Please use the 999 number if offenders are still in the area at the time of your call.
There has been a series of thefts from motor vehicles in the Uffculme, Sampford Peverell, Halberton and Willand areas where items have been taken from unattended vehicles, some vehicles have been secured, whilst others have not.
Drivers are asked to ensure your property is safe, where possible remove it from your vehicle or make sure it is out of sight and remember to lock your vehicle before leaving it unattended.
Police are actively investigating the thefts and would appreciate prompt reports of any suspicious activity seen, especially in the early hours of the morning or late at night.
Please use the 999 number if offenders are still in the area at the time of your call.