Robbery in Theydon Bois

Essex Police are investigating a robbery which took place in Theydon Bois during which a number of items of value were stolen. They were called to Loughton Lane, in Theydon Bois, shortly after 5.20am on Tuesday 20th September. Three men had entered the property and threatened two people, a man and a woman, with weapons before leaving with a number of items, including Rolex watches, other jewellery and iPhones.

Each of the suspects are men and were dressed in black tracksuits, aged in their mid-20s and were wearing hooded tops. We believe they left in the Loughton direction. Thankfully neither victim was seriously injured. They are both being supported by our officers. Detective Inspector Tony Atkin, who is leading our investigation, has reassured the community that this is hopefully an isolated event and that there is no wider risk to the community. Essex Police would like to encourage anyone who was in the area or has dashcam footage of cars driving in Loughton Lane between 4.45am and 5.30am on Tuesday September to get in touch.

Please contact them at www.essex.police.uk.

Arrests for Cable Thefts

On the morning of Tuesday 27th September, Essex Police confirmed that three men had been arrested in connection with an investigation into a number of cable thefts which caused a significant amount of damage. They are investigating 25 thefts which took place in rural areas in north and west Essex, as well as in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. In total, about £1m worth of cable was stolen from the sites. That sum does not include the impact on the public and businesses. The investigation is being led by specialist officers from our Serious and Organised Crime Unit. As a result of their work, warrants were executed at a number of properties in Stondon Massey on Tuesday 27 September, shortly after 6am. Three men aged 20, 22 and 41 have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal. They have been taken to custody for questioning. In the afternoon of the following day, Wednesday 28th September, Essex Police confirmed two people had been charged in connection with an investigation into cable thefts which total about £1m, they were charged with conspiracy to steal. Two men aged 20 and 22, living in Stondon Massey appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court later that day. A 41-year-old man has been released on bail until October.

£1.7m awarded to Essex councils to tackle county homelessness

Ten council partnership awarded funds to further help rough sleepers into suitable sustained housing. Almost £1.7m of funding has been awarded to a partnership of ten Essex councils via the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) to support rough sleepers transition from the streets and into sustained accommodation.

The Rough Sleeping Initiative was first announced by central government in 2018. The fund was put in place for local authorities to make an immediate impact on levels of homelessness and rough sleeping in their area. The 2022-25 fund will be targeted at local support for those who are homeless and will include additional outreach workers, support to access mental health services, emergency beds and funding to help homeless individuals with rental deposits. Over the past two years, Essex County Council (ECC) has developed a partnership with nine city, borough and district councils, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Epping Forest, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring and Uttlesford. This partnership seeks to reduce people sleeping rough by providing support via a Rough Sleeper Outreach Team which builds relationships and trust with rough sleepers. Cllr John Spence, ECC Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Through hard work and collaboration our Essex partnership has been successful in securing this funding, which will be a huge step in continuing our work to help the homeless across Essex.

“The partnership between ECC, our borough, city and district partners and voluntary organisations have been working tirelessly to deliver much needed support to some of the county’s most marginalised citizens.” The funding, alongside ECC’s wider work on homelessness and rough sleeping, helps to achieve the aims of the Council’s Everyone’s Essex ambitions, to promote the health, care, and wellbeing of all residents across the county. In the following case study names have been changed, or shortened, to protect the identity of individuals Jane Smith was living on the streets when she was approached by a Rough Sleeper Initiative worker, Jill, who supported her into safe accommodation at Chess Homeless Shelter in Chelmsford.

Jane said: “I don’t know where I would be without the services available, they truly are valuable. Jill got me off the streets, into a shelter and a rehabilitation programme- I’m now looking forward to a positive new chapter in my life.” If you have concern about someone sleeping rough in Essex, please visit the Streetlink website: www.streetlink.org.uk.