Neighbourhood Watch Roundup

from Seaford Scene April 2021

Index of Businesses

Spring is springing and what a beautiful time of year it is. Daffs are doffing their pretty yellow hats at all the new life and vitality bursting all around us, a joyful celebration that winter is behind us and that much like us, emerging from our Lockdown hibernation as we are, there is so much to be grateful for. It is a splendid spring indeed and we encourage you, our exceptionally great neighbours, to kick up your heels and be joyful. Hopefully, the worst is behind us.

How wonderful it would be to show our own spring with bunting and banners, the Christmas lights that barely got a look in, with flowers and gardens resplendent and with smiles and good cheer. Let’s keep all the good of this past year; the community spirit, the neighbourliness, the kindness and consideration, the support of local businesses, the generosity for those battling far more than they should be, the sprit of willing helpfulness, our Seafordian-ness, and let this be the lasting good out of what has undoubtedly been, a terrible year.

As if battling through a pandemic were not enough, the scammers have had a field day with mobile phones and land lines under siege of electronic threats. From threats of the National Crime Agency cancelling our National Insurance numbers and issuing warrants for arrest to HMRC debt collectors coming to our homes, and folk based in far flung lands with the powers of x-ray vision able to see our routers, we have heard them all. Keep doing what you are doing and hang up, block the number, and report the call to ActionFraud. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ We haven’t had many reports of doorstep fraud but we are aware that neighbours have had a flood of post and email fraud attempts which are so clever that they look real, and some really rather alarming. Again, keep doing what you are doing – report the attempted fraud to ActionFraud. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ We encourage all neighbours to take the online course offered by Friends Against Scams, the antifraud division of Trading Standards. If you visit their website https://www. friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ you can learn everything there is to learn to be totally scam-savvy and how to protect friends and family too. The online courses are free and a real eye opener – you honestly will not believe how many people get caught out and the devastation that scam fraud causes. The only way to combat it, is to be scam-proof, and the only way to be scam-proof is to know what you are up against and share that knowledge.

With a social summer fast approaching, now is the time to check sheds, garages and outbuildings, and make sure they are secure. Sussex Police have great advice on their website for keeping your home, property and valuables secure, as listed below.

Many people don’t secure their shed or garage in the same way they do their homes – often using an easy-to-break lock or padlock to protect valuable contents such as a car, bike or lawnmower. An opportunistic burglar will try a shed or garage first because they can find the tools they need to break into the main house.

Insure It:

First off, check that your insurance covers the contents of your shed or outbuildings from theft.

Think Like a Thief:

Take a look at your shed and consider how you would break in. It’s worth having a good padlock on the door with no exposed screws. Pay attention to hinges, as these are sometimes easily removable. If you have windows, then these could be vulnerable unless they’re secured with wire mesh or grills. And keep it locked at all times.

Consider a battery-operated shed alarm. They look low key, but they respond to movement or door contact with an extremely loud siren.

Lock It, Hide It or Mark It:

Don’t give them the opportunity or the tools to commit a crime. Lock everything away securely. Tools can be locked inside a locker or box or secured with a chain. Secure your bike to the ground or a lockable stand within a locked shed or garage. Visit Sold Secure to search for ground anchors and other locks designed to fix to floors and walls. It’s always worth draping an old sheet or blanket over the top of mowers or bikes to keep them covered from view. Although it might sound like stating the obvious, never leave your garage or shed door unlocked if you’re not around. Property marking your items is advisable and some tools can be painted with your name or postcode. Forensic marking is also an option. https://www.sussex.police.uk/cp/crimeprevention

With spring springing, it is also time for us to renew – we haven’t pushed it through 2020 but your £3 per household per year (and just £2 per senior household per year) keeps us ticking along. We rely on you, our neighbours, to keep us doing what we do, and what we do, we do very well. 2020 may have seemed like a dormant year for many, but we seeded two new schemes in Newhaven, now fully on their own two feet. A visible Neighbourhood Watch is a proven deterrent to crime and our exceptionally low crime figures in Seaford are a testament to our effort and our success. So please carry on being the eyes and ears in our town – due in large part to our very savvy Seafordians, crime remains low but we are no less vulnerable than the next guy. Keeping up with the latest info, and then sharing that with family, friends and neighbours, increases our resilience to scammers and makes us rather an unattractive target.

The easiest way to join or renew is online at www. sandbnhw.org/join but if you fancy joining or renewing the old fashioned way, there is a handy tear off slip below. There is also a new online shop for Neighbourhood Watch decals and stickers so if you need a refreshed members pack, please just order – all it will cost you is the postage.

We are looking forward to a far more connected 2021 as we all blossom back to normality – we have an Expo planned for late Summer, and we hope to see you at the fairs and shows that can go ahead this year in our town. Our thanks as always to our neighbours for your loyal support. Carry on being generous with your smiles, your care for yourselves and each other, and above all, be safe.

MEMBERSHIP FORM: To Join or Renew, please complete this form and return to The Treasurer, S&BNHW, 37 Church Street, Seaford, BN25 1HG.

NEW MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL for YEAR 2021 SUBID (if known) ________________

Title: ________ Forename: _______________________ Surname: _______________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Post Code: ______________ Tel: ______________________ Mobile: __________________ Email: _____________________________________ £3.00 Family Subscription £2.00 Senior Subscription £_______ Donation

Banking Details: Sort Code: 40-‐40-‐25 Account #: 41440152 Reference: 2021/Surname or SubID

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