BARTON FAYRE HELPS PUT THE BRAKES ON CYCLE AND MOBILE PHONE CRIME
31 August 2007
Members of Gloucester’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) will be security marking mobile phones and bicycles at their stand at Barton Fayre on Saturday, September 1, in a bid to help keep crime down.
The service is provided free of charge and CDRP members are hoping that it will help reduce incidents of pedal cycle theft and robbery.
The CDRP team will also once again be giving away trolley coins to visitors to the stand. The substitute £1 coins, featuring the Gloucester CDRP logo and website address, are for use in supermarket trolleys, gym lockers or other places where a £1 coin deposit is needed. By using the CDRP "coins" which are on a key ring, residents are able to avoid getting out their purses in public places like supermarket car parks where they could become a victim of robbery.
PC Kevin Ireland, Crime Reduction Officer for the Forest and Gloucester Division of Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: "For the first four months of this new financial year we have seen a further reduction in the incidents of robbery. But "We all have a part to play in reducing crime, with a little bit of forethought we can protect our property.
"Thieves hate traceable mobile phones and cycles as they are harder to sell and they run a greater risk of prosecution if caught."
In addition, the CDRP will be giving away mouse mats to publicise the telephone number for reporting hate crime incidents - 0800 077 8460.
The CDRP recommends that you register your mobile phone for free at www.immobilise.com, a national mobile phone register that already holds the details of over 10 million phones.
CDRP Project Development Officer, Pat Dabbs, said: "It only takes a couple of minutes and is completely free.
"All you need to do is to enter your contact details and your mobile phone’s 15 digit IMEI number, your phone’s unique serial number. The IMEI number normally appears underneath the battery in your phone, but on most phones can be viewed by pressing *#06#.
"If the phone is stolen, report it to your network operator as soon as possible. This will enable both the SIM card and the handset to be blocked, just like a stolen credit card.
"If your phone is recovered you will be contacted and told your phone is safe. The best chance you have of getting your phone back is to register your details."
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