Community safety

May 2011

Operation Wellington

Merton Borough has launched Operation Wellington targeting burglaries. As West Barnes ward has seen an increase in burglaries over the last 2 months the ward will be one of those specifically targeted with this operation.

Specifically for the West Barnes residents, most offences have been committed with the offenders gaining access to the house through the rear patio door or window. Also the offenders have mainly been avoiding houses with alarms so it is worth investing in a house alarm if you do not have one.

Arrests have been made on the ward however the offences have continued. I would suggest more than one person or team is involved. We still need your help so report any suspicious behaviour particularly that in the alleys behind and down the sides of houses. Please call 999 as this will give us a chance to get there.

New Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are about to be launched in Claremont Avenue and Blakes Terrace. Over half the ward is covered by Neighbourhood Watch so if you would like to get involved or want to know who the coordinator in your street is then please get in touch with us.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team remain available to conduct security reviews for where you live, assist with property marking, get alley gate schemes started and while our priority is catching the burglars we will also look at any other problems people are having in their area.

For any further information please contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team as detailed below.

Graham Chapman
PS 54VW
West Barnes Safer Neighbourhood Team
0208 721 2454
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Merton Police Give Burglars the Boot!

Although Merton remains one of the safest Boroughs in London (overall reported crime down from 1280 offences in January to 1170 offences now), there has been a significant increase in burglary offences.  To combat this unexpected rise, we have launched Operation Wellington, a borough-wide initiative uniting both high visibility uniformed teams and plain clothes units, employing a range of tactics to deter, detect and arrest burglars currently having an impact on some of our residents and businesses.

Detective Sergeant Theresa Foster, leading Merton’s Burglary and Robbery Investigation Team (BRIT) said “Based on direct information from officers out on the street responding to calls, and through analysis of reports coming in, Operation Wellington aims to put the fear of crime right back onto the offender. We’re operating at all hours of the day and night, so there’s no resting place for offenders committing crime in Merton”.

Already intelligence has revealed a new trend where offenders target premises from the rear, using a technique to force open sliding patio doors.

DS Foster said “If you have a sliding patio door, don’t just rely on the central lock supplied – why not fit extra security locks to the top and bottoms of the opening section of the patio door, and check your door has an anti-lifting device. If the glass isn’t laminated, fit an appropriate window film which does the job. All these items are easily available from any DIY store for a few pounds, and might help bring your house insurance costs down.”

Follow these tips to help Merton police and Operation Wellington Give Burglars the Boot:-

• Double -lock ALL your doors when you go out, not just the front door
• Lock up bikes & tools in a shed using a padlock or bike lock, not just left loose.  Visit www.immobilise.com to register all your property NOW for free! Use SelectaDNA to forensically mark your property. If it does get stolen we could get it back to you and it could help to catch a burglar and get them convicted. www.SelectaDNA.co.uk Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team can give you advice and assistance to deploy this kit for little or no charge.
• Note the IMEI number of your mobile (type *#06#)
• If you see people looking into your neighbour’s windows or going down a side alley when they’re out – always call 999!
• Join CommunitySafe, our email alert/advise/warn email service, for all the latest Merton police news and support at www.communitysafe.gov.uk

 Superintendent Pete Dobson, head of police operations said, “Together with your help in making your property more secure and our ‘Operation Wellington’ we can boot the burglars out of Merton and make it an even safer place.”

For more information visit www.met.police.uk.

In any emergency where you want immediate police assistance, always dial 999.

To contact any other Metropolitan police team or station, or to contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team, just call 0300 123 1212.