Neighbourhood Watch: STN 1 South YarraRegion 1 Division 2 Stonnington, Victoria, Australia.
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Neighbourhood Watch: STN 1 South Yarra
Region 1 Division 2
Stonnington, Victoria, Australia.
You are here: Home>Newsletters>Feb 2002
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Newsletter
February, 2002 Your help needed for Neighbourhood Watch to continue About five years ago I noticed that the monthly Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter was no longer appearing in my mail box. It's arrival every month had become one tiny part of my life of living in South Yarra. It was one of the many threads of the "social glue" which binds a community. It's disappearance prompted me to enquire why it was no longer being delivered. It turned out to be a familiar story. A declining number of people willing to help a local voluntary organisation. As someone who's contribution to the local community for the previous 20 years had been virtually nil, I decided to offer my services to produce the newsletter. My publishing experience of once having had a letter-to-the-editor printed in The Australian was enough to be offered the job. Well, that and the fact that I had a computer, and could type with two fingers. Within twelve months of joining Neighbourhood Watch, the Area Coordinator resigned. My leadership abilities (none), and a reluctance by anyone else to undertake the job, resulted in me also becoming Area Coordinator. With the assistance of a few long term volunteers, who are now in their 60's and 70's, we have managed to keep producing and distributing the newsletter. But, five years down the track, and once again lack of volunteers is a threat to the continuance of Neighbourhood Watch. So it's over to you. If you want Neighbourhood Watch to continue then it's up to a younger generation to stand up and be counted. To register your interest in helping Neighbourhood Watch to continue please call me on 9827 6931 or come to the next meeting which is on Tuesday 5 March 7.45pm at the Police Complex, 398 Malvern Road For people with an interest in helping the police to reduce local crime, Neighbourhood Watch is the only game in town. Let's hope it's not an end game. Reported Crimes - Year 2001 Barnsbury Rd 10 Bunalbo Ave 3 Cassell St 6 Coolullah Ave 1 Cromwell Rd 14 Hawksburn Rd 16 Kensington Rd 42 Luxton Rd 18 May Gr 4 Motherwell St 4 Norman Ave 2 Oban St 7 Quamby Ave 1 Rockley Rd 56 Stanhope Ct 0 Stanley St 1 Toorak Rd 12 Walter St 0 Williams Rd 10 Who are "the night people" Is it just me, or have other people noticed the sudden appearance of things in the street overnight. Things like shopping trolleys, plastic bottles, cans, stubbies, fast food packaging and graffiti. It's as if there is a strange species of "night people" who roam around after sunset in shopping trolleys eating and drinking and depositing their litter in the street. Who are these "night people" and why do they use my neighbourhood as a rubbish dump? It's Mark It In March time Once again Neighbourhood Watch is running the Mark it in March campaign. The idea is to encourage people to mark their valuables using an engraver or ultraviolet pen with the letter "V" (for Victoria) and your driver's licence number. This deters thieves and helps police to return lost or stolen property. This year the Victoria Police and Neighbourhood Watch is offering to come to your home and assist you to mark your property. The offer may be limited depending on numbers. If you would like your name added to the list or require further information please call 9827 6931. The Angela Taylor Memorial run/walk This event commemorates the life of Constable Angela Taylor who died (24 days later) as a result of injuries she sustained in the Russell Street Bombing. She was 21 years old. The event is a 5 or 10 km run/walk on Sunday 17 March commencing at 8.30am at Victoria Police Academy, View Mount Road, Glen Waverley. You may enter on the day (by 8.00am) The Victoria Police Band will be playing - Sausage sizzle - Fruit and refreshments provided - Change rooms available - Car parking available. Tips from a former thief Don't presume what a thief will look like - sly, scruffy, wearing a beanie and gloves and dressed in black. Many thieves dress in a suit as a businessman, or in overalls as a tradesman. The homes which are easier targets are those where there's a high fence or bush so the thief can't be seen. The thief will look for signs like the mail not being taken in, or the lawn not being cut, or the bin left out. They also tend to stay away from homes which have security systems. The Rubbish Bin The longer a bin is left on your nature strip, the more of a target your house will become. The bin tells the thief that the occupants are not home all day and sometimes not until well after dark. Get your neighbour, relative or friend to take your rubbish bin in for you, the earlier the better. The Letter Box A full or overflowing mailbox tells any potential thief that no one is home. A couple of days "casing the joint" and all is set for a possible break in. Get those same neighbours, relatives or friends to collect your mail. Advertising Nobody's Home Notes left on the door by you or from visiting friends are a very good signal for a thief that there is nobody home at that particular time. If you are expecting somebody and you have to go out unexpectedly, call them and tell them. If you find a note, contact the person concerned and tell them to put notes in the mailbox or under the door in future. Your answering machine should not say that you're not home, simply that you can't get to the phone. If you are going out, leave the radio or TV on to suggest someone is still home. New Merchandise Another thief told of driving around with the "boys" one day, and noticing that alongside the usual rubbish collection, the owners of a particular house had placed many empty boxes which once contained valuable items such as TV, stereo, VCR, etc. A few days later the same couple of blokes were in the local hotel selling the merchandise which had been contained within those boxes. All of it was practically new. Dispose of large boxes in a discreet manner or store them flat in your garage/spare room to be re-used when moving house. When You Rent Many thieves rent their house, and when obtaining the keys to a new house, immediately cut another spare set. When it comes time to vacate, they hand the original keys back to the landlord and still have a set of keys to a house that will soon be occupied by someone else. Easy access!! When renting a house, change the locks and upon leaving, replace them with the originals. (You can then re-use them in the next house.) That way you have the only set of keys to your house - a small price for peace of mind. Camping Grounds Many camping sites are like a smorgasbord of goodies to a thief -wet suits, surfboards, fishing gear, boats, and televisions in annexes or tents. Thieves don't take holidays! Many people leave behind their rational thinking on holidays. When camping, expose as little property as you can and put everything inside your van, tent or car. If leaving the site for awhile, tell a neighbour you are expecting nobody and for them to keep an eye out. Scatter some food, empty cans etc on tables and leave some chairs outside to have it appear as though you are there. Many boat trailers have been stolen from boat ramps while the owners are out enjoying their spot of fishing. You can always chain your boat trailer to your car and on returning to the campsite, you can also lock your outboard motor to your boat. NHW Sentinel Meetings
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Last modified 7 September 2003.