Residents' Association Forum

Just a thread to update on policing and crimes in Thames Ditton that are reported on Twitter.

First off,

Daytime burglary in Thames Ditton yesterday. Spade taken from an insecure shed used to force open the rear patio doors. Report sus activity!  - Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, Surrey.

Also,

2 garage breaks reported yesterday in East Molesey with pedal cycles taken. Review your security and report any suspicious activity! - Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, Surrey.

Sounds like bike thieves are still active in the area

While I don't tweet, I've just seen that lead thieves have stripped lead from two places on St Nick's - by the church door, and capping from the stonework by the side of the tower (I believe the latter was last night, according to the churchyard groundsman)

#elmbridge A number of cars damaged in Thames Ditton this morning. Good work from officers who arrested 3 men. They are now in custody. - Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, 07:14

These Tweets are rather a good idea of the Neighbourhood teams - thanks Ratty.  I'm going to make this thread a sticky and we can add in similar brief reports of crime that may come to light form other sources e.g. Neighbourhood Watch.

For those wanting the link, which is for all of Elmbridge: http://twitter.com/#!/elmbridgebeat

Safer Neighbourhood team has now sent me the following (v. quick!):
Surrey Police received a call from an alert resident in Speer Road, Thames Ditton, in the early hours of this morning reporting  3 youths causing damage to a motor vehicle.

Officers attended the scene, carried out an area search and arrested three males who were located nearby. Unfortunately it would appear that a number of vehicles were similarly targeted. Our enquiries remain ongoing at this time and the three men are currently in custody.

BBC report on the incident: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-14347153

New online newsletter (local police summaries) of Surrey Police now added to our links page.  http://www.surreypa.gov.uk/local-policing-summaries/

"PCSOs Kennedy and Platt are in Thames Ditton and will be property marking in Mercer Close from 7pm to 8pm. Pop down for bike marking etc." -Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, Surrey

Just popped down there to have my bike done, and I was the only person that they had seen!

Police are warning of potential trouble in Kingston tonight. Wouldn't want to be the owner of Bang & Olufsen.

I was just joking to myself that if I was a looter I'd go stuff myself silly in Bachmanns, only to hear police have also alerted shops along Portsmouth Road.

Sad times.  >:(

Surbiton shops told to close (met) aparently trouble coming from Tolworth area. Waitrose is already shut.

makes my blood boil. Im sure we're fine in td though

Definitive briefing just received from the neighbourhood Inspector, Surrey Police.  I've put the essentials on our news page here. (http://residents-association.com/news.php#riots_11Aug")

Essentials are: calm in Surrey; no need for special measures; police monitoring situation; public asked to notify reports of agglomerations/antisocial behaviour as usual and to refrain from fuelling unsubstantiated rumours.

(I must say that over the past eighteen months there has been an improvement in police communication via the safer neighbourhoods organisation and latterly with the Tweets.  I think they're doing a good job.)

See also Elmbridge Guardian (http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9187873.Police_call_for_end_to_riot_rumours/")

"Good arrest in Thames Ditton this evening by Neighbourhood & Response teams of a suspect wanted for robbery in Norfolk. Well done everybody"  - David Hollingsworth, Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector

Not sure if this relates to the gypsies or the chopper over the Albany?

judging by the amount of police at the albany i'd wager its that.

Think it could be either as am told (via colets) that the police took two of the gypsies in for questioning.

Residents might also like to note this one: http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9218703.Police_hunt_Esher_motorbike_burglary_gang/ (http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9218703.Police_hunt_Esher_motorbike_burglary_gang/)

Police appeal for witnesses following a spate of criminal damage to seven cars on Weston Green Road last Friday night.

http://surrey.police.uk/media/news_item.asp?area=8&itemID=14367#.TmZMqz5jTeU

Laptop and bag stolen from a car parked at Colets by the infant school during school pick up time today at 15:18. Thieves made off on bicycles (one dark one silver) up to Speer Road. Please contact if you saw anything.

Windows smashed and laptop and wallet taken taken from 2 cars in Thames Ditton car park. Please do not leave valuables in unattended cars! - Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team 08:33am

Car in St. Nick's car park broken into.

Photographer makes appeal to find stolen equipment: 

A photographer from Thames Ditton is making an appeal after she had valuable equipment stolen during a burglary. 

Catherine Harvey had clients photos, a nikon camera and a laptop pinched from her home on Warwick Gardens on Monday. 

Her equipment is estimated to be worth nearly £5,000.

http://t.co/gdh7HCUf

Scuffle between two groups of males outside The Greyhound at Weston Green Thursday night 17 November - police reportedly dispersed them with the help of a Taser  Three  aged 19, 21and 47 have been arrested on suspicion of affray & bailed until January 5, while investigation continues.  If you have info please call 101 or Crimestoppers (latter if anonymous) quoting ref EL/11/8803

Police seek witnesses to suspected arson after fire at Old Cranleighan Sports Club off Portsmouth Road which happened on Monday, November 28 at around 10.10pm (https://surrey.police.uk/media/news_item.asp?area=8&itemID=14643#.TtYtXP-Sebs.twitter) 

(http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg740/scaled.php?tn=0&server=740&filename=rhevn.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640)

"Garages broken into in Claygate and Thames Ditton. Please be vigilant and review your security!" Elmbridge Beat, Dec 1st

Elderly targeted by burglars (http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2105424_elderly_victims_targeted_in_nighttime_burglaries)

"Car window smashed and laptop taken from car parked in Thames Ditton. Please be vigilant and dont leave valuables in unattended vehicles!" - Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team 09:31am

Please be careful. Laptops and the like will most likely not be covered by your insurance unless they are within a locked compartment within the car.

in this day and age who on earth leaves this stuff in their car anyway??

The neighbourhood team tell me that people do this all the time, not infrequently in cars that aren't locked.  They often go down a road checking cars themselves, and politely advising owners.  The story I liked best was of a local bigwig in neighbourhood watch (not TD & WG but nearby) who left the keys in his shiny Merc and the doors unlocked outside his house.

It's one of the reasons we all pay high insurance premiums.....

"Again Elmbridge reported crime is low. One attempt burglary in Thames Ditton where 3 people have been arrested & are being dealt with now" Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector, David Hollingsworth

"Thames Ditton burglars caught in act. Car chase to Hare Lane. Car Crash. 3 burglars run away. Police catch them. Hurray!" @ClaygateShops

Surrey Comet write up of the incident (http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/9479100.Claygate_chase_after_car_crashes_into_police/)

Resident reports that her car was broken into on Weston Green Rd, Friday 6th January.  The second time in 6 months along that stretch of road, in broad daylight.  
Both incidents were reported to the police, but nothing of any value  had been left in the car.

Had a small metal garden ornament stolen from their front or rear garden in the past 10 days?  Neighbourhood team would like to return this to its rightful owner - contact them (oates13867@surrey.pnn.police.uk)

"#Elmbridge Burglary - 2 males arrested for a burglary in Thames Ditton this week have been charged and will be attending court in February" Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector, David Hollingsworth 10:58

Vandals broke off several wing mirrors from cars parked along Ashley Road and the High Street yesterday (Friday) night.  They were spotted by a resident, and ran off when the resident raised the alarm.

I'm afraid if I saw this happening I wouldn't be calling the police, makes my blood boil, so senseless. Gone are the days where a wing mirror is 50 quid, they now cost hundreds and also involve significant labour to fit. One wouldn't involve insurance company because of the excesses so it would basically leave the average motorist £500 plus out of pocket

We're on holiday and I called my neighbour and apparently our car was one of the ones done by the mindless little scrots! Estimated damage about £1000!.... Great to come back from holiday to deal with! But it's the society we've created, untouchable vile little sub-species - raised by equally deluded parents, that have no respect for anyone or anything ....and an impotent police force full of pen pushers! 

Very sorry to hear this, what's the car?

The police are always off on a long weekend break when I call ours.   As if drunk vandals peak from Tuesday to Thursday working hours!!

Sorry to hear that Rudi - we saw two cars just near Ashley Road car park with broekn wing mirrors and assumed they were involved with each other as one had damage to it.

Then this morning woke up and on our road (alexandra road) the oh's car had a broken wing mirror too.

Our st is quite narrow and it was the only one with one. Also she was parked opposite an empty space (i.e. in front of a driveway) so a natural passing point.

I am 90% sure in our case it was actually a car clipping (and they did not leave a note  ??? ).

BUT here is another weird thing - the boot was wide open and I am sure someone went into the car as the passenger door was ajar (her locks have not worked for a few months now) and both ashtrays were open. Luckily nothing nicked from the boot (our badminton kit plus some other odds). Had it just been the boot / the door I might have believed we had left it open - but the boot was in a locked position but wide open and the ashtrays being open means I am convinced some one entered.

I am a little perplexed though - did someone hit our car and on the same night someone else chose to enter it? How did htey get the boot open ??? (no release in the car)

I'd like to believe that it was just an accident and the entering is an unrelated thign... this based on the fact that the damage to the wing mirror was not too bad and also the position of the wing mirror is in keeping with a car clipping it. but I think I will never know.

Some pictures I took.

(http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/43126/photo_1.JPG)

(http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/43126/photo_2.JPG)

(http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/43126/photo_3.JPG)

Does it have an electric boot release?

definately not an electric one (though it is tied to the central locking which is key operated - not click button - the car is a 99 golf convertible) - but I thought possibly a manual one.

i can't find one

i suspect that maybe she did not close it shut completely and that led someone walking by to assume the doors were open (which they have been) - because when I shut it it was definately locked.

then completely seperately (coincidentally?? ) we had the bad luck of someone brushing the mirror as driving past?

Juninho - interesting you say about the boot open etc/door ajar. Our neighbours repeatedly get their BMW X5 mysteriously 'opened'... glove box  always opened and car rifled through - they are sensible and don't leave anything in it...but we think that there are universal opening devices that work in the same way as key fob and THD gets targeted from time to time. 

Apparently our neighbours car was also done on Friday night too....  

Wow - do they have such devices? Makes sense I guess.

Wouldn't apply to us thoush as our car is an old school key operated one only (albeit with central locking) so don't think they could open the boot.

The more I think of it - the more I am certain the boot must've been slightly ajar which drew attention and then someone tried the door ... its the only way I can explain it (unless there is a manual release I have not found).

So that leaves the wing mirror as an accident - but no note... 

Its weird - the events over the weekend put a pretty sourt taste on what was otherwise a very pleasurably village oriented weekend for us - with the vfh on friday,  limtree coffee on saturday and down to the church today to see the photos.

Rally really riles and upsets me the cars that got vandalised nr ashley road car park (yours and your neighbours rudi) - we can only assume it is people who live in or were visiting our village as I would say its too out of the way to be passers by no???

Ref the X5, They are probably using a scanner, as you open your car or lock it they are nearby and the scanner grabs your code, it can then be replicated at will.

Newer systems don't allow this to happen.

Sorry about the damage to your cars.

There was a group hanging about Friday evening by the entrance to the churchyard, from about 11pm till after 1am, on and off. Couldn't see them but could hear them, generally being a bit rowdy, shouting, laughing etc. 

Probably nothing to do with it - people do tend to congregate there on weekend nights under the street lamp - and it's a bit noisy and annoying, but I couldn't say if it was any more than that. But thought it was worth a mention in case.

The question of criminals using transmission devices to block electronic locking (so that the owner thinks they've locked the car, but hasn't) has come up  occasionally at neighbourhood police panels, including the last two.  There is growing circumstantial evidence that these devices may be being used around TD, and police are sensitized. See e.g. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/21/car_jammer_vehicle_theft_scam/ for Neighbourhood Inspector Haycock's comments.  There's a blog on the subject here: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/10/electronic_car.html

However, you may think it unlikely that the same person who may be using a device like this, essentially clandestine, would want to attract attention by - or would bother with - plain vandalism to cars at the same time as thievery.  It seems more likely that the wing mirror episode on Friday night was one of those acts of serial vandalism to cars parked on the street that we have had for the past few years, two or three times a year.

I hope that all those affected have made official reports to police - it may be tedious, but it's the only way they can compile the statistics that determine future action and deployments.

Definitely worth a mention.  If for whatever instinctive reason you wonder about such a group at the time, it may be worth calling in to the neighbourhood team.  They may not be around, but you can leave a message.  The entrance to the churchyard/garden of remembrance is one of those areas that has seen troublesome groups in the recent past.  They get inebriated, then set off damaging stuff as they go - occasionally down Church Walk where they kick in fences etc. on their way home.

When our car was 'broken into' about a month ago, they left the bootlid up on that too.  Was our own stupid fault  though, as it wasn't locked either.  Not easy locking up sometimes when there's a screaming two year old and shopping to deal with, especially as it was thought 'safe' on the driveway of our house, which is itself on a private shared driveway......

The only thing stolen was my wife's work bag, containing all sorts of GP's paraphernalia - stethoscope, otoscope etc.  As soon as they realised it didn't have anything of value to them in it, they dumped it in the library car park opposite the house, and it was picked up by someone who very kindly returned it the next day (there was some identifying paperwork from her surgery in there).  

Lesson learned now though.  We have a new (to us, although it's 7 years old) car which has remote central locking, and it's always left locked.  That said, if the remote locking can be scanned, then it's little better, and in some ways worse than a traditional key.

Junhino - I'm pretty sure a '99 Golf Cabrio has a boot release switch inside the car.  I know the Mk1 had an 'emergency' one inside the passenger side door jam.  Are you sure there isn't one in the glove box or centre console?

I'll check properly tonight - I only had a quick check and the OH does not know of one but it makes sense there is one and that they released the boot.

I still hope the wing mirror was unrelated... somehow someone clipping a wing mirror (and not leaving a note) seems a little less horrid than someone purposely breaking a mirror. 

back to the original tweet -> I have to say that personally I consider vandalism a slightly more heinious crime than theft so hope the police treat the incident on  Friday night with the attention it deserves.

I think it is probably coincidence and unfortunate downside of living on the river roads. It may be that the broken mirror drew attention to the car causing some scrote to spot an opportunity and try their luck.

I have remote locking, but on more than one occasion have inadvertently unlocked the car when the fob has been in my pocket. I try an make a habit now of always taking the keys out my pocket and leaving them on the side (far away enough from the front door that they can't be hooked with a fishing rod!).

Police helicopter was hovering over Long Ditton this morning.

Heli out again now

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I'm especially shocked by the plant pot through the rear windscreen, thats really quite violent.

I can understand (sort of) teenagers or youths having a few too many drinks and getting a bit silly but thats way ott.

Did anyone else see the article in the Evning Standard about gangs behind the increase in burglaries? Apparantly people are being flown in to help burgle places along the A3 corridor.


Here is the text - as you will need to register to read the online version.

"SOUTH American gangs are behind a surge in burglaries in suburban homes in London. 

Police in the Kingston area say they are under pressure from gangs flying in from countries such as Colombia and are drafting in officers from other areas to investigate the crimes. 

Three Colombian gangsters have been jailed for burglary so far and face deportation at the end of their sentences but police says others fly in to replace them. Inspector Jaiye WarwickSaunders from Kingston Police described them as a “particularly nasty crime network”. 
He said a number of arrests had been made in London and the home counties, and several suspects were in custody. Seven Mexicans and Colombians were arrested in connection with break-ins last year. 

The gangs have fuelled a 30 per cent rise in burglaries in southwest London and North Surrey. Ninety-four homes were burgled in December — the highest figure for three years. Altogether 413 homes were raided between June and November — an increase of nearly 100 break-ins compared with the same period last year. 


Police say three or four gang members at a time target homes in quiet residential streets in the A3 corridor. In December Det Insp Brian Fitzpatrick said: “It seems as fast as we arrest them, they get replaced.” "

Re the plant pot, that's awful  :(

I bet it's the same people who popped a side window on my Beetle a couple of months ago, parked on Giggs Hill Road.  They tried smashing the front and rear windows first (there are chips in the front and rear screens where their attempts failed, and a nice dent in the chrome trim at the top of the windscreen).  

Just mindless vandalism - it's not like they attempted to steal anything from the car.

Perhaps it's some kind of 'initiation' for a local 'gang'?  Makes no sense at all.  Very tempted to sell the Beetle, as it doesn't seem safe parked on the road in Thames Ditton, which is a real shame.

Generally it's safe, but every now and again we get an episode of serial vandalism on cars - the worst of which happened in May 2008 when when early in the month eight cars parked in Thames Ditton High Street/Station Road were vandalised in one incident, with windscreens or rear windows smashed; and then overnight on Monday 19th May over 30 cars (possibly as many as 50) were damaged in Weston Green Road, Thistledene, Parkwood Road and Alma Road

Police usually have a good idea who of a number of 'usual suspects' may be behind these incidents, which are local, but pinning the crime on them is difficult.  Also, it must be demoralising that time after time little is done by way of custodial sentences for serial young offenders.  Their 'rights' prevail over the community's rights to safety and decency.

There are isolated incidents in the car park, but it has to be said that the statistics show it to be a safer place to leave your car than the streets used as thoroughfares by drunken clods on their way home from the station or from some local venue where they get drunk.

That would be a shame. We just need to find you a garage!! I wonder what happened to the ones off the high st... 


I am still hoping the wing mirror was a car and the person entering our car was unrelated. As Ratty said - we live on a narrowish road so would happen.

BUT I have not managed to convince the other half of that - she is convinced it was vandalism. She thinks its just too much of a coincidence to happen on the same night as the person entering the car. That and we have yet to see a broken wing mirror on our road in two years of living there. 

It also doesn't help we saw the other wing mirrors broken nr the car park and we have also seen a few broken in a line on the top of speer road.

RE: the posting on the gangs from South America being attributed to the burglaries on the A3 corridor.

I found that particularly interesting because I have overhead  people thinking that its likely due to the encampments at the top of the A3 and this article indicates there are other factors people may not have considered.

Im not saying its not also related / nor that it is* - just that without any evidence its too easy to draw conclusions that may or may not be correct.


*love to sit on the fence!

have just seen the pics of your oh's golf,doesnt look like an accident to me

Agreed.  A simple brush past by another car wouldn't do that sort of damage :(

I should be reporting this then I guess?

The thing is I much prefer to believe it was an accident - as someone who drives off and does not leave a note is somehow less horrible than someone who is just malicious?

Hmm - tough one as the OH should probably report it but I think I have finally convinced her it must've been an accident (and drive off).

on a side note - craigvmax has exactly 911 posts !

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"#Elmbridge - 2 thefts in Walton & Thames Ditton over w/end were of laptops/iPads/SatNavs left in vehicles. Pse remove valuables at all times" Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector, David Hollingsworth 

Police appeal after boy robbed near station (http://www.elmbridgetoday.co.uk/News/Police_appeal_after_boy_robbed_0000001988.aspx)

Thats horrible and in broad daylight too - hope someone saw something and they can find the culprits.

Last Friday night (2/03) our car was again targeted by the sweet little feral scrotes - and the wing mirror was again ripped off - another £300 bill - twice in 3 weeks! So a £600 bill. We went across the road to Harvest Drive and looked at the CCTV (the camera on the gate entrance in the development looks straight at our house). On the first occasion (11/02) it shows a group of scrotes on bikes smashing it. The second shows a group of 'scrotes' hanging around - but at the very point it is smashed the camera stops filming for 17 seconds, when it comes back on the mirror is in the road. The film is too grainy to identify.

That's dreadful - I take it the neighbourhood team know about it?  That's two episodes on Friday and Saturday nights around the High St. and it seems should be a priority matter for attention (as the High St area often is in the darker season).

Is there a suitable place for some CCTV of you own? Very sorry to hear this btw, you must be livid.

Thats horrible rudi - sorry to hear it.

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what i dont get is, of all the places to race about on scooters, thats probably the worst, why not bu99er off somewhere else!

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Yes - reported to the police and they were very proactive. They said unless people report these incidents there is nothing they can do....which to be fair is true. A Community support officer came over also and went and looked at the CCTV. We were quite impressed with they response.

Seriously thinking about getting some kind of CCTV - the systems are very good now. 

Glad to hear it - I find they are good, too.

Maybe just a sign that there IS CCTV?  

Heard that Nice Buns was robbed last Wednesday - laptop said to be stolen, possibly thief got in the back way; no details and no confirmation yet, just reporting from the grapevine.

Nice Buns burglary confirmed last night.  

PCSO Naomi also touched on the spate of wing mirrors vandalised in the area of the High Street (mainly).  Residents are asked to report suspicious activities at the time (you can use the 101 number and get the operator to try to connect to the PCSOs) and also to be sure to report any incidents affecting their own cars: having the statistics to hand helps make the case for distributing the policing effort and perhaps other measures.

Wha's the chopper doing over the Island these past five minutes?

they are scanning the river very closely, hopefully a drill of some sort.

checking reports of someone in the river apparently

Poppy tin stolen from sheltered housing complex in Thames Ditton. Anyone with info or a conscience call 101 ref EL/12/7212 @ElmbridgeBeat 

How sad Ratty - lowest of the low.

ladbrokes on Hampton Court way robbed again, though it's been a few years.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2125289_gunshaped_item_used_in_east_molesey_bookies_raid

In E Molesey - original of story on the police website here (http://www.surrey.police.uk/news/news-stories/full-news-story/article/2480/appeal-for-information-following-robbery-at-bookmakers-in-east-molesey)

Surrey Police  called to reports of a burglary in Greenwood Road Hinchley Wood at about 11.20am where a man escaped from a window, suspect white, brown curly hair, wearing a black baseball cap and possibly dressed in a black tracksuit.  Helicopter called up.

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/10096339.Police_scramble_helicopter_after_Thames_Ditton_burglar_escapes_through_window/

Following a timely call from a vigilant resident, a man was arrested in Long Ditton last week for burglary offences. Further details can be found here: http://www.surrey.police.uk/news/news-stories/full-news-story/article/4181/man-charged-following-burglary-in-long-ditton

Good work from a number of officers who attended the scene and thanks should go to the resident who initially placed the call to Surrey Police. 

Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Surrey Police at the time on the non emergency number, 101, or if a crime in course of being committed 999 as appropriate.