Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin – Monday 1^st June 2009

During May there have been several thefts from outbuildings, gardens and vehicles. Between 10^th and 11^th May 2009 a motorized tractor was stolen from an outbuilding in rural Handcross. Overnight on 11^th May 2009 a garage was broken into on the outskirts of Cuckfield.

Overnight on the 14^th May there was an attempted break in to a van in Truggers, Handcross. Entry was not gained, however a tortoise was stolen from the garden of the vehicle owner. On the same evening a van was broken into in Stumblemead, Balcombe and power tools were stolen.

Between 18^th and 19^th May an Ifor Williams trailer was stolen from High Street, Handcross together with other plant equipment and power tools.

Across the Mid Sussex district we have also seen a rise in number plate thefts, the most recent incident in this area occurred in Deaks Lane, Ansty between 16^th and 17^th May.

Stolen number plates are used on vehicles by those who don’t want to be found out when they commit offences including burglary, illegal parking, driving away from a petrol forecourt without paying and even more serious crimes such as kidnap and robbery. Offenders may also use a stolen number plate to ‘disguise’ a stolen vehicle.

In an effort to combat this you can now obtain theft resistant number plates which are designed to stop anyone taking it off your vehicle quickly and re-using it on another vehicle. For more information please contact your local car dealer or registered number plate supplier.

If you have information in relation to any of the above crimes, or if you witness any suspicious activity, please contact Sussex Police with details by calling 0845 60 70 999.

Thank you for your co-operation.

PCSO Jayne Milne

Haywards Heath Police Station

Voicemail: 0845 60 70 999 extension 21901

E-mail: jayne.milne@sussex.pnn.police.uk