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Nash Neighbourhood Watch

Nash Neighbourhood Watch is run by a group of volunteers.

We receive briefings from the police's Ringmaster system of incidents in and around Nash that are of concern, and we print out flyers that are delivered to all households.

Nash has one of the lowest levels of reported crime in the Thames Valley Police's Aylesbury Vale area. The majority of crimes that occur in the village fall into three categories:

The High Street (c. 1930)

Distraction Burglaries - where the victim, often an elderly person , receives a visit from bogus callers, who claim to be from the Water Board or similar. At some point, they will ask the resident to leave the room to carry out some task, such as turning off the water stopcock, and this gives them time to rifle through drawers, purses, wallets. The best prevention against these outrages is to use a door chain to prevent unexpected callers from entering your house.
Property Thefts - it is perhaps surprising to learn that most thefts are opportunistic; thieves rarely watch premises for days on end, waiting for the right moment. They are more likely to spot an open window, or discover that a door is unlocked, and make the most of the opportunity. Garden sheds are just as likely to provide rich pickings for burglars as are houses.
Car-related Crime - cars occasionally get stolen from the village, but more common are reports of thefts of articles from within cars. It's a good idea to ensure that nothing of value is visible, since this will only tempt thieves to have a go. CD collections and laptop computers are especially tempting.

What you can do to keep Nash's crime figures down

Keep an eye out for anything suspicious. You might see lights on in your neighbour's house even though they're on holiday. You might see a white van parked outside a house for no apparent reason. You should trust your suspicions and act on them.

Police find this kind of information invaluable. If you note down the number, make and colour of a suspicious van, or the name of a door-to-door salesman, the police can tie up this information with similar reports and take action if necessary. Door-to-door sales can only be carried out with an official Pedlar's License..

The Post Office

Last summer, a pair of thieves were caught in the act thanks to reports of this kind, and the police were able to link them with similar crimes committed in the area.

If you think it's urgent, then don't hesitate to call the police on 999

If it's just plain suspicious, then call the police on 0845 8 505 505

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
"Just tell us what you know, not who you are" is their slogan.

Be neighbourly

You will find it gives you peace of mind to tell someone in the village, say your next-door neighbours, when you're going to be away for several days. You might consider exchanging keys with them, so they can help should some situation arise. (It's also useful if, while you travel to your holiday destination, you ever wonder if you cancelled the milk!)

If you see something unusual going on, let the police know. You might see lights on across the road, which is unexpected since the occupants are away for the weekend. The police find this kind of information very helpful.

The Pond

Neighbourhood Watch contact

Gloria Chaplin 501 857

Useful links:
Neighbourhood Watch national website
Aylesbury Vale police area
Crimestoppers

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Images are taken from a set of postcards produced in the mid 1930s