Distraction Burglary
Case Studies
The initiatives on this page are examples of how practitioners around the country use different methods to combat distraction burglary. New articles will be added from time to time to build up a collection of ideas to browse through.
CALIBRE & Thames Valley Police - Crime Reduction Audio Information for the Visually Impaired
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CALIBRE is a national charity that supplies audio books through a free postal library service for the visually impaired. It operates a membership scheme and currently has 19,200 members from all backgrounds and age groups. CALIBRE promotes itself through social services and libraries, and has strong links with organisations such as RNIB and Talking Newspapers.
Apart from lending out audio materials for people who are blind or visually impaired, CALIBRE along with Thames Valley Police have identified that this group of people often get overlooked when it comes to receiving crime prevention or home security advice.
In June 2004, CALIBRE and Thames Valley Police jointly started an initiative where Home Office audio tapes containing crime reduction advice get distributed to all of its members. Prior to going national, the initiative was originally planned to cover Thames Valley area. It was later decided that the initiative should be rolled out countrywide due to CALIBRE's member distribution. Other forces are pleased to let Thames Valley Police lead this initiative.
PC David Price, a Crime Reduction Advisor at Wendover Police Station (Thames Valley Police) has been the catalyst for this initiative and a "middleman" between CALIBRE and the Home Office. Each month, the Home Office supplies 400 tapes; "Be Safe, Be Secure" (contains practical advice on crime reduction) and "How to Beat the Bogus Caller" which gives out advice on how to avoid being a victim of distraction burglary. The initiative aims to deliver to 400 new members nationwide each month, irrespective of whether or not they are in the Thames Valley area.
The initiative can potentially reach 5000 new members each year and to date, audio tapes in excess of that figure have been sent out. Although this is an efficient way of disseminating crime awareness message to a targeted group of people, it is difficult to evaluate or measure the effectiveness of this project.
At present, CALIBRE is analysing its distribution data to establish where in the country the tapes have been distributed. So far Durham Constabulary is the only area in the UK where these tapes have not been distributed. This is not due to a lack of interest; there are currently no members in that area.
For further information, visit www.calibre.org.uk or contact David Price at David.Price@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or Valerie Masters at val.masters@calibre.org.uk
Wandsworth's Initiative: A Multi-Agency Approach
In April 2004, Age Concern Wandsworth approached the Community Safety Division in Technical Services at Wandsworth Council about the need to form an initiative within the Borough to combat the problem of distraction burglary. A multi-agency meeting was set up and in May 2004, Wandsworth's Distraction Burglary Initiative (WDBI) was "born" with a dedicated distraction burglary officer in post and "Safe and Secure" Advice Desk (and reporting site) established.
The "Safe and Secure" Advice Desk is located at Age Concern Wandsworth. The elderly can walk in and see an officer on duty to seek home security advice or to report a crime. The officers consist of Crime Prevention Officers (Metropolitan Police). Community Safety Officer (Wandsworth Council) and Victim Support. The main distraction burglary officer, Jim Maddan is also a co-ordinator of this initiative.
During the process of establishing the initiative, an in-depth research into the selection of victims was carried out. This was done to enable the officer to identify those who were most at risk of becoming victims of distraction burglary. Having identified the potential victims, the officer could then start focussing his attention to a particular group of people (the elderly and the vulnerable) to offer guidance and raise awareness.
In the bid to raise awareness, the officer gives talks to audiences which consist of mainly the elderly. So far the officer has given talks at 42 Day Centres, 10 Pensioners Clubs and to 400 Sheltered Housing residents. The officer also visits victims of distraction burglary to provide support and assistance, and to assess the level of security. If an upgrade in the level of security is required, the householder will be referred to the Borough Lock Fitting Scheme (managed by Victim Support) for their home to be target hardened by installing security equipment. Working closely with the Police, Sheltered Housing managers and Social Services, the officer compiles a priority distribution list of security items which include safe cans, door bars, memo minders, intercoms and key safes.
Whilst on the home visit, apart from disseminating information on home security and assessing the level of security, the officer also gives out advice on fire safety. London Fire Brigade is one of the agencies involved in the initiative.
WDBI also organises performances of "Ma Kelly's Doorstep" across the borough. This is a 45 minute interactive play, which raises awareness of Bogus Caller Crime and is aimed at older people and those who are particularly vulnerable, disabled or house bound. The play is produced by the Attic Theatre Company and has already successfully toured "Ma Kelly’s Doorstep" in several London boroughs.
In addition, Jim Maddan has embarked on training every police officer in the borough. WDBI also provides training to those who work closely with the elderly for example, the Sheltered Housing managers, Meals-on-Wheels staff, Victim Support staff, Age Concern staff and the local bank managers. This is to ensure that they are aware of the potential danger posed by distraction burglars to their elderly clients. They are trained to keep a watchful eye on their clients and report to the Police if they suspect that their clients are escorted by a stranger, particularly when withdrawing a large sum of money at the bank or if they see suspicious characters operating in the area.
Being pro-active, the WDBI is planning to carry out an in-depth research in to "Distraction Burglary in the Black & Ethnic Minority Communities" and is already working with disabled people at a local Leonard Cheshire Day Centre who are particularly vulnerable to distraction burglars. WDBI also hopes to arrange and host a pan-London conference on Distraction Burglary to enable practitioners to share good practice, advice and information.
For further information, please contact Jim Maddan (Distraction Burglary Officer) on 07956 366160 or Sue Yoxall (Community Safety Manager, Wandsworth Council) on 0208 871 6603.
The Elder Care Project (Southwark)
The Elder Care Project (ECP), run by three Community Crime Prevention Workers, has been in operation for the last three years, serving the over 60's in the London Borough of Southwark (LBS). The project is based at the Camberwell Police Station.
The project is deemed to be unique in its approach as it operates pro-actively by contacting as many older people living within the LBS, and offering target hardening as well as advice on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of distraction burglary and general crime prevention measures. The Community Crime Prevention Workers go out on the street and talk to the elderly about the services they provide, and offer to give safety and security talk to social groups like Residents Associations, Lively Minds and Neighbourhood Watch in the borough.
Once the service users have been identified, the Community Crime Prevention Workers offer a home visit to assess the level of security. If an upgrade in the level of security is required, the householder will be referred to the Victim Support Lock Fitting Scheme for their home to be target hardened by installing security equipment like larger door viewers, door chains, mortice locks and London bars.
Whilst out on the home visit, the officers introduce the Datalink Emergency Information Scheme "Bottle in the Fridge". The bottle contains vital details of any illness or allergy, and details of next of kin of the householder which is to be kept in the fridge. Should the emergency services be called out as a result of sudden illness or personal accident, they would look for the Datalink sticker on the door and head straight to the fridge to ascertain the details. In addition, the householder receives a personal safety alarm, and advice on good doorstep practice (ie. using the door chain/bar and asking for ID). So far, over 3000 bottles have been distributed to householders within the LBS.
The ECP has worked jointly with Help the Aged and has fitted over 215 of the charity's Senior Link Alarms. The scheme provides a 24-hour service to the elderly who may be at risk of medical emergencies or other emergencies such as bogus callers. A panic alarm will be provided which when pressed alerts the Call Centre and consequently, the appropriate emergency services. The alarm is linked to the telephone and can used anywhere in the house. There is a nominal weekly charge for this service although this may already be included as part of the care package that has been agreed by Social Services.
The ECP is jointly funded by Southwark Community Safety and Neighbourhood Renewal fund. They work closely with Victim Support, Help the Aged, Age Concern, Trading Standards, Social Services and the local Metropolitan Police Crime Prevention Officers.
Left to right. Community Crime Prevention Workers, Tom Humphries, Peter Medhurst and Graham Sugden pictured with actress Liz Smith at the Help The Aged/Age Concern National Award ceremony.
In 2004, the ECP received an award from Help the Aged / Age Concern at their National Award ceremony, held in London. This is the recognition of the ECP officers' hard work and success at reducing crime and fear of crime in LBS. Due to the success of the ECP, the Community Crime Prevention Workers have been recently tasked by the Metropolitan Police to extend their work to help elderly victims of crimes such as distraction burglary, domestic burglary and street robbery. The ECP has also inspired similar projects to be set up in other London boroughs such as Tower Hamlet and Lewisham, and as further a field as Belfast.
For further information, please contact Peter Medhurst, Graham Sugden or Tom Humphries, Community Crime Prevention Workers at Camberwell Police Station on 020 7232 6327.
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