Police welcome new officer to Totnes…

…and how to keep your vehicle safe and ongoing work to tackle ASB

Update from Ben Shardlow, who heads up the neighbourhood police team in Totnes:

They say summer is supposed to be all about sunshine (and ice cream in my case), but it seems that someone forgot to tell the weather!

Despite the spells of rain and grey days, our officers have been busy out on their regular patrols across the town and surrounding areas. They’ve also held a number of engagement events to connect with the public, sharing recent updates about what police are doing the in local area, listening to the issues impacting the community and sharing useful crime prevention advice.

If you missed us out and about, here are some local policing updates:

New team member

I’m delighted to welcome Police Constable (PC) Rich Hickman to the Totnes neighbourhood team! PC Hickman moves into the role of team leader, looking after the daily activity of the neighbourhood police officers in the town. He has been a police officer for 8 years, working in a number of departments across the police force including Torquay Response and Professional Development Unit.

PC Hickman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be an absolute asset to our team – with just a few weeks in post, he’s already had a positive impact on increasing our proactive activity in the town.

When you see Rich out on patrol, please feel free to introduce yourself and welcome him to his new role in Totnes.

Ongoing activity to target antisocial behaviour (ASB)

I’m pleased to report that we’re seeing a noticeable difference in reported incidents of antisocial behaviour and shoplifting in the town. As mentioned previously, we’ve increased our patrols in the area across key times and locations in a bid to target and deter offenders.

Our officers are also working together with local retailers to support them in making their store ‘less desirable’ to shoplifters, making it difficult for them to steal from. We’ve also been working closely with employees to build evidence for our investigations to pursue suspects.

I hope the community are noticing the impact of our increased activity and robust action. This work is ongoing and we will continue to be tough on crime to make our community safe for all.

Keeping your vehicle safe from opportunist thieves: crime prevention advice

Across South Devon, we’ve seen a number of reports of theft and/or attempted theft from vehicles. Reports have been received of multiple vehicles being broken into overnight with various items being stolen including, wallets and loose change.

We tend to find that often, the people who attempt to steal from vehicles are doing it to sell items for quick cash. One of the best ways to deter an opportunist thief is to make sure that nothing of value is left on display in your vehicle. Even a jacket left in the vehicle may be tempting.

So, make sure to take a couple of extra minutes to remove your belongings from the vehicle before leaving it. Remember, the inconvenience that comes with a broken window or any other damage can be costly, both in time and in money. Please remember to take extra care, these simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a target.

For more information and guidance, visit the Devon & Cornwall website.

Get to know your local police team

As always, we run regular engagement events to connect with people in our community. Please keep an eye on our website here to find out when the next one is. You can also follow us on Facebook for updates on policing in your local area @TotnesPolice