29 October 2012
Stay Safe: Help Put 'Robin Robber' Behind Bars...
Bedfordshire Police wants to know who is committing
robbery where you live…
With the help of ‘Robin’ Robber’ the force is highlighting its
commitment to reducing offences of robbery, encouraging the public
to stay safe as well as making offenders feel uneasy about
committing crime in Bedfordshire.
Life size cut outs of ‘Robin Robber’ seen ‘behind bars’, or in
this case park railings, have been put up in areas of Luton and
Bedford that are popular with the public to act as a deterrent to
would-be offenders who are thinking about committing crime. They
are also there to reassure people that Bedfordshire Police is
committed to fighting crime and protecting the public and helping
people ‘stay safe’.
Around 460 ‘robbers’ have been arrested already this year by
Bedfordshire Police, but reminding everyone of what they can do to
reduce the chances of being a victim is equally important.
Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Richer says reducing street
robbery remains a priority. “While the actual number of people
robbed is small compared with overall crime, it is still too high
and our focus is very much on preventing and detecting this crime,”
he said.
“The majority of offences are committed by young people on young
people, it is rarely an older member of our community as is
sometimes public perceptions, and while the desire to have the
latest technology fuels our young offenders who mainly rob mobile
phones, MP3 players and such like, it is a difficult offence to
eliminate. By continuing to raise awareness about personal safety
as well as make those who commit crimes fearful of the
consequences, we really hope we can make a difference when it comes
to reducing this type of offending.”
In some cases offenders do not realise their actions are
criminal and educating the public about robbery as a crime is
underway.
A robbery is when a person uses or threatens to use force to
steal. It is more serious than theft and you can be guilty of
robbery even if you are just part of a group that robbed someone.
Robbery carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Threatening someone in order to take possessions from them is not
bullying, but robbery and convictions for this offence carry a
custodial sentence.
The number of robberies committed across the county is DOWN
11.5% between April and September 2012 compared with April to Sept
2011 (from 338 – 382).
Stay Safe:
- Don’t make yourself a target. Keep your mobile phone and other
valuables out of sight
- The chances of a lost or stole telephone being returned to you
are far greater if they are registered with http://www.immobilise.com/
Register yours for free NOW. It only takes a couple of minutes
- Avoid remote areas. If you can’t avoid one, walk with friends
or stick to well-lit areas
- Never carry excessive cash
- Carry handbags close to your body with the clasp facing
inwards. If someone tries to grab your bag let go, rather than get
hurt
- Don’t hitch-hike or take lifts from strangers. If you need a
lift plan it in advance
- The first rule of planning a good night out is planning in
advance how to get home
- If you think someone is following you go to the nearest place
where there is a lot of people and call police
- Let parents know where you are going and when you will be
back
- Consider purchasing a personal attack alarm that continues to
sound if dropped
- Never be tempted to buy goods ‘off the back of a lorry’ that
could be stolen property. If offered items for sale report your
suspicions to police
- If you are being bullied, tell an adult
Offenders:
- The chances of you being caught with a security marked
telephone are increasing
- Did you know SmartWater is invisible, irremovable and glows
purple under ultra-violet light?
- All our custody suites are fitted with ultra violet lights that
can detect Smartwater
- Robbery is priority for Bedfordshire Police. Don’t say you
weren’t warned
- Is a free mobile phone worth a jail sentence? Remember, you
will be caught
- If you steal to feed a drugs habit we know people who can
help
