Update from your local Officer, March 2009.
We have a few bits to report this month. A couple of crimes, a road traffic collision, a bit of nuisance, and a very enjoyable evening.
Overnight on the 29th January 2009, the Bentley Brook Inn was broken into and items stolen. Some of the stolen property was found abandoned at Cubley. Staffordshire have also suffered a number of burglaries, and car crimes that are similar to ours. We have had some extra patrols out, at the same time as Staffs Police, to try and combat this and gain intelligence and trace possible offenders.
Suspicious callers at an address in Kniveton were reported to us on 30th January. This is in an area where we have had similar reports before, Ashbourne side of the village. A few days later we had a similar call in Ashbourne. Police attended and checked out a number of people, who were legitimate callers. Some motoring offences were dealt with and they were given advice about the timing of their calls.
Please keep reporting suspicious people and incidents. I appreciate it can frustrate people when I ask you to keep doing this, and we don’t always get out to your reports because of other incidents occurring at the same time. We do appreciate the calls, and they are very worthwhile. Your call may just be the one with a bit of luck attached that brings in a really good result.
At around 8pm on 1st February 2009, a vehicle collided with a stationary Ford Escort parked in Tissington. The offending vehicle failed to stop and made off towards the Ford area. The owner of the Escort has had their car written off, will have to cover the excess on the Insurance, and had the inconvenience a collision brings. Had the person stopped, left details, it may not have been a Police issue. If anyone has any information, saw anything that may relate to this, please let me know.
Also at Tissington around the 4th February 2009, we had a number of chickens stolen from a coup. A similar incident has occurred over in Staffordshire.
In recent weeks during a meeting at Thorpe Village Hall, on a number of occasions the meeting was disturbed by someone throwing clods of earth at the door. A number of boys have been spoken to after a similar incident at Mappleton and been given advice about their behaviour. We are very fortunate in that we have very little nuisance behaviour in our villages, and we do want to try and keep it that way. Please report any such problems to us, at the time it occurs, if at all possible, so we can try and nip it in the bud.
We have just had a group of Cyberscouts at the Police Station for a tour of the enquiry office and cell area. Many of the children were from some of our villages, and they had the chance to see handcuffs, CS gas, Police Dogs, Vehicles and an old fashioned Truncheon and whistles. We took photos, fingerprints (for them to take home) and I think we enjoyed it as much as they did.
Our next Community Forum is to be held at Kniveton Village Hall, on the evening of 12th March 2009. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Finally around early February I went to see Gordon Giltrap at Thorpe Village Hall. It was a tremendous night, a brilliant guitarist in an excellent setting and atmosphere. I am now just hoping someone manages to get Slade (with Noddy Holder), or Camel (I bet not many have heard of them), at their local venue.
Ian Cooper PC 1525 – 21st February
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Police Non Emergency 0345 1233333 (Non Emergency, for suspicious incidents, etc, requiring prompt attention, and routine calls)
Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 (Call anonymously with information about crime)
Severn Trent Water 0800 783 444 (To check on the identity of callers claiming to work for the Water Board)
Please remember if you see, hear, or are told about someone that is acting suspiciously, or causing a nuisance, please make a note of any details. Registration numbers, good descriptions, are very helpful. Please ring us, if possible at the time. You do not have to give your details, you will be asked for them, but you can decline and remain anonymous. The most important thing is that the information is passed on.
PARWICH.ORG 
Our chickens have also gone `missing` from our coop! I haven`t dared tell Mike as they were fab rare breeds and had just started laying. There are a few feathers in the garden which we uncovered when the snow melted but suspect they were left to put us off the scent! Previous mass killings by Mr Fox have been noisey and numerous body parts have been left as evidence……
Is there a chicken thief doing the rounds….
PC Cooper (or should I say “PC Prog”?), you are not entirely alone in your appreciation of Camel: a CD reissue of Music Inspired by The Snow Goose (1975) graces the shelves of Creamery Cottage. The Camel revival starts here!