Criminal Activity In Down Sparks Police Appeals
19 February 2012 |
Posted by Jim Masson |
Beware of Phone Scammers
The PSNI in C District, which covers North Down, Ards Castelreagh and Down policing areas, is advising shops and retailers across the district to be on their guard for telephone scammers in relation to mobile phone top-ups. A number of businesses have reported receiving telephone calls from someone purporting to be from EPAY. The person has asked for very specific pieces of information about pre-pay vouchers, and used that information to steal money from the business. A spokesperson for PSNI in C District said: ‘The victims have lost quite a lot of money before realising this was a scam. Our advice to retailers who run mobile phone top-up facilities is not to do any business by telephone as this could leave you vulnerable. If a caller asks you for any information about vouchers challenge them and do not give them any details.”
Downpatrick Assault Appeal
Downpatrick police are appealing for witnesses to an assault in Market Lane on February 13 2012.
At approximately 2pm a man was assaulted and pushed to the ground. He was not seriously injured and was able to give police a description of his assailant. He is around 6 feet tall with short red hair, and was seen leaving Irish Street in a silver Audi car.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Downpatrick police.
Arson In Ards
Detectives in Newtownards are appealing for information following an arson attack on a house in the Parkway area of Comber on Sunday 19th February. At around 2am the front window of the house was smashed by two bricks and a flammable liquid poured inside and set alight. The male occupant who was awakened by the window being smashed escaped unhurt. Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or who has any information about this incident is asked to contact CID in Newtownards on 0845 600 8000. Or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111
Police Warning About Oil Thieves
Police in Downpatrick are advising householders to ensure their oil tanks are secure after a number of fuel thefts.
A number of residents in Downpatrick and Killough have discovered that their tanks have been tampered with and oil has been siphoned from the system, resulting in a very expensive replacement.
A spokesperson for Downpatrick police said:
“Always check your tank regularly and ensure the filler flap or nozzle can be locked with a padlock or chain.
Make the tank less accessible to thieves by surrounding it with bushes or shrubbery. Make it harder for a thief to access the area where your oil tank is kept.
Be a good neighbour. Oil thieves need large vehicles to steal fuel. If you see strange activity at a neighbour’s house at any time of the day, either large vehicles or people working at an oil tank while the occupant is out, please report it to police on 0845 600 8000.
