Wincanton Rural West Avon and Somerset Constabulary Police Local Neighbourhood

PCSO Mead covers Camelot beat and part of Castle Cary beat (South Cadbury and Sutton Montis only).

As the summer weather approaches we would like to remind all residents to ensure that doors and windows are kept secure when you are out. Even if you are at home please ensure your doors are locked. If you are working in the back garden keep the front door locked and secure; you don’t want any uninvited guests popping in. Keep your garden equipment locked away securely when not being used. You can’t cut your lawn without a lawn mower but a thief can make lots of money selling it. Should you require any advice on marking such equipment then please get in touch with us by by either phoning 101 or by attending Wincanton Police Station between 10:00 and 18:00 Monday - Friday. You can also contact us by visiting our website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk (click on contact us & then click on general enquiries).

We are receiving reports of people selling household goods door to door in the Wincanton Rural West area. A pedlar is someone who travels and trades on foot, going from town to town or house to house selling goods such as pictures and household goods or offering their skills in handicrafts. A pedlar must hold a certificate granted by a chief constable. The certificate is valid for one year and applies throughout the United Kingdom. Certificates cannot be issued to people under the age of 17. The certificate does not cover a person to sell food or drink, flowers, medicines, poisons, gunpowder or tobacco – all are prohibited items. Any person wishing to sell foodstuffs must make application to the local authority for licences to comply with food safety regulations Our advice to residents is this, if you’re not sure who is at your door, don’t open it or let anyone into your home. It’s your doorstep, your decision.

Since the spate of reports in door to door sellers (Pedlars) in April this has abated with no further reports of aggressive selling being reported to police.

We have recently received reports of oil thefts in the Mudford area. Please report any thefts by phoning 101, or 999 if in progress. You can also report thefts by visiting Wincanton Police Station Monday – Friday 10:00 – 18:00 (closed for lunch 13:30 – 14:15 hrs) or you can report crimes online on our website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk click on contact us then click on report a crime or incident. Here are some helpful hints and tips to make your oil tank and its valuable contents more secure.

An oil tank cage creates an extra physical barrier for thieves. It should fully enclose your tank while leaving enough room for maintenance and deliveries, and be bolted or concreted to the ground.

If your tank is exposed, it's a good idea to conceal it with a fence, wall, plants or trellis. Make sure to leave enough room for servicing, maintenance, and oil deliveries

If your oil tank is visible from your home, motion-activated security lighting will startle any trespassers and could alert you to their presence. Alternatively, install dusk-till-dawn lights that ensure your tank is lit 24/7.

Do not install security lighting if your tank is out of sight: this will help rather than hinder would-be thieves.

Usually, the inspection cap on your tank will have eyelets to enable padlocking. However, you may need to purchase specialist locking bars for other access points. Remember that you should not lock your tank vent.

Round-shackle padlocks come highly recommended because they have a close shackle that's difficult to access with bolt cutters. Plus, because the shackle is not spring-loaded, round padlocks will not unlock if the keyway barrel is drilled into.

Some electronic oil level gauges can be linked to an alarm inside your home. If the oil level suddenly drops, the alarm will sound and alert you to the theft or perhaps a leak.

If you'd like this system to double up as a deterrent, display a 'This tank is alarmed' sign or sticker.

We have received no further reports of heating oil being stolen in Mudford or the surrounding areas. However we urge residents to keep a regular check on heating oil levels over the summer months as you will be using less, and may not be aware that the levels have dropped due to theft until autumn arrives.