I spy a crime - a blog from the charity Crimestoppers

Film brings Crimestoppers message to young people

2011-03-18T17:01:00.015Z

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has unveiled a new viral video called 'Don't let it be too late' to introduce young people to their youth brand Fearless and highlight the service the charity provides.

The concept

The film clip is a dramatic portrayal of the way young people have, in some ways, become desensitized to seeing violent acts happen around them and in turn may have become comfortable with not actively speaking about these acts of violence.

Fearless allows young people to give information about crime anonymously via the 0800 555 111 hotline and through fearless.org.

Single launched this week in aid of the charity Crimestoppers

2011-03-15T16:27:00.012Z

The Cleveland committee of crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers are helping to launch a single today to help raise awareness of victims of crime.

The single The Last Flower is on sale now and for every CD sold £1.50 goes directly to the charity.

Though I'm usually into my flamenco and and having a strum on my Spanish guitar, this song really 'strikes a chord' so to speak.

Songwriter Al Sask, who penned The Last Flower has a history of writing songs with an emotional subject after he wrote Forever Young: a song for Wootton Bassett.

Do your bit in the fight against crime and get yourself a copy of The Last Flower today.

'Clean up' on crime as pensioners fight off knife attacker with cleaning liquid

2011-03-08T14:53:00.009Z

An elderly pair of women managed to ward off a would-be attacker by brandishing a pair of scissors and a bottle of Flash cleaning fluid at a motorway service station in Selby, North Yorkshire.

June Cawkill and Norma Doherty were working at the service station when the cowardly criminal entered and threatened the pair with a knife, ordering them to give him the money from the till.

But the perky pensioners scared the attacker off, one grabbing a pair of scissors and the other chasing him out of the shop with a bottle of Flash cleaning liquid which she'd been using to wipe down the shelves.

The bungled attempt proves that crime doesn't pay as the two women really showed their knife-wielding nemesis who was boss!

Though the bravery of Norma and June can only be described as 'extraordinario' as we would say back home, don't worry if you haven't got any cleaner to hand...instead you can play your part in making your community safer by giving information about crimes anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through the online giving information form.

One down...nine to go!

2011-02-23T10:45:00.005Z

Less than one day into an international crackdown on Britain's most wanted criminals an arrest has already been made! Wow! And I thought I worked fast (despite my advancing years before you ask).

Operation Captura - which launched on Monday - is the campaign run by the charity Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). The campaign works to catch the UK's most wanted criminals who are believed to be on the run in Spain - otherwise known as the 'Costa crooks.'

Most wanted fugitive Everardus WIJTVLIET was arrested at roughly 6.30pm Monday evening in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, where officers from the Spanish National Police swooped in and caught the first of the ten.

The remaining nine fugitives are now thought to be running scared (and who can blame them) as 39 out of the 60 wanted under Operation Captura have now been caught. They can run but they can't hide!

Criminals hiding on the Costa beware as Operation Captura returns!

2011-02-21T15:57:00.007Z

Once again the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is cracking down on criminals on the run in the Spanish Costas.

Teaming up with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Crimestoppers has today launched the sixth batch of appeals under Operation Captura to catch some of the UK's most dangerous criminals. Wanted for serious crimes including murder, drugs trafficking and child sex offences, these guys are really some of the worst I've seen in all my years of fighting crime.

Launched in Alicante, an area of Spain with a large ex-pat community and a potential hideout for fugitives on the run, Crimestoppers also works with Spanish police to catch some of the most dangerous criminals from the UK who try to escape to the Spanish Costas.

The campaign works because members of the public use the Crimestoppers website to view these criminals and know that they can contact the charity with information and never be identified.

The Crimestoppers anonymity promise has never been broken in the 23 years that the charity's been running. People can give information via the 0800 555 111 hotline or through the online giving information form.

See if you can help catch some of Britain's worst crooks...

Young people to become Fearless against crime in the Isle of Man

2011-02-07T09:07:00.001Z

Young people in the Isle of Man are to become Fearless in the fight against crime as the charity Crimestoppers launched its service for young people in the region.

The all-day launch event was held on 5 February at the Strand Shopping Centre in Douglas. Kicking off at 9am, it featured young people from Douglas Royal Ladies Football and Ballakermeen High School, who backed the launch.

Crimestoppers representatives were also on hand to get members of the public involved.

Fearless is the youth brand of crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers. The service includes the website fearless.org - which contains useful information on crimes that affect young people and provides them with a platform to give information about crime anonymously.

Information about crime can also be given via the Crimestoppers website and the hotline 0800 555 111.

Check out fearless.org now!

Help catch the Most Wanted distraction burglars in the UK!

2011-01-27T16:52:00.005Z

As you know, in my line of work I'm apposed to any form of crime...but there are some offenders that really are the lowest of the low. Distraction burglars trick their way into people's homes - often targeting the elderly and vulnerable who live alone - to steal from them.

Distraction burglars take advantage of the people who trust them and enter people's properties on the premise of 'reading the meter' or telling the victim they urgently need 'repairs' to their roof, which they can provide.

Burglaries traditionally peak during February, so to help catch the worst offenders of distraction burglary and to warn members of the public about who they let in their homes, crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has launched the Top Ten Most Wanted Distraction Burglars campaign.

Some of these individuals have not only stolen money and possessions from elderly people - some of whom were over 90 years of age - but they've traumatised them further by launching violent attacks on them because they know the victims can't fend for themselves.

You can make a real difference by looking at the images and descriptions of the top ten Most Wanted distraction burglars and giving any information you have anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through the untraceable online form.

Remember, calls aren't recorded, your number won't be identified and you'll never have to go to court.

View the top ten Most Wanted distraction burglars here

Know someone selling alcohol to under 18's?

2011-01-24T17:09:00.014Z

My friends at Scotland Crimestoppers have joined forces with drinks giant Diageo to combat the problem of alcohol being served to young people under the age of 18.

The ground-breaking initiative aims to crack down on adults who buy booze for youngsters and to stop those who purposely sell drink to young people under 18 who make money for themselves without thinking of the consequences. The four-week campaign comes after a study carried out by Fife Alchohol Partnership found that a quarter of school pupils in Fife reported to binge drinking.

I might enjoy the odd glass of sangria with my dinner, but binge drinking is a different topic altogether. For one, there are the health implications associated, particularly for young people. And it can of course leave young people vulnerable to all sorts of unsavoury characters who target those who've had a few too many.

Find out more about the campaign on the Crimestoppers website.

Do you recognise the UK's Most Wanted?

2011-01-17T15:06:00.009Z

If only we all had a secret weapon up our sleeves (or concealed under our capes) in the fight against crime! Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers certainly have, as the Most Wanted section of their website continues to prove to be an effective tool in the battle against Britain's bad guys.

Since launching in 2005, over 1000 people listed on Most Wanted have been arrested - that's an incredible 21% success rate! A big pat on the back for all those brave members of the public who've helped catch the nation's biggest crooks!

Most Wanted really helps, as it allow members of the public to view images of wanted people and then pass on vital information about their whereabouts. So you can view people that are wanted in your area and play an active role in making your community safer.

Remember that all information given via the 0800 555 111 hotline or the untraceable online giving information form are completely anoynmous and no one has ever been identified in the 22 years since Crimestoppers began! So you're in safe hands...unlike the UK's Most Wanted....

Crime-fighting charity celebrates Chinese New Year!

2011-01-14T17:28:00.000Z

Just as I've fully recovered from all the festivities of Christmas and the New Year and got back into the crime-fighting routine, along comes...the Chinese New Year! Perfect timing for another celebration!

The Chinese New Year is celebrated on 3 February 2011 and marking the start of the Year of the Rabbit are Gloucestershire Crimestoppers, who will be holding a fundraising dinner to celebrate the occasion and raise money for the crime-fighting charity.

Everyone's invited to the celebration so if you want to back Crimestoppers in the region get involved and buy your tickets today! The money raised certainly goes to a good cause - figures show that between April and December 2010, Crimestoppers received 664 pieces of useful information about crime in Gloucestershire. The information covered crime types ranging from drug dealing to money laundering to assault to drink driving. In addition, nearly £14,000 worth of drugs and over £2,500 of stolen goods have been recovered in the last nine months. Great work guys!

For more information and to buy your tickets see the Gloucestershire pages of the Crimestoppers website.

Don't let thieves get their hands on your Christmas presents!

2011-01-11T14:10:00.016Z

It's funny how Christmas suddenly seems so long ago. Once those decorations come down and you get back into the work routine the festive season feels like a distant memory...that is, until you look around and remember all the great presents you received! New cape, smellies, Enrique Iglesius album and some shiny new leather trousers are just some of the goodies that Santa brought me this Crimbo.

Could you imagine my dismay then if a burglar tried to target mi casa and steal all my Christmas goodies, never to be seen again?! A happy new year it would definitely not be!

I saw yesterday though that crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has launched their first ever product to tackle exactly this problem.

The ingenious Crimestoppers Property Protector, launched as the charity celebrates its 23rd year, has seen Crimestoppers expand its work to help people protect their valuables and to deter those pesky thieves. The product's also backed by PC Tony Stamp (aka Graham Cole) of 'The Bill' fame.

Drink driver takes goat on 'date'

2011-01-07T13:20:00.014Z

I've heard of some far-fetched excuses to avoid punishment before but in all my years of crime-fighting this one really takes the biscuit!

A 54-year-old farmer in Poland was three times over the drink drive limit when he was stopped by police. As the police officers approached his vehicle they noticed an usual figure sitting in the passenger seat....his goat!

When the police started questioning the farmer he claimed that the goat had been feeling 'lonely' of late and so he'd taken the wee fella to a neighbouring farm to go on a 'date' with a female goat.

Who says romance is dead eh?!

Apparently the goats really hit it off and the man admitted to sipping a few vodkas to celebrate. What wasn't a cause for celebration though was the fact that he lost his license and may well face jail for drink driving.

That'll serve him right for all that 'kidding' around!

Crimestoppers offers 10k reward to catch those responsible for architect Joanna Yeates' murder

2011-01-04T16:58:00.009Z

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has offered a reward of £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of landscape architect Joanna Yeates.

Joanna Yeates' body was found in Longwood Lane, Bristol, by a couple out walking their dog on Christmas Day. Post mortem tests revealed that she was strangled.

4x4 sighting

Police are appealing for any information people may have about Miss Yeates' disapearance. A 4x4 was seen near to where Miss Yeates' body was found in Failand, near Bristol, which may hold clues.

Police now believe the landscape architect returned to her Clifton home safely on 17 December - the night she was last seen alive. Any information from those last hours or days could be vital, so if you have any information contact Crimestoppers anonymously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Facebook campaign

On 4 January, Avon and Somerset Police launched a campaign on Facebook encouraging people to come forward with information about Joanna Yeates' death. The campaign involves an advert being shown on the site that will allow people to contact the force's incident room via the social networking site.

£10,000 Crimestoppers reward

To give information anonymously about this or any other crime call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out the untraceable online Giving Information Form. Remember though peeps, only information passed to Crimestoppers will be eligible to receive the £10,000 reward offered by the charity.

The Most Wanted christmas tree around!

2010-12-23T11:28:00.007Z

It may be the festive season but sadly crime never takes a holiday. So crime-fighting charity have put together their Most Wanted christmas tree, which shows the twelve individuals still wanted under the campaign Operation Captura.

Following the arrest of yet another Most Wanted individual, Dennis O'Brien on 18 December, Crimestoppers have put a festive spin on finding the remaining twelve by showing their faces on what is surely the 'most wanted' Christmas tree this year!

After an intial 50 appeals, only 12 remain, showing the success of the campaign which aims to track down criminals on the run in Spain who are wanted by UK law enforcement.

See if you can identify any of Operation Captura's dirty dozen here.

Another Most Wanted is captured in Spain!

2010-12-22T15:15:00.007Z

So another one bites the dust as crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers confirm the arrest of another of Britain's most wanted individuals under Operation Captura. As the 38th arrest out of 50 appeals, the operation, which aims to locate wanted fugitives known to be on the run in Spain shows no sign of slowing down.

Dennis Patrick O'Brien was arrested on 18 December in the Costa Del Sol. Identified as one of Britain's most wanted men in December 2007, O'Brien faces prosecution for conspiracy to supply cocaine with a street value of £166 million.

We all know that crime doesn't pay but proof of this old adage came in November this year when the High Court granted SOCA's application to seize O'Brien's assets including a pub and substantial funds from his bank account.

Finding O'Brien wasn't easy to say the least. The hunt for him went all over the globe including Peru, England, the Netherlands, Spain and saw gang members tailed to Hong Kong and Dubai.

Fake cash funds crime

2010-12-10T16:59:00.002Z

As the charity Crimestoppers rounds up its national Counterfeiting campaign we leave you with some important information about fake money, one of the strands of the campaign.

First of all you should be aware that street level criminals often use fake notes to buy cheap items in shops so that they get a large amount of change (made up of genuine money) in return. So if you work in retail or banking it's very important to know the signs of how to spot a fake.

Of course some fake money is easy to miss at a glance, so of course it's important for all consumers to be aware of how to spot fake cash too. Learn how to spot fake currency at:
fakesfundcrime.org.uk

You can also watch Crimestoppers' video below about fake money and how it can affect you.

Fake DVDs fund crime

2010-11-25T15:35:00.021Z

As the charity Crimestoppers continues its month-long Counterfeiting campaign, today we're focusing on the problem of fake DVDs.

In the run up to Christmas you may find yourself tempted to grab a 'bargain' and buy something which you know might not be a genuine branded product just to save a few pennies. But by buying fake goods you could be funding serious organised crime including drugs smuggling and people trafficking.

Then there's the disappointment of the person who realises they've been bought a fake...that's not the kind of surprise you want on Christmas day! And I'm sure you won't be too popular either!

Find out more about the links between fake DVDs and serious organised crime at fakesfundcrime.org

Meanwhile the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) have trained a crack team of specialist sniffer dogs who can locate hidden DVDs by smelling the chemicals used to make optical discs.

Watch sniffer dogs Lucky and Flo in action, fighting crime canine-style:

Fake fags fund crime

2010-11-23T17:01:00.011Z

Did you know...fake products may seem like a cheap deal, but you can actually get more than you bargained for.

Take fake cigarettes for example, they can contain all sorts of nasties. Tests have shown that as well as containing excessive levels of tar, nicotine and chemicals, fake fags can also contain sawdust, actual insects and (brace yourselves) rat droppings!

Also, because fake cigarettes are sold on the sly, it's harder for police to make sure that they're not sold to under-18s....so children are more likely to get hold of them.

There are a number of ways you can tell that your cigarettes are fake. To find out about how to spot fakes and for more information about the dangers of fake fags go to Crimestoppers' microsite: fakesfundcrime.org

Remember, you should be suspicious if you see anyone selling cigarettes on the street, at their own house or flat, from vans, in pubs and clubs, at betting shops, at car boot sales, in tanning salons and in workplaces. It's obvious that these are not the usual outlets where cigarettes are sold so be wary!

Fake fashion funds crime

2010-11-16T15:54:00.013Z

To tempt you into buying their products, counterfeiters often sell fakes at lower prices than originals would be sold for. Don’t be fooled – fake fashion items are often lower in quality than genuine goods and could fall apart soon after purchase.

But beware...buying fakes can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. This is especially true for kids’ clothing, which is subject to legal safety standards that fakes are unlikely to comply with.

This can be very dangerous, for example if the material is flammable or in the case of hi-tech clothing items like insulated hiking jackets or waterproof shoes which fail to provide protection in extreme conditions. Fake sunglasses can also provide inadequate UV protection from sunlight leaving the wearer at risk of eye damage.

So you might think you're saving a few pennies but is it really worth the risk? Or worse still, you might think you've got a bargain Christmas present for someone but then they realise they've been given a fake!

Read more about fake fashion at Fakesfundcrime.org or watch Crimestoppers' video Fake Fashion Funds Crime.

A very real problem as charity tackles fakes

2010-11-15T16:43:00.010Z

The charity Crimestoppers is urging people to call 0800 555 111 with information about who's making and selling fake products.

Crimestoppers has launched a national campaign today which highlights the links between fake goods and serious organised crime. As well as supporting criminals, buying fakes puts you at risk of identity theft among other dangers. Didn't realise? Well, entering your debit or credit card details into a website that deals in fakes means that you're essentially giving your card details, address and your name to criminals.

Links to serious organised crime

Many people don't realise that by buying fakes they are helping to fund criminals who are sometimes involved in other crimes including drugs and people trafficking, prostitution, weapons dealing and money laundering.

The campaign is divided into five strands:

Fake DVDs
Fake money
Fake tobacco
Fake fashion
The harm fake products can cause

For more information about the dangers of buying fake products go to the campaign microsite:
fakesfundcrime.org

The campaign is being run with the support of the Home Office, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the Bank of England, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), the Film Distributors Association (FDA) and clothing company Pentland.

Find out more about the campaign by visiting the Crimestoppers website.

Thank you Crimestoppers volunteers!

2010-11-12T17:39:00.004Z

Did you know that Crimestoppers is a charity who have a host of dedicated volunteers working across the UK to help make your community safer? Volunteers make a real difference to Crimestoppers. They make sure the anonymous hotline, 0800 555 111 and the secure online form are promoted successfully so people know that they can pass on information about crimes anonymously.

One of Crimestoppers' most dedicated volunteers is Bob Widdecombe, who stepped down as the Chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Crimestoppers Committee in September 2010 after a staggering 21 years of volunteering with the charity. That's a lot of volunteering!
Bob joined Crimestoppers in 1989 and oversaw the Devon and Cornwall Committee from the start. At the beginning, the committee had only six volunteers; now it’s comprised of 24 members!

Another of the charity's long serving Chairs, Terry Flynn, has also stepped down after being involved with Crimestoppers for the last five years and Chairman of the Wales/Cymru committee since October 2006. Congratulations go to Terry as he recently received the Cardiff Volunteer Award from South Wales Police Authority. We'd like to say a fond farewell to Bob and Terry and thank them for the time and effort they've so generously donated to the charity.

Find out more about volunteering with Crimestoppers here.

Young volunteers recognised for their efforts!

2010-11-05T16:54:00.012Z

I've been told by my friends in the north that the Cleveland Crimestoppers Youth Committee have cause for celebration after they scooped a group award at the first Middlesbrough Volunteers ceremony last week.

The young people on the committee, who generously donate their spare time to making their communities safer, won the award because of the fantastic work they did promoting Fearless - the youth brand for the charity Crimestoppers.

It's great to see the work of Crimestoppers' volunteers being recognised. If you'd like to find out more about volunteering for the charity Crimestoppers click here.

Great work everyone!

Reward offered for helping catch Withywood Park arsonists

2010-10-26T15:37:00.006+01:00

In the crazy world of crime-fighting there have been too many times to mention when I've been left completely confused by the actions of criminals. This is certainly the case with a number of unsavoury characters in South Bristol who have taken it upon themselves to set fire to rubbish bins in a local park. 'What's the point?' I'm sure you're wondering.

In a two week period, 18 wheelie bins have been taken from outside and inside people's gardens into Withywood Park where they were set alight. The fires have damaged the surface of the children's play areas and a skate board area.

To help find the perpetrators, Westcountry Crimestoppers and a local residents' group have put up £100 for information on those committing the crimes.

if you have information about the arsonists who are causing thousands of pounds worth of damage and ruining the park for the families, children, dog-walkers and other local residents who use it daily you can do something about it!

Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or go to the online Giving Information Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Not only will you be helping your community but you can also get a reward of £100 for information that leads to an arrest of any of those responsible. Don't let them get away with it...

Rewards on offer to beat drug dealers!

2010-10-22T13:55:00.002+01:00

Nobody wants drugs being dealt on their doorstep. So UK crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is taking action against drug dealers in Rugeley, Staffordshire, by offering rewards to those people with information on drug dealers and other criminals in the area.

The new campaign is in response to a recent survey where locals wanted to see more action taken to rid the streets of drug dealers. It aims to inform locals that they can call the charity about criminals and crimes and remain completely anonymous. That means they'll never have to go to court or even give a statement.

The campaign involves postcards being delivered to homes in the area with the message ‘drug dealers can no longer hide in Rugeley’. Posters and leaflets are also being distributed in the town’s library and welfare office.

The other great thing is that if the information Crimestoppers receives leads to someone being charged, not even convicted in court, then the caller is entitled to a reward. The cash is paid out using a code so the person giving information is never revealed.

Good work Crimestoppers for helping to get drug dealers behind bars!

Criminals get shopped in crackdown on violence against retailers!

2010-10-20T17:10:00.004+01:00

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has joined forces with The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) to tackle violent crime against retailers in the UK.

Launched on 19 October 2010 at The Association of Convenience Stores Crime Prevention Forum, the initiative is also backed by the Home Office. The collaboration has brought together a reward fund of up to £50,000 for information that leads to a conviction in cases of serious violent crime in local shops.

Crimestoppers, with their wealth of experience (no pun intended) in paying rewards to brave members of the public who give the charity information about crime anonymously, are administering the fund.

The initiative is part of a wider commitment to raise community awareness about the violence experienced by those working in local shops and encourage greater reporting of information about retail crime.

So if you'd like to give information about this or any other type of crime call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or go to http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/ and fill in the untraceable online form.

Get shopping!

Dig-it drugs project receives National Crimebeat Award!

2010-10-11T16:58:00.001+01:00

The team from Fearless, Crimestoppers’ youth brand, recently attended the annual National Crimebeat Awards and had the honour of presenting 3rd prize to the Dig-it Team from West Sussex.

Dig-it is a project which started in 2009 and is run by a team of dedicated volunteers. The project addresses young people’s needs for drug and alcohol information, advice and support, teaching them to form responsible choices about drugs. The volunteers have all been specially trained to help make their roles as effective as possible.

The project aims to reduce the risk of 11-24 year olds becoming victims or offenders of drug crime and also reduce the harm caused to communities when faced with drug and alcohol misuse. The project does this by hosting its own website providing information and support to those who need it. It also provides workshops to schools, colleges and youth clubs around the consequences of drug and alcohol misuse.

Over 1500 young people have benefited from or are participating in the workshops, including vulnerable young adults with learning difficulties. The scheme is supported by West Sussex Drug & Alcohol Team as well as reformed drug users who advise and share valuable experiences with participants, and Outset – a youth volunteering charity – which is helping find young volunteers to help deliver the project across West Sussex.

A well-deserved award for a very worthwhile project!

Dozy thief gets caught after taking a nap in stolen cab

2010-10-07T15:51:00.006+01:00

A woman in Louisiana, US, made the mother and father of all criminal blunders as she stole a cab, then fell asleep in it… and was promptly arrested.

The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning as the woman demanded that the cab driver take her to Michigan, a mere 1,200 miles away! Naturally the cab driver refused, to which his passenger responded by starting to take her clothes off! The stunned cab driver thought it was best to take the woman to a police station after seeing her less than normal behaviour but, after pulling into the nearest station forgot to take his car keys with him.

The woman saw this as the perfect opportunity to steal the vehicle, so got into the driver’s seat and drove away. Stealing a cab obviously took its toll as local police confirmed that the thief only made it a few minutes down the road before parking up and falling asleep!

The woman, identified as Jennifer Gille, aged 29, was arrested and charged with stealing a vehicle and exposing herself. It goes to show that there’s never a boring day in the world of crime-fighting!

You can run but you can't hide...

2010-09-29T16:32:00.008+01:00

So to tell you all about yet another victory in the fight against crime!

Last Friday one of Britain's most wanted fugitives was caught and arrested in the Elland area of West Yorkshire. Edward Oliver Morton had featured on crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers' website on their Most Wanted page and was known to be on-the-run from law enforcement.

He was arrested on behalf of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) by West Yorkshire police on Friday evening after being sought for suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs. Great work everybody!

So you can run but you can't hide....

Drug dealer caught on camera by their own CCTV

2010-09-27T17:56:00.024+01:00

Today I read about dopey drug dealer Darren Bradley, who has been jailed after he was found guilty of conspiracy to to supply cannabis.

In February this year, police raided homes and businesses connected to the drug dealer. In the boot of his car they discovered a 16.7lb [7.6kg] stash of cannabis and at his mother's house they found a pistol and eight bullets.

Bradley claimed to have no knowledge of the cannabis - despite it being in his own car - or the gun, saying that he didn't even notice the smell of the drugs. Mr Bradley's mother was even arrested as the gun and bullets were discovered in her house.

But police found the proof they needed to show that Bradley wasn't being truthful when they checked the drug dealer's own CCTV system. Footage from the cameras at Mr Bradley's home showed him inspecting the huge stash of cannabis, believed to be worth around £38,000. His fingerprints were also found on the pistol and his 65-year-old mother was later released without charge.

Job done!

Tackling crime in Glasgow proves a safe bet

2010-09-21T17:17:00.007+01:00

I'm pleased to tell you about a new initiative in Scotland that's tackling crime in Glasgow's East End. Scotland Crimestoppers have partnered up with William Hill and Strathclyde Police for the joint campaign that focuses on betting shops in Springboig.

Launched on 21 September, the campaign is aimed at ensuring that betting shops remain safe for customers and staff, prevent them from being targets for criminals and also to encourage anyone who has any information on crime to report it to Crimestoppers anonymously.
The campaign centres on the bookmaker’s betting shops in Crammond Terrace, Edinburgh Road, Tollcross Road and Westmuir Street and involves distributing leaflets and posters in the surrounding shops and houses.

As well as reminding people how they can contact Crimestoppers if they have information on crime they wish to give anonymously, the public are also reminded that people could qualify for a cash reward of up to £10,000 through the Association of British Bookmakers. Yes, you heard me right...that's 10,000 smackeroonies up for grabs!

This reward scheme makes payments to members of the public for their assistance in achieving a successful prosecution following a robbery of a betting shop(s) or an attack on betting shop staff.

If you would like to give information anonymously about a robbery at a betting shop, an attack on betting shop staff or any other crime you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out our untraceable online Giving Information Form.

Play detective at murder mystery evening!

2010-09-17T14:58:00.007+01:00

If you’ve ever fancied yourself as the next Poirot, Miss Marple or even Columbo then you should bring yourself down to Sussex Crimestoppers’ murder mystery event! The fundraising event will be held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on 19 November to raise vital funds for the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers.

But this won't be your usual murder mystery evening, no siree. The charity is using the expertise of its co-patrons Dame Vera Lynn (who’s one of my personal favourites from years ago) and the best selling crime novelist Peter James.

The murder mystery evening’s going to be centred around a "cold case" of Superintendent Roy Grace, the top detective from the novels of Peter James. The murder took place during World War Two so co-patron Dame Vera Lynn will be there to make sure everything is as authentic to the era as possible.

Guests can come in black tie/smart dress or they can really get into the spirit of things by dressing up in 1930/40's style dress, with a prize for the best outfits!

Tickets are £65 per person or £60 per person for a table of 10.

Dinner will include a three course "themed" menu (including a vegetarian option) and one bottle of house red and white wine per table plus coffee and mints. For those who want to dance the night away after all that detective work the ticket also includes entry to the Honey Club on Brighton seafront.

For more information go to the Sussex page of the Crimestoppers website.

Last chance to enter Philip Lawrence Awards!

2010-09-14T17:25:00.002+01:00

If you'd like to help young people achieve their goals in a safe society then you can get behind the Philip Lawrence Award Network in 2010 just like Fearless, Crimestoppers’ brand for young people.

Entries close on 15 September so if you haven't already, make sure you get your entry in today.

The Philip Lawrence Awards Network (PLAnet) celebrates the achievements of young people who are taking a lead and making a difference in their communities. From tackling issues like bullying and racism to improving their communities, volunteering, inspiring others and having fun – all those who enter the Philip Lawrence Awards Network demonstrate that young people are a force for good.

Do you know one of this year’s winners?

If you know any groups of young people, aged 11-20, who are making a difference and deserve some recognition, we want to hear from you! Last year, ten fantastic groups were rewarded for a range of inspiring work including an anti-gangs project, a youth music festival and a play challenging homophobia.
Winners will receive an award, £1,000 to invest in their work and an invite to the glittering awards ceremony to be held in London during December.

How to enter

Visit the PLAnet website for more information and to fill in the simple nomination form. At the PLAnet website young people can also set up their own profile, allowing them to link up with hundreds of other young people who are also making a difference to their communities.

You can also get in touch with PLAnet on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Be Fearless against shoplifting!

2010-09-09T17:15:00.008+01:00

I’m pleased to tell you that Crimestoppers volunteers and staff have been taking to the streets to inform members of the public about the anonymous service that the charity provides for people to pass on information about crime.

On 2 and 3 September, representatives from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Crimestoppers and Fearless, the charity’s brand for young people, visited Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth to speak to shoppers about the charity and its partnership with Land Securities.

Crimestoppers and commercial property company, Land Securities, have launched a pilot campaign in Portsmouth to raise awareness of the Crimestoppers charity and to address the issues related to shoplifting.

Fearless giveaways

Representatives from Fearless gave away free fearless.org draw string bags to young people and explained to shoppers about the three ways they can contact the charity anonymously with information about crime. A special Fearless poster was also designed especially for the event (see right).

Passing on information about crime

Fearless is Crimestoppers’ youth brand which introduces young people to the anonymous service provided by Crimestoppers. It consists of the website fearless.org where young people can get information about crimes that affect them. Young people can also use the website to pass on information about crime anonymously.

In addition to fearless.org, the Fearless team also provide workshops about the service in schools, youth groups and at special events.

So everyone, young and old, can be active in the fight against crime!

Volunteer’s triathlon goes swimmingly!

2010-09-06T14:26:00.007+01:00

A huge pat on the back goes to Crimestoppers volunteer, Jo Osborn, who tackled cold winds and heavy rain in order to complete a triathlon to raise money for Sussex Crimestoppers. Months of vigorous training paid off for the charity’s volunteer, who swam, cycled and ran in the notoriously difficult event.

Jo was put through her paces as she launched into the 750m swim before heading into the 20km cycle ride and finally combating the 5km run as part of the triathlon at Dorney Lake, Berkshire. Though tackling those bad guys keeps me trim, I know even I would struggle to finish this feat of endurance…and I dread to think what it would do to my usually pristine appearance!

Before her success in the triathlon, Jo, from Hove, had kindly been donating her time to Crimestoppers as she decided to help the charity in their ongoing campaign against bogus callers and particularly those who prey on the elderly and vulnerable by conning their way into people's homes before stealing from them.

It’s great to see such a tremendous effort from someone who volunteers their time to fighting crime, well done Jo!

Sponsor Jo today at: Virgin Money Giving

See Thames Valley's Most Wanted

2010-09-01T17:09:00.000+01:00

Thames Valley Police is the latest force to embrace Crimestoppers' Most Wanted website. The force has uploaded 60 appeals onto the site and are appealing for information on individuals who are wanted for crimes ranging from drug supply to rape to violence.

By visiting the Thames Valley page on the Crimestoppers website and calling the charity on 0800 555 111 if you have information on any of the wanted individuals, you will be helping to make your streets safer.

Below you can watch a short interview with DCI Ray Howard, Head of Thames Valley Police's Intelligence Bureau, in which he discusses Most Wanted and working with Crimestoppers.

Keep it up crimestoppers!

‘Weed out’ those criminals supplying cannabis in Scotland

2010-09-01T13:20:00.020+01:00

I saw in the news yesterday how a staggering £3 million worth of cannabis was seized by police in Scotland. It makes Granny Robyn very pleased to see such a tremendous victory in the fight against crime! Especially as the four men found to be supplying the huge stock of cannabis are now where they belong – behind bars!

But it raises the question; where does the cannabis come from in the first place?

Well, in recent years the Scottish Police Service has uncovered a growing number of cultivations in both rural and urban areas of Scotland where cannabis is being grown on a commercial scale.

Luckily, Scotland Crimestoppers have responded to the problem by launching the national ‘Weed Them Out’ campaign. The campaign highlights the tell-tale signs to look out for to catch those people growing cannabis. It’s very important that we all keep a watchful eye out for cannabis cultivations as they are often found in residential areas.

Some of the signs to look out for are:

The windows of the property are permanently covered from the inside, often with foil or bin bags. There may be a build up of condensation on the glass.

Pungent smells may emanate from the premises, or excessive use of air fresheners or moth balls to disguise the aroma.
Noise coming from equipment on the premises, e.g. fans or heaters.

There may be vents coming out of the roof or rear windows.

The cannabis or by-products, such as used fertiliser, may be removed in black bin bags, laundry bags or suitcases.

Tenants do not live on the premises and only make short visits, daily or weekly to maintain them.

Powerful lights on all day or night.

Compost bags or gardening equipment may be left outside the rear of the premises.

Visits to the premises can occur at unusual times of the day or night.

If you would like to give information anonymously about a possible cannabis cultivation or any other crime you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out our untraceable online Giving Information Form.

Could you pass the beer goggle challenge?

2010-08-24T17:47:00.000+01:00

Well, the people of Lincoln tried to do just that. The challenge involved trying to carry a tray of drinks whilst wearing ‘beer goggles’ which simulated the feeling of being drunk. Not an easy task I’m sure… but then of course I wouldn’t know. I was asked to take on the challenge but flying with beer goggles on is something I would never attempt!

The challenge was all part of a campaign run by my friends at East Midlands Crimestoppers. The Gauge Your Behaviour campaign ran from 16 July to 6 August 2010 and has been confirmed as a huge success!

In fact, the three-week criminal damage campaign reached hundreds of people in the city and reports so far show that it has led to dozens of calls from people giving anonymous information about crime in the area.

The campaign, which featured the message ‘Your night out, Your city, Your call’ also included advertising on the outside of Lincoln’s taxis and staff in the city’s pubs and bars wore the highly fashionable Gauge Your Behaviour T-shirts.

I'd say that the message that Crimestoppers tackles criminal damage has now been fully 'en-gauged!'

Be rewarded for helping to stop vandalism and robbery in Aston!

2010-08-20T12:00:00.009+01:00

Having just returned from a fantastic summer holiday back home in Spain I am now seriously lacking in funds.

Sadly though, crime doesn’t take a holiday so I am eager to get back to tackling those bad guys.

So, when I heard that Crimestoppers have launched a campaign to tackle vandalism and robbery - with the added benefit of cash rewards for actionable information - I thought that all my problems were solved in one go!

The six-week campaign has two messages:

Name that Tag – which encourages members of the public to identify graffiti in the Aston area of Birmingham and stop vandals ruining their streets.

The second part - Cashing in on thieves – uses posters with the message '30 seconds to steal, 1 minute to call Crimestoppers.’ This highlights how quickly a thief can strike but how easy it is to call Crimestoppers anonymously with information.

Both parts of the campaign highlight the reward system in place for those people who give information to the independent charity.

So, help do your bit in the fight against crime and a cash reward could be yours!

If you would like to give information anonymously about vandalism, robbery or any other crime you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out our untraceable online Giving Information Form.

Join Thames Valley Crimestoppers at open day event!

2010-08-17T16:43:00.003+01:00

Have you ever wondered just how us crime-fighters do our job?
Well, now you can find out…and I’m not talking about watching CSI on TV! No, you can come and find out in person at the Thames Valley police open day event.
Representatives from the independent charity Crimestoppers will be there to launch their Most Wanted website, which will be used to catch criminals wanted by police in Thames Valley.

Above: The Thames Valley Crimestoppers tent at the 2009 Open Day

There’s plenty to do at this great day out; you can have a look around the Force Museum which is packed with the history of Thames Valley Police, or meet some of the officers from the Force’s specialist departments – giving you a sneaky insight in their work behind-the-scenes.

One of the main attractions of the day is the police helicopter which will be manned by the Chiltern Air Support Unit; just take a look at this video clip of it in action!

The Roads Policing department will also be there with various vehicles and animal lovers will be pleased to see the mounted and dog sections.

So what are you waiting for? I’ve got my ticket already!

Crimestoppers launches summer drink driving campaign in Channel Islands

2010-08-13T14:59:00.008+01:00

Drivers in Jersey are being reminded that drink driving is unacceptable as Crimestoppers in both Jersey and Guernsey launch a summer awareness campaign.

The awareness campaign also has the support of the States of Jersey Police and actor, Sean Arnold. I used to watch Sean in the detective series 'Bergerac' years ago playing the part of Inspector Crozier.

My friends at Jersey Crimestoppers have told me that so far this year, just over 100 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and the figures from previous years show that the number of arrests climbs into several 100 year in, year out.

It's believed that there could be a hard core of people, who know drink driving is wrong, dangerous and illegal but are still prepared to take the risk, maybe because they think they won’t get caught. So Crimestoppers is taking action!

Watch the film: Don't let them get away with it.

Merseyside launches award to find top community Crimestopper

2010-08-11T14:51:00.009+01:00

My friends at Merseyside Crimestoppers have teamed up with the newspaper Liverpool Echo to find the region's top Crimestopper.

The award aims to honour those in the community who work extra hard to make the streets a safer place, but do not always get the recognition they deserve.

This may be a Crimestoppers volunteer, someone who has raised money for Crimestoppers or any other an individual who has made a notable contribution in the fight against crime (including yours truly!)

The five winners - one from each borough of Merseyside - will be invited to a black-tie (or black cape) awards ceremony held by Merseyside Crimestoppers Awards. I’ve been told that the event will be held in October, when one overall winner will be announced.

You can nominate your top Merseyside Crimestopper by sending an e-mail to Ben Rossington at the Liverpool Echo.

The closing date for nominations is 3 September 2010 so get voting!

Chris Preddie

2010-08-10T15:59:00.001+01:00

Chris Preddie, a member of Crimestoppers' youth team, presents workshops to young people on crime and Fearless, the charity's brand for young people. When people young and old meet Chris, they're always won over by his charisma and down to earth attitude.

I thought I'd post the below video about Chris so those who aren't still at school or college can learn more about him and see what he is up to.

Calling everyone who wants to help fight crime in Scotland!

2010-08-06T12:17:00.008+01:00

With Scottish descendants myself, there is a place in my heart for the people of Scotland. That’s why when Scotland Crimestoppers asked me to spread the word about getting people to complete their survey, I was only too happy to help.

Scotland Crimestoppers has a short survey about public perceptions of serious organised crime that I’d like you all to fill out. It takes less than 5 minutes and you could win a prize! If you complete the survey you will go in a draw to win £100 worth of Amazon vouchers! Spread the word…

Complete the survey here.

Rest assured that the survey will help our friends at Scotland Crimestoppers in the fight against crime and you may of course win some goodies. A win-win scenario in my eyes and you don’t get many of those!

Granny Robyn

Notting Hill Carnival

2010-08-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

Summer is now in full swing and for the capital that means Notting Hill Carnival is coming soon.

The bank holiday bash, held on Sunday, August 28, and the following day, promises to be another stunning celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture and I’ll be out dancing on the streets to add a bit of Espanole into the mix.

I’m even thinking about adding some sequence and feathers to my guise and join in to show the crowds some of my own moves. The festival even takes its name from Masquerade after all.

But while most of us will be out to have a good time, some will be looking to do us out of our belongings.

To help us keep safe, the organisers of the event have put together great pieces of advice to make sure we do what we can to reduce the risk of becoming victims.

In fact the safety section of the Notting Hill Carnival website offers some wise words for anyone heading out to a big event.

Alerting police to any unattended bags, deciding a meeting point with friends and family at the start of the day, leaving valuables at home and planning your way home before heading out to join the party are just a few of the good suggestions.

As a crime fighter myself, I think it’s important we keep our streets safe, and following these points will make sure we enjoy a few of the good things in life – food, dance and music.

There is also some crime prevention information on the Crimestoppers website to help us do what we can to keep criminals at bay.

Anyone who wants to report a crime, but does not want to talk to police, can always call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the secure online form on the Crimestoppers website to pass on what they know.

Five places left for the Royal Parks Half Marathon

2010-08-02T14:51:00.000+01:00

As a superhero, I have to keep myself in tip-top condition to make sure I’m at my best to catch criminals.
There’s no such thing as off-duty in this business, so I’m always keeping a watchful eye when I’m out for a run on the streets and through the parks where I live.

To push myself even further, I’m thinking about entering a half marathon before setting my sights even higher and take on a full marathon.

I’ve begun my training and already caught the bug - once you get into the habit, it can become addictive and it’s a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.

For many, the events can also help supporters fundraise for charities and that includes Crimestoppers.
Like all good causes, it needs cash to help it continue its work.

Among the events Crimestoppers is championing is the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday, October 10. Crimestoppers is offering guaranteed places for the day, which will take joggers through just over 13 miles of London parks, leading them past Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, through to Marble Arch and past the Royal Albert Hall.

Those up for the challenge need to pay £20 to cover their registration fee and pledge to raise at least £300.
In return, Crimestoppers will pass on a fundraising pack jammed full of tips and materials to help them gather sponsorship, access to a dedicated team who will offer help and advice and even an enthusiastic cheering squad to help drive them along the route on the day.

Runners also get an exclusive vest to pull on for the run too.

The support is also on offer to anyone who runs on behalf of the charity, with gold bonded places also available for the London Marathon in April next year. Perhaps that could be my second victory?

Would you like to run Royal Parks? Crimestoppers only has five places left so if you want one then email the Crimestoppers events team at events@crimestoppers-uk.org or give Jess a call on 020 8254 3200.

Snow helps police catch burglars

2010-07-21T10:44:00.000+01:00

My fellow crime crackers were hot on the trail of a pair of thieves who left an icy trail in their wake.

Eagle-eyed police were knocking on the door of the burglars after they followed bicycle tracks left in the frost back in February, with Leicester Crown Court seeing justice was done last week after the men both admitted the break in.

One was given a 12- month detention order and the other a year in jail.

The court was told stolen property, including sentimental items, were recovered after the men got into the bungalow by smashing a window.

A neighbour alerted police to the incident when he heard the burglar alarm of the house set off and spotted two men riding off together on one bike.

Their willingness to help, courage to call and caring nature undoubtedly helped officers in their investigation.
But anyone who sees a crime being committed or knows of illegal dealings need not fear if they are too frightened to call police.

Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111 or information can be passed on through a secure online form.

It could really make a difference.

The Crimestoppers website also has some handy pointers on how to avoid becoming a victim of burglary, which is especially useful at this time of year when some of us are looking forward to jetting off for a break.

Caravan stolen with owner inside!

2010-07-09T13:09:00.004+01:00

Imagine the scene; you’re relaxing in your mobile home after a long drive to your holiday destination. You’ve got that great, holiday feeling. Then, you realise your caravan is on the move, only it’s not you doing the moving.

I recently read about 73-year-old William Roberts, who was inside a £17,500 caravan when thieves decided to steal the vehicle. When he realised what had happened the pensioner managed to find an opportunity to escape. Mr Roberts, from Towyn, North Wales, ran from the vehicle when the thieves stopped at a lay-by.

Can you imagine?

Britain has a large number of caravan-owners who, no doubt, will be enjoying the warm weather by getting away in their mobile homes. But with minimal security, caravans can often be seen as an easy target to thieves. Don’t let thieves ruin your holiday, read handy advice on how to stay secure in your caravan on Crimestoppers’ Yell.com blog.

If you want to give information about robbery or any other crime, contact Crimestoppers’ anonymously on 0800 555 111.

See the Difference with charity website

2010-07-07T17:40:00.016+01:00

When I give money to a charity I’ve often wondered exactly what the money I gave will be spent on. In fact, I’ve always thought it would be really interesting to see exactly where that money is going. Well, now you can!

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers can now be found on the charity website, See the Difference. See the Difference allows registered charities to show donors exactly where their money is going through the medium of online videos. Through using the medium of video, charities can be creative in putting across the message of what they do. The idea is that this will then encourage people to make those much-needed donations by seeing exactly where their money is being spent.

Now that Crimestoppers are on the See the Difference website, more people will also be able to see that the charity provides the anonymous hotline on 0800 555 111 and the untraceable online Giving Information Form, which means more help in the fight against crime. This is, of course, all great news for me!

Take a look at Crimestoppers' page on the See the Difference website.

Operation INFRA-RED

2010-07-05T10:55:00.001+01:00

I am a firm believer that law enforcement do the best job they can to track down criminals. That said, sometimes crooks manage to evade capture by moving countries or going into hiding. It's in times like these that you come in - the eyes and ears of people on the streets can prove invaluable in tracking down wanted fugitives.

Interpol know this better than anyone. Today they have launched Operation INFRA-RED, a campaign that aims to track down 26 wanted criminals on the run across the globe.

You may ask "What type of crime do you have to commit to have your name put on a global wanted list?"

"A very, very serious one," is my answer.

The people wanted under Operation INFRA-RED are wanted for crimes ranging from murder, to sex offences, to gang and drug crime. These are the kind of people that come with a warning message: If seen, do not approach.

Crime Stoppers International is supporting Operation INFRA-RED and you can view images of the 19 wanted individuals with European links on the Most Wanted section of the Crimestoppers website. You can see images of all 26 people wanted under the campaign on Interpol's website.

If you have any information on the wanted individuals, be sure to get in touch with Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or filling out our secure online form. Alternatively, you can email Interpol at fugitive@interpol.int

A thief that does the dishes?!

2010-06-30T11:01:00.004+01:00

Usually when a thief breaks into a home they bring tools, gloves, a torch…and washing up liquid?

In all my years of fighting crime, I have never heard of a crime quite like this one. A criminal that stops to do housework? Sometimes this is a very odd job.

Lee Dixon was arrested after he was connected to over 100 break-ins. In that time he stole £120,000 worth of items - but also stopped to do the dishes at some homes. It has been said the Lee was a ‘gentleman’ style burglar. He did little damage to the properties he stole from and like I mentioned earlier, he even stopped to do the washing-up occasionally.

Dixon’s partner did not know of this ten month crime spree that was going on. He had been laid off as a labourer and racked up a £10,000 debt, so he turned to stealing to pay it back.

The police were ecstatic when they arrested Dixon from Frome, Somerset. He was caught using stolen Marks and Spencer vouchers and his fingerprints linked him to all of the break-ins. The police are glad to have this dish-washing thief in captivity. He was a hard criminal to catch because he seemed so normal. It is said he suffered from bipolar condition and his friends were shocked about his crime spree.

Burglary is a serious crime that greatly upsets those that are victims. If you have any information about burglaries and you do not feel like talking to the police you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 or through the untraceable online form.

Crimestoppers reaches 100,000 arrests

2010-06-25T16:15:00.009+01:00

It’s a great day when I hear how us crime-fighters are winning in the fight against crime. Imagine my joy then, when I heard that anonymous information passed on to Crimestoppers has led to 100,000 criminals being arrested and charged!

That’s an average of 21 people being arrested and charged every single day! This total includes 887 people that were arrested and charged for murder, over £189 million worth of drugs being seized and the recovery of over £112 million worth of goods. Boy, am I pleased to know I’ve got Crimestoppers on side!

The charity, which has been running for 22 years, has just reached this incredible milestone. I am only too familiar with the difficulties we face against the criminals so a big pat on the back for Crimestoppers from one crime-fighter to another. A huge thank you must also go to all those fantastic people who contacted Crimestoppers with information about crimes - without these people this amazing feat would never have been possible.

We may be winning the fight, but it is far from won. Remember, if you have information about a crime, please contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or through the secure online form.

Officer gets on his bike to raise money for Crimestoppers

2010-06-23T16:35:00.007+01:00

Working in the Superhero industry it is always nice to know there are people that support us in what we do. So I was ecstatic when I came across a story about PC Matt Cann, a Hertfordshire Police officer and the great thing he is doing for Crimestoppers!

Matt and thirty other people are cycling all the way from Black Heath in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris! They are leaving today and their goal is to get there by Saturday 26 June. Can you believe it? That is over 300 miles. Of course they will be taking a ferry to get over the Channel. Matt is clearly very passionate about Crimestoppers, like myself.

Matt decided to use Crimestoppers as his charity because he has received so much help from them at his job. He thinks Crimestoppers is a very important charity to the police and he wanted to give back.

Matt is funding this trip out of his own pocket so any donations that are made will be given straight to Crimestoppers! He is trying to raise at least £1,000. Help Matt reach his goal and sponsor him by going to his Just Giving page. He has also set up a Facebook page where you can follow his progress.

I wish the best of luck to Matt and the other cyclists on their journey to Paris!

Nude burglar leaves evidence ‘behind’

2010-06-18T16:27:00.007+01:00

Fighting crime you come across all kinds of unsavoury characters, though some border onto just plain stupid. I recently read about a man in Kentucky, USA, who decided to burgle someone’s home whilst wearing just a thong. I can only assume it was a particularly hot day as such an outfit is far from conspicuous. And this is not a look most men can pull off easily, not even me, who can usually look good in anything!

This guy then thought it would be a good idea to film himself whilst robbing the house at 3am. There’s one major problem with this idea though. The criminal accidentally left the video at the house he was burgling. D’oh! When police arrived all the evidence they needed was right there on tape. As I said, just plain stupid.

Unfortunately not all burglars decide to leave such evidence behind. Many are experienced criminals who leave little or no clues about their identity. This is where you come in. Crimestoppers allows members of the public to give information anonymously about crimes such as burglary. If you have information about someone who may be involved in this, or any other type of crime call the anonymous hotline on 0800 555 111 or send information via the Secure Online Form.

A summer of football

2010-06-11T16:40:00.000+01:00

The World Cup is finally kicking off and I couldn't be more excited. I look forward to the World Cup, it's a great excuse to meet with the boys down the pub or at the park to kick a ball around.

Unfortunately my duties as a superhero sometimes get in the way of football fun. Some football fans get too worked up and violent about games and take the fun out of what should be friendly competition.

You might remember the Chelsea and Cardiff supporters that got out of hand after a game in February this year. About 200 fans fought on Kings Road, Chelsea. Safety cones and even bricks were thrown during the fight, which resulted in several injured police officers. One even needed facial surgery. Incidents like this take the focus away from the game - what we are all really passionate about in the first place.

There are photos of some of those wanted in connection with the Chelsea v Cardiff fighting on Crimestoppers' Most Wanted website. Check out the Most Wanted website and see if you recognise any of those featured. If you have information call the Crimestoppers hotline anonymously on 0800 555 111 or pass on information using our secure online form.

I hope you all enjoy what's undoubtedly going to be a summer of football. I know I will, especially if everyone behaves.

Who is this man?

2010-06-09T15:39:00.002+01:00

There are ups and downs of every job, including being a super hero. It's great being able to help solve crime, but some of the cases I hear about are horrible.

In May 2010, a young girl was sexually assaulted in Fleetwood, Lancashire. She was forced into a car by a man who then drove her to an area on Rossall Lane and assaulted her. Attacks on children chill me to the bone. It is disgusting that people attack other adults, let alone children and young people.

Lancashire Police are working hard to bring the culprit in this case to justice. The little girl’s attacker is said to have two or three badly broken or missing teeth on his upper jaw. It is also believed he was driving a dark green or turquoise car on the day of the attack.

As part of the inquiry, police are appealing for any information on a man seen at the ‘pitch and putt’ on Fleetwood promenade, close to the Marine Hall, early afternoon on Thursday 15 April. The man was carrying camera equipment and wearing black. Officers have stressed that this man could be entirely incident and may have been in the area for recreational purposes.

If you know anything about this crime then be sure to get in touch with either Lancashire Police, or if you want to pass on information anonymously, you can contact the charity Crimestoppers. You can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or pass on information online using the charity's secure online form.

Crimestoppes has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading the arrest and conviction of the person/persons responsible for this crime. Only information submitted through Crimestoppers will be eligible for the reward.

14 June 2010 - Update: A man has now been charged with this crime. Read more on the BBC News website.

Charity sky dive photos

2010-06-07T17:05:00.011+01:00

As promised, photos from the charity sky dive done by Shevon's family are now online!

The photos, courtesy of www.clickandjump.co.uk, are now up on Crimestoppers' Flickr.

www.flickr.com

crimestoppers' Sky dive for Crimestoppers in memory of Shevon Wilson photoset

Congratulations once again to everyone who took part in the sky dive.

Skydiving for a good cause

2010-06-04T10:35:00.004+01:00

I’ve been inspired to blog today by a very brave family from the south west – one of my favourite parts of the UK.

Last year Shevon Wilson, a Bristol teenager, tragically lost his life to knife crime. In Shevon’s memory, his family organised a sponsored skydive over Salisbury Plain to raise money for Fearless, Crimestoppers’ brand for young people, and to raise awareness about the dangers of knives.

Last weekend nine of Shevon’s family members took part in the 13,000 ft skydive. What a brave and inspirational thing to do. If you want to support this great event and cause, you can make a donation through Virgin Money Giving.

Knife crime is a serious issue in society today and one that we all have to work together to fight. If you have any information about knife crime remember that you can always use Crimestoppers' knife crime texting service to pass on information.

P.S – Hopefully we’ll have some photos from the skydive to post soon!

Something's fishy

2010-05-27T16:23:00.024+01:00

In the little free time I have I enjoy fishing with my fellow superheroes. There is no better way to relax than to hang out by the lake and catch some fish. Unfortunately due to the illegal activity going on with fish being brought into the UK, I may have to stop relaxing and start fighting crime at my local fishing spot.

According to the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), organised criminal groups have been illegally importing fish, specifically carp, in order to make a large profit. A 50lb carp can be worth around £20k!

Shipments of live fish have been picked up at UK borders. If these illegally imported fish reach our fisheries it can cause a lot of harm. The fisheries can charge more money to fish, because their customers have a higher chance of catching a huge (illegally imported) fish. At the same time though, the imported fish could contain unknown diseases and kill the local fish.

With the start of summer and warm weather, I know I want to be able to enjoy some nice summer days fishing. For all you other fishers out there, I know you can relate. We have to help put a stop to these criminals before our summer fun and fish stocks are ruined!

If you have any information about the illegal importing of fish, or about the theft of angling equipment, please help protect the angling community by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by filling in a secure online form.

London's Most Wanted

2010-05-17T17:23:00.000+01:00

Facebook, Twitter, Delicious... I'm a bit of a nosy person and I love social networking websites because they allow me to keep up to date with what's going on around me in a simple way.

For the same reason, I'm a big fan of the new London's Most Wanted website that launched today. It allows you to look through over 100 appeals of wanted individuals from London. You can even filter them by borough and crime type. I didn't just look through the appeals in my borough though; I checked out all of the boroughs I visit regularly, just to make sure I'm not sitting on the bus every day next to a wanted crim.

London's Most Wanted is a joint project between the Metropolitan Police and the charity Crimestoppers. Appeals are uploaded by the Met and the site itself is hosted by Crimestoppers. An ideal match some (such as myself!) would say.

Since launching not even 24 hours ago the site has already had more than 30,000 visitors. What a great result for a worthwhile project like this one.

If you haven't already, make sure you check out London's Most Wanted. You can also read more about the project on the Crimestoppers website.

Win tickets to V-Festival 2010

2010-05-10T17:47:00.003+01:00

Now, I'm not much of a festival goer these days, but I certainly was once upon a time. In addition to daylight saving and strawberries, festivals are another part of the British summer enjoyed by many.

The fine folk at Essex Crimestoppers attend V-Festival at Chelmsford every year to remind people about the invaluable service provided by the charity.

This year, Essex Crimestoppers has two VIP tickets to V-Festival in Chelmsford to give away. Public tickets to V-Festival have already sold out. No wonder with classic acts like the Pet Shop Boys performing. My grand kids tell me that they're keen to see Cheryl Cole and Kings of Leon. Clearly there's something on to suit most people's taste!

To go into the draw to win the V-Festival tickets, visit the Crimestoppers website and answer the five multiple choice questions about the charity.

Are you Fearless?

2010-04-15T17:14:00.005+01:00

Yesterday Crimestoppers launched Fearless, the charity's new brand for young people - Bravo!

The Fearless website features it's own anonymous online form that young people can use to pass on information about crime. It is also packed with nonjudgmental information about different crime types.

The Fearless launch was held at the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London. Lots of great young people attended. There were also some very moving performances and speeches - Barry and Margaret Mizen spoke about the tragic loss of their son, Jimmy.

MC Doctor, a grime artist from London, spoke about his experiences with crime and performed some of his hits to the crowd. As expected, he blew the crowd away - young people were lining up to meet him after the event.

If you haven't checked out the new Fearless website yet, get involved and make sure you let us know what you think!

Richie Woodhall supports Crimestoppers

2010-04-12T17:39:00.002+01:00

World Champion boxer Richie Woodhall has joined forces with Crimestoppers to encourage people in Telford to support their community by passing on information to Crimestoppers anonymously.

Richie launched his Fight Crime campaign at a press conference at the Telford Ice Rink, where he won his World Championship belt.

You might remember me blogging previously about Ricky Hatton and his crime campaign in Greater Manchester. It's great that within the past few months the Crimestoppers charity has had two very talented and inspiring individuals front campaigns.

Of the new campaign, Richie said: “So many people suffer as a result of the activities of criminals. I would encourage local people to have the courage and fight crime without revealing their identity by contacting Crimestoppers.”

Taxis with Richie's face and crime message on them (just like the one on the left) are going to all around the streets of Telford. If you see one, take a photo and send it in! I'd love to see one in action.

You are the Weakest Link

2010-04-07T16:23:00.005+01:00

I love watching quiz and game shows, especially ones where I might know some of the answers. I'm a fan of Deal or No Deal not because I think Noel Edmonds is dishy, but because I imagine that if I was on the show I'd be as good a contestant as anyone on there.

I was watching the Weakest Link last night, knowing a few answers here and there when all of a sudden, up came a question I definitely knew the answer to:

"In the UK the charity established in 1988 that runs a free phone number for people to report unlawful acts anonymously is crime..."

And guess what the contestant answered? Crimewatch! Wrong answer - Crimestoppers is obviously the correct answer!

While I was excited that the profile of Crimestoppers is high enough for it to be appearing on the Weakest Link, I was disappointed that once again the charity has been confused with the BBC1 TV programme, Crimewatch. (I've had a previous rant about Crimewatch that you might recall).

Please keep spreading the word that Crimestoppers is different to Crimewatch and hopefully next time someone is asked about us on a quiz show they'll get it right. If you want to check out the Crimestoppers question on the Weakest Link, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer. The question is 11 minutes 20 seconds into the episode.

Easter treats and crime prevention

2010-04-05T12:20:00.041+01:00

Happy Easter!

I hope you're all having a great long weekend so far.

The Easter bunny has been kind but cheeky to me this year. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Toy Story and all, but giving me a Buzz Lightyear chocolate (right) when I asked for Batman Reese's Pieces hardly seems fair.

If you're heading away any time over the Easter break, remember to read the home security tips on the Crimestoppers website. I find it easier to relax knowing my house is secure while I'm away.

Happy holidays and keep fighting-crime.

Google Earth used to solve crime

2010-03-31T17:37:00.007+01:00

A police officer in western Florida has used Google Earth to solve a crime.

Santa Rosa County Deputy, Gregory Barnes, was trying to track down the owner of a one tonne fishing boat illegally dumped in a car park. The boat did not have a number plate or any other identifying details on it.

After drawing a blank using conventional research methods, Barnes used Google Earth to find where the boat had been located in the weeks leading up to its dumping.

The boat was traced to Dwight Everett Foster after Google Earth images showed it parked next to his house. Mr Foster is now facing a fine for dumping rubbish illegally.

I love stories about the Internet being used to solve crime, so this one is right up my alley. It's great to see Google Earth being used inventively and for all a good cause. Anything that helps solve crime rates highly in my books.

Have you heard of any other stories about Google tools being used inventively for the common good?

Have you got your Royal Parks Half Marathon place yet?

2010-03-29T11:25:00.005+01:00

A few of my friends have been trying to get places for the Royal Parks Half Marathon for the past couple of hours - supposedly the Royal Parks website isn't coping so well with the demand.

If you're after a place for Royal Parks and haven't had any luck getting one directly, never fear, Crimestoppers is here.

The charity has guaranteed places for the race. They're sure to fill up so get in touch and express your interest if you're keen.

It's meant to be an amazing day and all Crimestoppers runners receive the full support of the charity's fundraising team.

If you have already got yourself a place then Crimestoppers would love to have you run as an Own Place Runner for Crimestoppers. You will receive the same support as our charity place runners, but you can set your own fundraising targets.

Interested? There's more information on running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Crimestoppers on their website.

Anti-theft bikes - what would you like to see designed next?

2010-03-22T15:56:00.007Z

I really liked the Caped Crimestopper's blog post about the Design Out Crime programme. It's great to see industries other than those traditionally linked to law enforcement working to reduce glass injuries and make nights out safer for all of us.

Other products are also being designed to help reduce crime - did you know you can get anti-theft bikes? Laptops unlocked using the owner's fingerprint are becoming more common as well.

The kind folk at the Design Against Crime Research Centre have written an article for Crimestoppers on how burglars’ habits are changing as well as how design can help to prevent and deter crime. It's a good read and is on the Crimestoppers website - excelente!

What other products would you like to see designed to make them safer?

Claudia Lawrence one year on - reward still available

2010-03-18T10:35:00.008Z

Claudia Lawrence, a chef from York, was last seen a year ago today. Since her disappearance, Claudia's family have campaigned for information on whereabouts. Police are treating the case as one of suspected murder.

To mark one year since Claudia Lawrence's disappearance, North Yorkshire Police have made a video appealing for information on what happened to her.

I'm incredibly lucky that I've never known anyone who has gone missing or come to serious harm. I can only imagine how hard it must be for Claudia's family and friends to deal with the constant wondering and worry that comes with not knowing where someone you love is.

Someone, somewhere must know what happened to Claudia and it's time for that person to come forward.

Reward
Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in her disappearance. Information must be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to qualify. All callers will remain anonymous and calls are not traced or recorded.

If you don't know what happened to Claudia but want to help, send the link of this blog post on to your loved ones and help us spread the word.

Cheers to safer pint glasses

2010-03-17T15:02:00.002Z

Happy St Patrick's Day! I'm not Irish but I still like to celebrate St Patrick's Day as though I am. Every year I try to get to my local Irish pub to have a pint of Guinness and a pie.

In my experience, St Patrick’s Day celebrations can sometimes get a little rowdy. If you’re celebrating St Patrick’s Day tonight, remember to keep an eye on your pint glass. There are about 87,000 violent incidents a year involving glass a year in the UK.

Safer pint glasses
Hopefully within the next few years pub brawls involving glass will be a thing of the past – new glasses that don’t shatter in the same way as normal ones are on the way. The new glasses have been created as part of the Design Out Crime programme, an initiative from the Home Office’s Design and Technology Alliance Against Crime and the Design Council.

Designed to be safer, but also a more popular alternative to plastic, the two new designs are the first major advance in glassware for pubs since the 1960s. They are:

Glass Plus - looks just like a regular pint glass but has a thin transparent coating of bio-resin on the inside. This makes it stronger and if the glass is broken it binds together dangerous shards - drastically reducing the likelihood of injury to customers and staff.
Twin Wall - a revolutionary design, made by bonding two ultra-thin layers of glass together in a concept similar to laminated car windscreens. It makes the pint glass extremely difficult to break, but in the event that it does smash, any dangerous shards would be safely held together by a layer of resin.

I think it’s great that design is being used to help prevent crime. These glasses look great and let’s be honest, anything that helps keep us safer on nights out is definitely a good thing.

If you're interested in designing out crime and the future of the humble pint glass, watch the video from the Home Office.

Cheers to a safer pint this St Patrick's Day.

UK criminals in Amsterdam - can you help track them down?

2010-03-16T16:02:00.003Z

Today Crimestoppers announced the launch of Operation Return. It's a new campaign that aims to track down UK criminals that are thought to be on the run in the Netherlands.

I've been looking through the details of the six most wanted and there's some nasty looking people on the Operation Return list.

There's Rezgar Zengana - he posed as a taxi driver and collected a lady from an office Christmas party in Glasgow. Zengana drove her to a private dwelling and raped her. He was convicted in Glasgow but went on the run before he was sentenced.

What a vile thing to do!!

Brian Bradshaw is another of the most wanted. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to over eight years in jail. He absconded from prison while on temporary licence for a work project.

Both of these men are believed to on the run in the Netherlands.

People who commit crimes like this need to be brought to justice and you can help. Look through the appeals on Crimestoppers Most Wanted website. If you recognise any of the wanted men or have information on them, pass this onto Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or filling out our online information giving form.

None of us what people like these walking our streets so it's important we all work together to track them done.

Sheep: edible, entertaining and a mystery

2010-03-11T16:58:00.005Z

Over the past couple of weeks it seems the UK has gone sheep-crazy. The other night I was flicking through the telly channels when I stumbled across Lambing Live - a show which, according to the BBC website, follows "the life and death drama of lambing".

The only real involvement I've had with lambs before is in the form of a lamb tapas or a lamb roast. I was surprised to see just how much action happens on farms.

Reading the news today it seems that lambs are not only a source of television entertainment and food, but also a source of mystery amongst police.

Mystery sheep

Police in Dumfries and Galloway have said that they are looking for a missing flock of 17 Jacobs sheep. It's not known exactly when the sheep went missing, between 2 February and 5 March is the estimate, but police have revealed that there were no holes in the paddock fence. Hmmm... It seems we have an old-fashioned mystery on our hands.

I'll keep you posted if I hear any updates on this one.

Get a cab with Ricky Hatton

2010-03-10T09:29:00.005Z

A month or so ago I told you all about the Fight crime campaign that boxing legend Ricky Hatton is running with Crimestoppers.

If you’re out in Manchester and spot one of Ricky Hatton's posters or his face on a taxi, take a sneaky photo of it and send it in. I’ll post your shot up on the I spy a crime blog so those from the rest of the world can see what all the fuss is about.

Ricky's face is about to become a lot more common on the streets of the north west – his Fight crime posters are appearing on cabs for the next eight weeks.

Reporting fraud

2010-03-08T15:33:00.008Z

Fraud is second only to drugs in the affect it has on society. It costs each adult in the UK over £600 a year. If you have suffered as a result of fraud you might fall into the one in two that despite being a victim of fraud, didn't report the crime.

I work hard for my money and don't want some crook benefiting from it. By reporting fraud and those involved in crime, you are helping make it harder for fraudsters to strike again.

You hopefully know by now that you can report those committing frauds or scams to Crimestoppers, but do you know what to do if you are unlucky enough to be a victim of fraud? No? Well keep on reading, I'll tell you!

Fraud victims

If you are a victim of fraud you should report this to Action Fraud. Action Fraud is operated by the government's National Fraud Authority. It is a place where people can get more information about frauds and current scams, as well as report crimes they have experienced.

No more excuses, let's reduce the number of fraud cases that go unreported. It's only by working together that we can put these crooks out of business and ensure that all of the pounds you earn, stay where they belong, with you.

Buying a used car

2010-03-05T17:12:00.004Z

I've decided to buy a new car. The Batmobile is great, but it's not really meeting my needs anymore. Not enough boot space, no power steering, only three doors... I imagine myself driving something quick and sporty, that's still functional.

That said, finding a replacement for the Batmobile is proving more difficult than I had hoped... Superhero cars seem to be quite niche and as a crime-fighter, I want to make sure that I'm not accidentally buying a stolen or illegal vehicle.

Whenever I see a car that I'm interested in, I always check with the AA or HPI to make sure it wasn't written off or stolen in a previous life. Did you know that 24% of cars checked by the HPI are still subject to outstanding finance? Even after checking a car's history, I still insist on seeing its service log. It's just too risky to buy a car or bike without seeing it first.

I also want to only buy a car that I've had the chance to see in person first (obviously while exercising the usual cautions about meeting strangers). That way I can check that any security etchings match and haven't been removed.

Have you ever gotten in to trouble while buying a second hand car? Wish me luck, hopefully I'll have a new ride soon.

Man sniffs drugs off police car

2010-03-03T13:11:00.005Z

I blogged a few weeks ago about the problems touching and kissing a police dog can cause. I've got another story for you about what not to do (unless you want to get arrested).

A man in the German city of Nuremberg was caught trying to sniff drugs off the roof of an unmarked police car. The man didn't realise that the car belonged to the police and didn't notice the officers walking towards him. Wow, I wouldn't want to try explaining my way out of that one! A police spokesman, Bert Rauenbusch, described the man as having "horrible luck."

Hopefully the man learnt his lesson and will be keeping his nose clear of drugs in the future!

Alternative policing

2010-02-26T16:09:00.002Z

Sometimes the police need help from the public to know who is responsible for certain crimes. This is where Crimestoppers comes in - by passing information on to the charity anonymously, people can help solve crimes, without having to worry about retaliation from criminals.

In some cases though, police need no help catching crooks - they drop themselves in it instead. For example, in Daytona Beach, Florida some car thieves accidentally rung emergency services while breaking into a car -¡menuda estupidez!- what a stupid thing to do!

While listening to the thieves discussing what items in the car were worth stealing, police were sent to the area where the would-be crooks were promptly arrested.

Policing can't get much more simple than this now can it. Unfortunately, if law enforcement sat around all day waiting for instances like this, then we would have a lot more crooks walking our streets. So what's the solution? Keep the calls to Crimestoppers coming in and we can fight crime together.

What are phishing emails?

2010-02-22T16:49:00.007Z

Although I consider myself to be quite Internet savvy, I still receive emails from time to time that throw me a little. You always hear people warning about phishing emails and saying not to reveal too much about yourself online. But do you know what a phishing email is and how to spot one?

Phishing emails
Phishing emails are emails that pretend to be from a genuine company or organisation and attempt to trick recipients into disclosing their bank account details. Often these emails look very realistic and contain the logo and colour schemes of the company they claim to be from.

As a rule, never tell anyone your bank account details by email.

Some phishing emails will ask you to follow a link and confirm your internet banking login details – never do this. These links might be taking you to a fake website, made to look identical to the site you normally go to for Internet banking. Always type in the regular URL you use to login to your internet banking into the address bar of a new browser window as opposed to following links you receive by email.

Some people that I’ve spoken to who have been victims of phishing scams have said that as well as feeling angry and worried, they felt a little embarrassed to have fallen victim to a scam in the first place. If you think you have been the victim of a scam, don’t be embarrassed – it is not your fault.

Those that run scams are despicable and need to be caught. If you know of anyone involved in criminal activity, including scams, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously through the online form on the charity’s website. If you are worried you might have been a victim of a phishing scam or you want to know more about them, visit the Bank Safe Online website.

Please rob me

2010-02-18T11:12:00.004Z

A new website, Please rob me, is highlighting how much information people are unwittingly sharing via social networking websites. Please rob me shows tweets from Twitter in which users are disclosing that they're out of the house. Tweets on the site are updated in real time, demonstrating that every minute people around the world are revealing too much to potential criminals.

While it may seem like a drastic approach, Please rob me is making a valid point - any information posted online is essentially available for the world to see and use. It seems that some people get so caught up in posting and communicating online that they don't think about the potential consequences of their actions. Think twice before posting anything that could leave you vulnerable to crimes including burglary and identity theft.

You wouldn't hang a sign on your door saying you're in Thailand for two weeks, so why would you post this online?

Next time I’m heading out to fight crime, I’ll be sure not to post it on Facebook until after I’ve safely returned home.

Royal Parks Half Marathon - are you ready?

2010-02-17T12:45:00.001Z

I've never been very good at keeping New Years resolutions. Every January I make big promises - only drinking sangria on weekends, calling my mama more often etc - but they don't often materialise. This year I thought that if I only chose one resolution then I might find it easier to keep it. After much thought I decided ponerse en forma - to get fit.

Since I left my teenage years I've slowly been developing a bit of a spare tire (or a 'tum' as I prefer it to be known, sounds cuter that way). The Caped Crimestopper (who prides himself on his fitness) suggested I do some running.

I've started slowly - running a mile still makes me puff - but I'm hoping to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon at some point. Royal Parks is a half marathon held in October that takes in scenic parks and sites of London. It's half the distance of the marathon, containing it's best bits.

Crimestoppers has charity places available for this year's Royal Parks Half Marathon. If you think running to a target would work for you, why not sign up? You can email the events team (events@crimestoppers-uk.org) to find out more. If a half marathon is too far (or not far enough!) then never fear, you're able to complete pretty much any event on behalf of Crimestoppers as an own place runner.

If you've got any good fitness tips, let me know! I'm up for the challenge - are you?

This is abuse - teen domestic violence isn't ok

2010-02-15T15:26:00.002Z

I was pleased to hear about a new campaign that has been launched to try and wipe out domestic violence amongst teenagers. Being a grandmother to six, I hear my fair share of tales about boyfriends, girlfriends and young love. One thing you never want to hear is that young people are taking each other for granted and not being respectful of one another.

A series of TV ads and a short film have been produced as part of the government's This is abuse campaign. The ads show young people in a variety of settings and explains some aspects of abusive behaviour.

If you're a young person or are close to someone that is, make sure you have a look at the This is abuse YouTube channel. If you suspect that someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you might find information about Crimestoppers' domestic violence campaign helpful.

Take it from me, your younger years are for having fun so make the most of them while you can!

Valentine's Day gift ideas

2010-02-12T13:18:00.002Z

Valentine's Day - it's everywhere. Papers are full of articles about Valentine's Day gift ideas and the ones that aren't contain dating advice for those of us who are single. I'm a pretty creative guy and have had a list of gift ideas ready for this Sunday for quite some time.

I've been waiting for my Wonder Woman to come along and when she does I'm ready with some great presents and a winning grin. Unfortunately though (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), there's no leading lady in my life just yet. I don't want my gift ideas that I've worked so hard on to go to waste so I thought I'd share them with you.

So if you do have a date for this Sunday and you haven't got them a special something yet, don't worry, the Caped Crimestopper is here to prevent you being put in the dog house.

Home baking - Nothing says 'love' (or lust) like a homemade cake. Unless it's done the right way, cake can be a bit corny though. Ladies, take it from a me - most men don't like things covered in hearts. If I had a date this Valentine's Day, I'd be making them a cake that represents 'us' and what the common things we enjoy, like this Batman cake.

An 'experience' - An outing can be a great gift, mainly because you'll also benefit from it. The only risk here is if you give the object of your desire tickets and then instead of taking you along, they take someone else along instead. Ouch. To prevent this happening, why not meet up with your valentine on Sunday and take them with you to somewhere romantic, like the crime museum.

Novelty value - Depending on your partner, a novelty gift could also be a hit. My personal favourite is the classic fluffy handcuffs. They may not scream class but they do show an interest in law enforcement in a way that only a trip to crime museum could otherwise.

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? Let me know if you've got any gift ideas that should be added to my list for next year.

Police sniffer dogs - don't kiss them

2010-02-11T16:46:00.003Z

When I see police sniffer dogs, I sometimes feel an urge to pat them. I never have patted one though; as a superhero I try to work with law enforcement as opposed to annoying them. Bravo for my will power!

One man in Australia didn't display such tact; the man was drinking at the Mean Fiddler pub in Rouse Hill, outer Sydney, when he decided to try to pat and kiss a police dog that accompanied officers into the venue. The man became aggressive after refusing requests from the police to leave the dog, Bodie, alone. Officers eventually subdued the man with capsicum spray and later arrested him.

Now, I was quite surprised that a man could be arrested for kissing a dog.

When interviewed about the incident by a local paper, Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Murray said: "The police dog is considered to be part of the policing contingent and the same security measures are taken as if it was a police officer."

There you go, lesson learnt. I'll definitely stick to eyeing off only my bag and not the hounds when I'm at airport carousels in the future!

Did you know?

2010-02-08T17:43:00.001Z

Telling people I'm a superhero for Crimestoppers tends to prompt a lot of questions. At first people want to know if that's how I keep my body in such great shape. Once I've answered that (and it can take hours of explaining, believe me!) people are keen to know about Crimestoppers and what the charity does.

It's been a bit too cold and miserable lately to be outside much so I've decided to do a bit of DYK (standing for 'did you know') instead of DIY. Below are the three questions that I most commonly get asked by people about Crimestoppers. Read up and get informed. You never know, this information might just win you a pub quiz one day.

1. Is Crimestoppers is the only organisation in the United Kingdom that allows members of the public to anonymously pass on information about crime?
Yes, Crimestoppers is the only organisation in the UK that allows people to anonymous pass on information about crime. You can pass on information to Crimestoppers by calling us on 0800 555 111, filling out our anonymous online form or texting 88551 with information about knife crime.

2. What does it mean when you say the service is anonymous?
Crimestoppers is anonymous because your name and identity isn't known by us or made public. Calls and online forms are not traced and no personal details (not even gender) about those who contact us are taken down. Find out more about Crimestoppers and anonymity.

3. What happens if I call Crimestoppers?
Why not watch the short video below about calling Crimestoppers if you want to know more about how calls are taken?

If you've got any questions about Crimestoppers and the work we do, get in touch.

Don't follow Paris Hilton's example and leave keys under the mat

2010-02-04T09:27:00.006Z

I don't claim to be an expert when it comes to crime prevention advice. I've even made a few rookie errors in my time (like leaving my Christmas shopping in the Caped Crimestopper's car!) That said, I'm proud to say I've never committed the ultimate security no no - leaving keys under the mat.

"What?" I hear you say, "surely no one would be silly enough to leave their house key under the mat?"

Yes, dear readers, it seems some people are that silly. And by 'some people', I am referring to one person in particular - Paris Hilton. Paris was burgled by the Bling Ring Gang, a group that has stolen from numerous celebrity houses in Hollywood.

Former actor Nick Prugo, a member of the Bling Ring Gang who pleaded guilty to his role in the break-ins, has been quoted as saying: "Like, who would leave a door unlocked? Who would leave a lot of money lying around?"

Although Mr Prugo does have a point, people should always keep their doors and windows locked and their keys on them, nobody deserves to be burgled. I'm not really sure what Paris is famous for (I'm not sure if anyone really is) but I'm sure it didn't warrant this.

According to my grand kids, there's lots of young people out there who want to be like Paris Hilton; well here's my tip, dye your hair blonde and dress your pets in costumes if you want to, but never leave your key under your door mat.

Most wanted distraction burglars arrested

2010-02-01T11:09:00.002Z

Granny Robyn told us the other week all about the new distraction burglary campaign Crimestoppers is running. A list of ten Most Wanted distraction burglars was announced and already two of the top ten have been arrested.

A third known distraction burglar (who was not on the top ten list) arrested by police was found to have a copy of The Sun's top ten distraction burglars article in his pocket! Good to see distraction burglars are realising that we won't put up with their vile actions.

While the recent arrests are great news, we still have work to do as eight of the top ten are still at large. Make sure you check out Crimestoppers' Most Wanted website so you can see if you know where any of these door step criminals are.

Man caught trying to break into prison

2010-01-28T13:11:00.001Z

You sometimes hear about people that have escaped or absconded from jail but you rarely hear about people doing the reverse and trying to break into prison. Despite the absurdity of it, that's what a man in Oregon, America, tried to do.

The 28-year-old was seen by prison officials at 4.10am Monday morning scaling the Jackson County Jail fence. When police got the man down, he said he had been drinking and smoking marijuana before climb. He claims he had wanted to get help from the jail and when nobody answered the front door, he thought he would try the back.

The unfortunate man was booked by police for disorderly conduct and trespassing. I hope he got the help he needed elsewhere; as this story proves, entering or exiting a prison through anything other than the official entrance, doesn't seem to go down well.

Hiding drugs in pineapples and puppies

2010-01-26T16:52:00.002Z

Mask of Manuel's rant yesterday about food fights reminded me of a few other stories about the inappropriate use of consumables; namely, creative ways people have been caught trying to smuggle drugs. Now, at the risk of sounding like your granny, I think drugs are dangerous and that is good reason why they’re illegal. But be prepared – the following tales of deception range from the bizarre to the horribly cruel.

Over the past few days it has been revealed that authorities in America caught a truckload of fresh fish coming over the border from Mexico with 708lbs (320kgs) of marijuana stashed under it. Border control could obviously still tell something was fishy with the delivery as they insisted the truck be x-rayed!

Stranger still, a shipment of pineapples from Latin America bound for Holland was found to contain almost 2000lbs (900kgs) of cocaine. Firearms were also in the loot.

It seems like drug smugglers will go to extreme lengths to conceal illegal substances. People, communities and even animals are harmed by the drug trade. Back in 2002 police in America arrested several Colombian nationals who had surgically implanted heroin into purebred puppies. As a dog lover, I can’t understand how anyone could be heartless enough to use them as drug mules.

Luckily, Crimestoppers is always working to tackle drug-related crime. About half of all information the charity receives is about drugs and last year more than £19m of drugs were seized as a result of information passed to Crimestoppers.

So thank you to everyone who passed on information to the charity before; working together is the only way to tackle crime and make our streets safer.

Man jailed for throwing double-decker taco

2010-01-25T12:17:00.006Z

First there was the Asda employee jailed after he allegedly licked a chicken, now a man in the USA has been jailed for throwing a Taco at a Taco Bell manager. What is it with food-related crime? When I was growing up, my padre and momia used to tell me not to waste food as some children weren’t lucky enough to have it. Now it seems that slinging a steak at someone when you’re annoyed is becoming the norm.

The man involved in this incident was going through a drive-thru at a Taco Bell in Fairbanks, Alaska, when he threw the double-decker taco at the food-outlet manager. The 31-year-old claims he chucked the taco because he spotted spit in it after he had already gone twice through the drive-thru because the incorrect order was given to him. Taco Bell denies that there was spit in the taco, instead claiming the man was trying to get free food.

As well as being sentenced to a day in jail, the man has been put on a year’s probation. A condition of it is that he can’t go to Taco Bell.

Now I'm not throwing in judgment here, because who knows what really happened. But perhaps this story will serve as a warning to others – if you like a food enough that you want to keep eating it (and what’s there not to like about tacos), then don’t go throwing it at people. I’m certainly going to be keeping my firm favourites (paella, gazpacho, churros, pizza etc…) close to my chest from now on.

Asda shelf-stacker jailed after allegedly licking a chicken

2010-01-21T16:10:00.000Z

Mask of Manuel's blog post about the suspected burglar who made himself fried chicken after breaking into a house was pretty bizarre, but I think I can top it. An Asda shelf-stacker has been jailed for causing criminal damage to the Asda supermarket in Fulwood, Preston, after a video was posted on YouTube of him allegedly licking a raw chicken. In all my days... Well there's liking chicken and then there's really liking chicken. At least the chicken in question appears to be corn-fed.

Adeel Ayub is seen in the video (watch it below) throwing eggs, using a blade to cut chairs in the Asda staff room and standing on whole chickens in the store's meat cabinet. Ayub's solicitor said in court that the behaviour was meant "as a prank".

Watch the video below and judge for yourself. Personally I suspect Ayub was following Sainsbury's tagline - "Try something new today."

Burglar makes himself at home with fried chicken and a shower

2010-01-20T10:12:00.008Z

Not many things ever manage to come between my dinner and I. Food is one of my main passions (along with fighting crime), possibly due to my Spanish heritage. That said, there are times and places when eating a meal or even helping ones self to a small snack just isn't appropriate.

A burglar from eastern Pennsylvania doesn't seem to share this view - he allegedly broke into a woman's house by throwing a rock through a window pane on her door. According to court records, the intruder then not only rummaged through all of the rooms of the house, but also had a shower, cut his hair and prepared himself a meal before being discovered by the homeowner.

She discovered the man sitting on her sofa watching television. He had some fried chicken cooking in the kitchen and had helped himself to a few cans of beer. The man refused to leave the premises until police attended and charged him with burglary, criminal trespass, theft and criminal mischief.

I hope for his sake the fried chicken was worth it!

Busted! Police find drugs growing in an old school bus

2010-01-19T13:26:00.001Z

On I spy a crime we often highlight examples of criminals doing stupid things, like the Dutchman who reported his Ecstasy collection as stolen. Today I've read a story about some crims who seem a little more creative than your average crook.

Three men in North Carolina have been caught growing marijuana plants in, of all places, an underground school bus. The bus was buried eight feet into the ground, underneath a garden shed. Lenoir County Sheriff's Office says they had been looking for the source of the area's marijuana for years and had previously tried spotting the plants using a helicopter. It was only when a police dog fell through a disguised trap door to the bus that the underground loot of 68 plants was discovered.

Usually cannabis factories are easier to spot than this. These days police regularly use heat sensoring technology to detect them from the air, but they still need to be pointed in the right direction by the public. Watch the video below about the tell-tale signs so you can keep your eyes peeled.

Protect yourself from doorstep deception

2010-01-18T12:01:00.006Z

Crimestoppers has launched a new campaign today targeting distraction burglary (you might also know it as doorstep crime or bogus callers). The typical age of a victim is 81... Oh the cheek of it. The targeting of older people in their own homes is disgusting and so cowardly!

As part of today's campaign launch, a list of the top 10 Most Wanted distraction burglars has been released. Police are looking to locate and speak to all 10 of the Most Wanted about recent distraction burglaries. They come from all around - Derby to Northern Ireland to Avon and Somerset. Check out their photos on the Crimestoppers Most Wanted website, one of them just might live near you.

Distraction burglary involves someone using a trick or a lie to gain access to a house, before stealing cash and belongings. One of the wanted men went to an elderly lady's house in Hampshire claiming to be from a near-by building site checking people's pipes after a water leak. He and two other men stole £600 from the woman, which she had been saving to buy a new headstone for her parent's grave. These men should be ashamed of themselves. What a horrendous thing to do!

As an older lady, I'm always cautious about who I let into my house. It can be challenging to tell who is legitimate and who isn't. My rule is simple but effective: If I don't know them, I don't let them in. Better safe than sorry I say. You can read distraction burglary crime prevention advice on the Crimestoppers website to learn more about protecting yourself at home.

If you have any information about distraction burglary, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Calls are not traced or recorded so no one will ever know you called. You can also pass information to the charity online.

Stay safe and secure

Ricky's got two fights on his hands

2010-01-14T09:52:00.008Z

The Caped Crimestopper does a good job of keeping his pointy ear to the ground - yesterday he was one of the first to break the news the Ricky Hatton is working with Crimestoppers on a campaign - Bravo!

Today, I've got an added snippet of information for you loyal readers - Ricky has also announced he's making a comeback to boxing this year.

Check out the video below, Ricky discusses both fighting crime with Crimestoppers and his upcoming fight in the ring.

Join Ricky Hatton in the fight against crime

2010-01-13T17:01:00.002Z

As a superhero, being fit and quick on my feet is more of a necessity than in other professions. I keep in shape by competing challenge events for Crimestoppers and by helping the less mobile carry their shopping. That said there are a few people I wouldn’t want to face in a fight, even if I was wearing my cape.

One of those is national hero, Ricky Hatton. He’s a lad known for packing a mean punch in the ring and sticking by his local Manchester roots out of it. I’ve got some insider news for you – Ricky Hatton’s got a new fight coming up – one against crime. Crimestoppers is working on a new campaign with Ricky called Fight Crime.

As part of it, Ricky is calling on Greater Manchester residents to help him make communities safer by passing on information about crime to Crimestoppers anonymously.

As Ricky said: "Throughout my career I have received great support from people throughout the North West and now I would like them to support me again as we seek to make our communities safer and better places to bring up our kids. By supporting Crimestoppers we are taking the fight to the criminals.”

Sounds like a good deal to me.

The attack of the bum-sniffing shopper

2010-01-11T17:07:00.003Z

What is it about bizarre crimes in supermarkets thesedays? First comes a salami and parmesan fight in Germany, and now a ‘bum-sniffing’ shopper in our very own Plymouth.

Police have released CCTV footage of a man caught sneaking up on a supermarket employee and apparently sniffing his behind. They are treating the incident as a sexual assault and are appealing for help to track the man down.

I’d say that the moral of the story is that we shouldn’t let our guards down, my dears. Stay alert and you are much less likely to be a victim of an opportunist crime. Personally, I’m a fan of online shopping, perhaps even more so than ever now…

German shoppers hospitalised after cheese and salami fight

2010-01-07T15:18:00.000Z

I must admit that I’ve suffered a flash of supermarket rage in the past. But, true to my nature, I've always dealt with it in a cool, calm and collected manner. All it takes is to swish your cape and walk away when you notice a fellow trolley-pusher getting feisty. Take my advice, fellow crime-fighters - don’t rise to it.

In fact, there are a handful of German shoppers who need to follow that very advice.

A fracas started when a 74-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman fought over a shopping trolley outside a supermarket in Aachen. The winner of the trolley was decided when the woman’s brother punched the man and knocked him over.

Unwilling to give in so easily, however, the 74-year-old followed them into the shop, grabbed a salami and confronted the woman’s brother who had punched him. While attacking the man with the salami, the mother of the man and woman stepped in with a chunk of parmesan. Police eventually intervened and had to send two of them to hospital for injuries incurred during the fight.

Violence helps no-one, crime-fighters. And surely a salami and cheese sandwich is far more appealing than fighting with the ingredients?

The stolen gear of an ecstasy collector

2010-01-05T09:57:00.003Z

I’m a little confused by a Dutchman who reported his collection of ecstasy pills as stolen to the police. On reporting the theft, he was allegedly under no illusions about getting his 2,400 pills, collected over twenty years, back. Instead he claimed that forty of the pills were poisonous and he was worried about what would happen if anyone swallowed them.

I wonder if the good-citizen-act will hold up in court? After he meticulously stored the illegal drugs in coin collecting folders over two decades, all because he liked the colours, shapes and logos printed on them.

It sounds like a ludicrous hobby to me. What’s more, officials across the water in the Netherlands are wondering whether they can even charge the man – since the pills have disappeared, they can’t nab him with a possession charge.

Drug crime is a nasty business – have a look at Crimestoppers’ website if you need information about drugs. And if you want to pass on information about a drug dealer anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out the secure online form on their website.

Drugs are illegal – whether you are a buyer, seller, or in this case, a collector. My advice to this young Dutchman? Stick to stamps.

Funny calls to Crimestoppers: Osama bin Laden does some shopping at Tesco and more

2009-12-23T10:00:00.000Z

I’d call myself a serious kind of guy. It’s fair to say that I rarely crack a smile when I’m suited and booted…or rather cloaking and, even though I say so myself, looking smoking. But when I read the latest funny calls received by Crimestoppers, I couldn’t help but laugh.

For example, our call handlers received a call from a prisoner complaining that his toilet roll had been stolen, and a woman suspicious of her bald neighbour using a hairdryer early in the morning. They also heard from a man who was certain he’d just seen Osama bin Laden leaving his local Tesco, and a caller who wanted to complain that a drug dealer had sold him tree bark instead if skunk.

Despite the hilarity, there is of course a very serious crime-fighting message too. Crime doesn’t take a break for Christmas and some crimes even increase over this period. The charity Crimestoppers is available to take information about crimes year-round, even on Christmas day.

Enjoy the funny stories crime-fighters, but don’t forget that you can be a superhero too. Just contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out the secure online form on the charity’s website to pass on information about crime anonymously.

What has the world come to when binge drinkers are called martyrs?

2009-12-22T14:47:00.005Z

A police chief in China has claimed that one of his officers, who died after a drinking session with him at a banquet, is a martyr because he died in the line of duty.

Lo escandaloso – what a scandal! The police chief made the claim so that the man’s relatives would be eligible for more compensation. They would apparently be entitled to $95,000 if their dead relative was hailed a martyr.

It’s a sad fact that alcohol poisoning in China is not uncommon. What’s more, there have been several instances reported of similar deaths at other government-funded banquets. Nevertheless, I believe that it is entirely wrong for the authorities to call a man a martyr after dying in such circumstances, however sad or awful. Surely that is not only condoning drinking while on duty, but glamorising it as well?

I personally never drink while on duty, nor while riding my horse, Gonzo - and would urge others to follow my example. Apparently, there are 50 times more deaths every year from drinking in the UK than there are from illegal drugs. Drink-driving is also a particular problem at this time of year.

Por favor mi amigos – enjoy your sangria in moderation and take responsibility for your actions. And if you know someone who’s a drink-driver – contact Crimestoppers anonymously before they hurt themselves or someone else.

Feliz Navidad – Merry Christmas my friends and be safe.

It's snow joke

2009-12-22T14:38:00.005Z

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that The Caped Crimestopper cracked a smile when he read the latest funny calls released by Crimestoppers. I think we could even go as far to say that the charity deserves a round of applause for forcing a giggle or two out of him!

Anyway, I’d have to agree with our Caped Crimestopper – those funny calls did make me chuckle. But not as much as the snow-related calls they told me about.

One caller rang to complain about the council not gritting the roads, while someone else rang to see if there was anything the charity could do about an offensive-looking snowman which had a carrot in a very rude place indeed. Not to mention the person who called to complain that Father Christmas himself had been spotted at a shopping centre, stinking of alcohol!

The last one is my favourite, however. A homeowner rang to tell Crimestoppers that his flashing Santa had been stolen and accused his neighbours of trying to sabotage his efforts in the street’s Christmas decoration competition.

Ha ha ha, or ho ho ho as he himself would say. Remember that Crimestoppers is available to take genuine calls about crime all over the Christmas period on 0800 555 111. For those of you who love to do a bit of 'online surfing' like me, the charity also has an online form that you can use to pass on information.