Burglary Prevention Advice - MetEngage Northumberland Heath

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding burglary, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

As we begin to enjoy lovely warm weather, your local Safer Neighbourhood Team would like to remind you of key steps you can take to prevent the risk of being burgled. As the weather gets warmer, we can be tempted to leave windows open all day/night. Remember to lock them when you're not home and overnight, while also remembering to move valuables that may be on display during the day time when your windows are open. As we spend more time in the garden, please make sure you are locking your side gates/fences/back doors overnight.

While we will continue to pursue burglars in the area, there are steps you can do to help keep your property safe. Make sure that you:  

• Double lock your door every time you leave the house  

• If you can, move garden furniture or bins away from windows so that thieves cannot use them to gain access.  

• Use laminated glass or security film on ground floor and accessible windows.  

• Use a sash stop if you have sash windows to prevent people opening them enough to climb through.  

• If your windows open outwards, use a key operated lock – check these are locked before leaving the house.  

• Make sure all valuables are out of sight. 

• Keep handbags and keys away from letterboxes or cat flaps.  

• In the evening shut the curtains and leave lights on.  

• Set your burglar alarm 

• Lock your  shed or garage 

• Mark, register or record your valuables. 

Please go to our website to find the latest advice and guidance on keeping yourself safe.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.  

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved and contribute to the local priority survey, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

Please click here to complete the survey

 

We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years.

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/417617/Burglary-Prevention-Advice

Theft of Vehicle - MetEngage Barnehurst

This is to let you know that there has been theft of a Kia Sportage on Barnehurst this week.

 

We know the personal and financial impact of having a car or bike stolen, which is why we will pursue and arrest those who break the law. We will continue to provide you updates on how we are tackling this issue in your local area, but in the meantime, please consider taking the following steps to keep your vehicle safe:  

 

Check that your vehicle is locked and secure every time you leave it. Thieves often look for easy opportunities to steal from vehicles. They will usually try the handles until they get lucky and find one that has been left unlocked.  

Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home and away from your front door.  

If you have a keyless entry vehicle, keep the key well away from the vehicle while at home and turn off wireless signals on your fob when its not being used. Consider putting the keys in a screened or signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check that it is still working every few months.  

Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you don’t have access to one, try to park in a well –lit open space.  

Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme.  

Secure your number plates with tamper resistant screws to avoid them being stolen and used by others. 

 

Full advice and guidance on this, and other crime types is available on the Metropolitan Police website.

 

We hope the information above is useful and addresses to some degree the concerns that you have raised. If you have experienced this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. 

 

 We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years.

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/417834/Theft-of-Vehicle

Warehouse fire - Belvedere 🔥

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a fire at a warehouse on St Thomas Road in Belvedere.

Part of a mezzanine floor is alight.

The Brigade's Control Officers took the first call to the fire at 1417 and mobilised crews from Erith, Plumstead, East Greenwich, Greenwich, Sidcup and surrounding fire stations to the scene. 

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

Source: LFB (20 Mar 2026)

Save on Petrol, Diesel, and EV Charging: Find the Best Prices Near You

With fuel prices on the rise across the UK, it pays to check the local rates before you head to the forecourt. Even a few pence difference per litre can add up to a significant saving on a full tank.

To make sure you aren’t overpaying, you can use the Fuel Finder website to compare live prices in your immediate area. It is a quick and simple way to see which supermarket or independent station is offering the best deal today.

A One-Stop Search for Every Driver

Whether you drive a traditional combustion engine or have made the switch to electric, Fuel Finder has you covered. The platform allows you to search for:

• Petrol & Diesel: Compare standard E10 petrol, B7 diesel, and premium high-performance fuels.

• EV Charging Sites: Locate charging points across the UK, including rapid and fast chargers, to plan your stops efficiently.

Reliable, Real-Time Data

You can search with confidence knowing the fuel information is based on the official UK Government Fuel Finder scheme. Since February 2026, UK fuel retailers have been legally required to report their price changes to a central government database within 30 minutes of any update.

While the government provides this data feed, they do not run their own consumer app. Instead, they make it available to independent sites like fuel-finder.uk to ensure drivers have easy access to official accuracy and national coverage from thousands of stations and charging points nationwide.

You can find more information about the underlying data and the mandatory reporting scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-finder

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Find the cheapest fuel or nearest charging point in your area now at fuel-finder.uk.

Further information:

• https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/fuel-news/government-launches-fuel-finder/
• https://fuelfinderuk.live/
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fuelprices.live&pcampaignid=web_share 

New AI Voice Cloning Scams: What to Look Out For

National Trading Standards has issued a warning regarding a sophisticated new wave of fraud involving AI voice cloning. Criminals are now using advanced technology to mimic victims' voices to bypass security checks and set up unauthorised direct debits.

How the scam works:

1. The 'Lifestyle Survey': It often begins with a seemingly harmless phone call asking for your opinions or personal details.

2. Data Harvesting: These calls are designed to capture your personal information and, crucially, recordings of your voice.

3. The Clone: Scammers use AI to create a digital replica of your voice. This "clone" is then used to simulate your consent during calls with banks or utility companies to authorise payments.

How to stay safe:

• Be wary of unexpected calls: Even if a survey seems innocent, be cautious about sharing any personal or financial details.

• Monitor your bank statements: Regularly check for any direct debits or payments you don’t recognise.

• Talk to your circles: Ensure friends and family—particularly those who may be more vulnerable—are aware of these new tactics.

If you suspect you have been targeted, report it to Action Fraud or contact your bank immediately. For more information on staying safe from scams, visit the Friends Against Scams website.

Now Live: The Friends Against Scams App

Available for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store, the Friends Against Scams App puts scam prevention tools in the palm of your hand.

Complete the Friends Against Scams interactive training to ensure that you are scam aware, check suspicious websites or if you've received a scam using the built in Scams Checker tool from Ask Silver.

Scan the QR code to download, search 'Friends Against Scams' on your respective app store, or click these links here:

App Store  or  Google Play

You can help spread the word by using our social media assets for the launch, downloadable here.

Source: https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/

How to stay safe against identity theft

Fraud cases surged to unprecedented highs in 2025, with artificial intelligence (AI) making it quicker and easier than ever for criminals to steal our cash and personal data.

More than half of cases were identity fraud, in which an innocent person's personal details are used to obtain services such as a bank account, mobile phone contract, credit or insurance. Find out about the latest fraud threats and what you can do to stay safe in 2026

Source: Which? (17 Mar 2026)