Scheme means victims feel safer (From Penarth Times)

Scheme means victims feel safer

PENARTH'S vulnerable victims of crime could soon be sleeping better at night. A pilot scheme aimed at stamping out bogus callers who prey on the weaker members of the community has proved a roaring success.

The project which was started by the Vale of Glamorgan Crime Prevention Panel (CPP) just under three months ago has resulted in a drop in this type of crime.

Working on the principle of 'target hardening', officers fitted free security locks, door viewers, chains and window locks to 29 homes around the Vale. This made it more difficult for would-be thieves to gain access to homes.

Results have been so encouraging the CPP are now putting together a business plan for a £300,000 National Lottery grant.

If the bid is successful the project will widen to include more vulnerable people, such as the elderly and disabled.

Only this week, as news of the scheme's success broke, a pensioner was robbed by bogus callers.

The 79-year-old whelchair-bound woman from Skomer Road was tricked by doorstep burglars. While she was distracted by one, the other stole her purse.

PC Mike Todd is the secretary of the Vale of Glamorgan Crime Prevention Panel.

He said: "Anybody can be tricked and the victims could be of any age. The feedback we have had from the pilot scheme was excellent. So far, none of the 29 homes we used in the pilot have been burgled twice and already the occupants are feeling safer in their own home."

He added: "Supt Colin Jones is giving a letter of recommendation to the CPP to include in their application for the grant. The Panel is also looking for support from prominent local individuals like Assembly Members and Members of Parliament."

If the bid goes through, the CPP will work with the Community Partnership Scheme to highlight homes who would benefit from these measures.