Your child's transition to secondary school
06 September 2012
When the children go back to school in September Police usually see a significant rise in street robbery. For children going up to senior school it is an exciting and sometimes anxious time. To thieves, however, it can be a time of ‘easy pickings’.
At this time of great change for 11 year olds, they are suddenly responsible for themselves during their journey to and from school. They are beguiled by their new found ‘maturity’ and by all of the cool new ‘stuff’ they have.
"Please think carefully before you buy your child expensive items that could attract thieves."
Please think carefully before you buy your child expensive items that could attract the attention of thieves and make sure that your child knows to keep personal possessions secure and not to walk along the street checking emails or updating their social networking status. Where possible please encourage them to walk home in a group and not to ‘advertise’ their valuables to others.
So often we see youngsters crossing the road while typing away on their phone. Not only are they not aware of the traffic, they are also not aware of their surroundings or those who may be looking at their shiny new phone with greedy eyes.
Police have scheduled extra Police patrols on school routes that include Police Officers, Safer Transport Police and our Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Team. School based Police Officers will be making sure that pupils are reminded regularly about the dangers of walking while texting/surfing and of street robbery, but it is vital that this message is also reinforced at home.
Mobile phones can easily be registered at immobilise.com, this makes a record of the phone’s IMEI number and enables Police to check the ownership of handsets when searching suspects. It is very simple to do. Please register any new phones before you give them to your children.
While robbery is not a common crime in Barking and Dagenham, there is a small minority of people who see the property of others as a way to make fast cash. Please help us to ensure that your child’s transition to secondary school is not spoilt by one of these unscrupulous people.
- To a thief an expensive phone looks like easy cash If you value it, please take care of it.