Latest Crime Update 30/04/2025

Dear Residents

Please find below the crime record for the period from 16th April to 30th April.

My main concern this fortnight is that a robbery, attempted robbery and a burglary have taken place as a result of people advertising items for sale on Facebook Marketplace.  It’s not something I use myself so I’m not totally sure what the best thing to do is other than advise people not to use it but similar things can happen no matter where or how you advertise an item for sale.  Perhaps offering to take the item to the potential buyer’s home rather than allowing them to come to yours or meeting them on neutral ground could work.

I’ll be away on a training course next week but when I return on Monday 12/05/25 I’m looking to get some community engagement in.

I hope to attend the community café at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday 14/05/25 and we’ll be holding a Cuppa With A Copper session at Costa Coffee, Westmoreland Road on Friday 16/05/25 from 4pm to 5pm.

Our next drop in surgery will be on Saturday 24/05/25 from 10am to 11am at Shortlands Library.

Also a reminder that our next Ward Panel meeting is on Tuesday 20/05/25 at 7.30pm.  The venue will be the Friend’s Room at St Mary’s Church.

Hope to see some of you at these events.

Thanks as always for your help and support.

Kind Regards

Adam

Adam Charles

PCSO 7572 SN

Shortlands & Park Langley SNT

Shortlands Crime Record 16/04/25-30/04/25

Theft of Motor Vehicle

1. 16/04/25 Late afternoon-17/04/25 early morning.  Ravensbourne Avenue.  Vehicle stolen from on streetoutside house.  Green KIA Niro Estate.

2. 30/04/25 Mid evening-01/05/25 early morning.  Mays Hill Road.  Vehicle stolen from driveway.  Grey Ford Transit.

Robbery

1. 19/04/25 Late evening.  Ridley Road.  Victim was out jogging when two males started to follow him.  They asked him the time then one of them asked if he could look at the victim’s watch.  The victim handed it over and the suspect put in his pocket.  Victim did n’t have his phone and told the suspects but one of the suspects checked his pockets.

2. 23/04/25 Mid evening.  Ravensmead Road.  Victim had arranged to meet buyer for a moped he was selling through Facebook Marketplace.  Buyer attempted to steal moped threatening him with a machete and slashed his hand.

3. 26/04/25 Early afternoon.  Ravensbourne Avenue.  Male selling Rolex watch agreed to meet a buyer who had contacted him through Facebook Marketplace.  Attacked by a group of four youths and threatened with a gun and knife.  Following an area search the suspects were found and arrested.

4. 27/04/25 Early evening.  Beckenham Lane.  Shopworker assaulted when trying to stop suspects escaping with stolen items.

Theft from Motor Vehicle

1. 24/04/25 Early evening-15/04/25 mid morning.  Ravensbourne Avenue.  Blue badge and phone charger stolen from car.

2. 22/04/25 Early morning-late afternoon.  Queensmead Road.  Number plates stolen.

3. 24/04/25 Mid morning-25/04/25 mid morning.  Ravensmead Road.  Passenger side window smashed.  Service book stolen.

4. 27/04/25 Morning.  Beckenham Grove.  Number plates stolen from vehicle.

Burglary

1.​30/04/25.  Mid evening.  Scotts Lane.  Suspect(s) entered unlocked shed in victim’s back garden.  Four bicycles stolen.  One was recovered as they were air tagged which links them to a finding app on iphones.

2.​01/05/25 Mid evening.  Bromley Road.  Ground floor flat broken into through rear window.  Jewellery stolen following untidy search.

Theft

1.​27/04/25 Mid afternoon.   Shortlands Road.  Batteries stolen from BT Openreach box.

2.​30/04/25.  Overnight.  Station Road.  Victim approached by suspect who demanded his phone.  Suspect placed his hand in victim’s pocket and took his phone.