Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and partner Openreach (a BT Group Business) are appealing for information on a telecommunications network cable cut that took place in Sidcup, which disrupted services to hundreds of residents and businesses. [14 November 2012]

The incident took place on Hatherley Road at around 12.30pm on Monday 12 November, with this being the second incident to occur this year involving telecommunications cable within the Sidcup area.

Crimestoppers and Openreach began working together in February 2011 and since then have been encouraging more people to help stop malicious damage being caused to this vital national infrastructure.

A Crimestoppers spokesperson said: “This is the second incident to affect the people of Sidcup and residents have a right to be angry about this as it is highly disruptive to their services.

“Those committing this crime clearly have no idea how dangerous this is to them and how frustrating it is for local people, so we are urging anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers anonymously as soon as you can.”

BT Security General Manager for Cable Theft, Simon Davies said: “The actions of cable thieves are completely indiscriminate and can often adversely affect the most vulnerable people in communities and disrupt life for others in so many ways.  With this latest attack happening in the middle of the day I’m hoping it won’t have gone unnoticed, so if you saw anything, or have heard anything, about this incident, then please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill in one of their secure online forms which can be found by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”

ENDS

For more information on Crimestoppers contact Media Officer Kieran Theivam on 0208 835 3727 or email kieran.theivam@crimestoppers-uk.org.

Notes to editors

• Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org

• Around 22 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.

• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 117,000 arrests and charges. Over £124 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £271 million worth of drugs has been seized.

• In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 1,700 arrests to date.

• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.