Crimestoppers and Openreach seek information on Sidcup cable theft

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and partner Openreach (a BT Group Business) are appealing for information on a telecommunications network cable theft that took place in Hatherley Road, Sidcup, Kent, at around 11:45 hours on Tuesday 31st January which disrupted services to hundreds of residents and businesses over a wide local area [3 February 2012].

This is the first incident to occur in 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.

Steve Mellers, County Manager for Kent Crimestoppers, appealed for members of the public to come forward with information about the crime to ensure locals were not affected again in the future.

He said: “This is a despicable crime that causes huge inconvenience to local people.

“The local community can play their part in bringing the people responsible for this crime to justice by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our secure online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

“Don’t let these individuals cause us more disruption. We don’t want to know who you are, only who they are.”

BT Security General Manager for Cable Theft, Luke Beeson, was equally concerned.

He 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, so if you have any information 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 the press office on 0208 835 3727.

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 23 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 108,000 arrests and charges. Over £115 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £213 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 1,000 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.