31 December 2004

Witness Appeal for RTC at Westerham Hill

West Kent police are appealing for witnesses in connection with a road traffic collision that took place between two vehicles on the A233 at Westerham Hill just after 9 pm on Tuesday 29 December 2004.

A silver Vauxhall Corsa and a red Ford Ka were in collision. There were four people in the Corsa, two of whom, both men, suffered various injuries. One of them was trapped and had to be cut free by Kent Fire and Rescue Service. They were both taken to Farnborough hospital by ambulance for their injuries to be examined. One was released the same evening and the other the following day.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who may have information about it, is asked to contact PC Stewart Ballard at the Edenbridge and Westerham Police Office in the High Street, Edenbridge or you can ring him on 01732 370645.

All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

30 th December 2004

Armed robbery – Westerham

Detectives in West Kent are investigating an armed robbery on a security van outside a building society in Westerham last night.

Two masked men, one armed with a firearm, threatened Securicor staff who were delivering cash for an ATM machine at the Nationwide Building Society in Market Square.

The robbery happened at around 6.40pm yesterday (Wednesday 29 th December 2004).

The robbers, who both wore balaclavas and dark clothing, ran off with four security boxes containing an unspecified amount of money.

No shots were fired during the robbery. One security guard received a minor injury when he was pushed.

Police have recovered a white Ford Transit van believed to have been used by the two men just before the robbery. The van is a current short wheelbase model and was not sign written in any way. It was found parked in a bay outside the building society branch and is now being forensically examined.

Det Sgt Jerry Prodger, who is leading the investigation, said: “We would like to hear from anyone who saw the robbery take place or who saw anyone acting suspiciously before the robbery happened. We’re also particularly keen for anyone who may have any information regarding the plain white Transit van that was parked outside the building society.

“After the robbery, we believe both men ran down a nearby alleyway leading towards London Road. We’d like to hear from anyone who may have seen two men in dark clothing in the area around the time of the robbery.”

Anyone with information is asked to call West Kent CID on 01732 370732.

Alternatively people can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Calls to Crimestoppers are free. You do not have to give your name and you may be eligible for a cash reward.

23 December 2004

Don’t risk it in West Kent

If you needed to be reminded that drinking and driving is not a good idea then West Kent is the place to visit.

Since the start of this year’s national drink drive campaign until the start of this week a total of 644 drivers have been stopped and breath tested.

Only just over 2% (17) of this total have been charged for being over the limit,

Insp Rob Chitham, West Kent Police said: “Although many would argue this is still 2% too many people drinking and driving it is reassuring to know that the majority of drivers in West Kent are responsible.”

Stolen property recovered

An anonymous telephone call made to Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) during the afternoon of Tuesday 21 December has led to the recovery of gold and silver Black Sabbath discs stolen from premises in Edenbridge belonging to record producer and manager Mr Patrick Meehan.

The caller gave a precise location for the discs which were left in plastic bags behind recycling bins in near Longmead Stadium in Tonbridge. Police went to the area and recovered 7 gold and 1 silver discs; these together with the 2 already recovered means there are no discs still missing although other property taken during the burglary remains outstanding.

Mr Meehan has been advised that the property has been recovered and was very pleased to hear the news.

Appeal for information - Edenbridge

West Kent Police are appealing for information following the theft of a blue transit van from the driveway of a house at High Street, Edenbridge on Tuesday 14 December between 11.00 – 11.30am.

The owners of the vehicle were working at the house and had left the keys to the van in the insecure porch of the premises.

Appeal for information in finding gold discs

Police in West Kent are appealing for help in tracing property stolen in a burglary of an outbuilding at premises belonging to Mr Patrick Mehan, record producer and Ozzy Osbourne’s manager, at Troy Lane, Edenbridge. The burglary took place some time between 20 November – 4 December.

A storage building was entered and a number of items taken including a 12 string Fender guitar and gold and silver Black Sabbath discs including Master of Reality, Paranoid and Volume 4.

A gold and silver disc from the ones stolen were advertised for sale on e-bay at the beginning of December. They have since been recovered from an address in Welling, Kent. The discs had been bought in good faith from a boot fair in Essex.

Police are appealing for anyone one may have come across these items or seen them for sale recently to contact them.

Appeal for information – Edenbridge

West Kent Police are appealing for information about criminal damage to a window at Martin’s Newsagents, High Street, Edenbridge that occurred on Sunday 28 November at about 6.20pm.

It appears that a bottle was thrown at the window causing the damage.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact West Kent Police on 01732 370732 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Callers to Crimestoppers do not have to leave their name.

Road traffic incident – Westerham

Police received a call at 5.35pm Monday 29 November concerning a road traffic incident at Westerham Hill.

A Ford Fiesta and a Ford Focus were in collision resulting in the woman driver of one of the cars being taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital with shock and minor seatbelt injuries.

Road traffic incident – Edenbridge

Police received a call at 4.00pm Sunday 28 November concerning a road traffic incident at Four Elms Road, Edenbridge.

A silver Rover 618 and a blue Rover 214 were in collision resulting in the driver of one of the cars being trapped in the car and having to be released by Kent Fire and Rescue. The woman driver of the blue Rover was taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital with a suspected broken hip the male passenger in the car suffered minor cuts and bruises. The occupants of the silver car suffered minor injuries.

Both cars needed to be recovered from the scene.