Over the last 7 days crimes reported to us include:

• At approximately 1030pm Tuesday 24th July ‘Alley cuts’ Hair salon in the area of the Tanyard, South Street had a large pane of glass smashed at the premises. Several individuals were seen running from the location.

• Overnight Thursday 26th July a garden gate was forced open and access was gained at a premise near Sea Road South, garden equipment was then stolen.

• During the afternoon of Thursday 26th July a purse was stolen from behind the desk of Malabar Trading, South Street.

• Damage occurred to the bodywork of a parked Vauxhall Astra during the evening of Friday 27th July.

• Overnight Friday 27th July West 1 public house was broken into. Valuables were stolen from within the premises.

• At approximately 1am Sunday 29th July an unattended handbag was stolen from the DJ station at the Royal Oak public house.

• Over the weekend of Friday 27th numerous panes of glass were smashed at Nicholson Engineering, St Swithins Road.

• Milk, juices and other early morning doorstep deliveries have been reported stolen on Tuesday 31st July from the area of Meadowlands.

Other crimes have been reported across the area. However, in order to maintain sensitivity to the victims and not prejudice ongoing investigations, these will not be included.

Advertisement scams

Recently Trading standards and Police have received complaints regarding small companies that have received bills for advertisements being placed into various publications. I would ask that any correspondence or information be passed to Trading standards in the first instance. Many of these demands are believed to be bogus and maybe nothing but an elaborate scam to obtain money.

Air weapons and BB guns

There have been several incidents reported recently involving the suspected use of an air weapon or similar to cause damage to property in the West Bay area. My concerns are that if you are prepared to use a weapon similar to commit crime you have to be aware of the possible danger you and anyone associated with may face.

Air weapons like all weapons have very age specific conditions to protect the public at large and to ensure the control and responsible use by individuals wishing to lawfully possess them.

It is an offence to be 17 or under and to be anywhere in possession of an air weapon or ammunition if you are unaccompanied by a responsible adult over 21yrs old.

If you fire an air weapon from the confines of a premises and this goes beyond the boundary and offence is committed by the person firing the air weapon and the supervising person.

BB guns and other air weapons can and maybe mistaken as genuine real weapons, if they are seen used  .Any calls received by us regarding suspected activity of this type will be taken very seriously.

Air weapons and BB guns if used irresponsibly can cause serious injury and damage to property. You potentially could be arrested for any of these or offences or possession of an imitation firearm.

If you are the owner of an air weapon you have a duty to ensure that it is controlled and does not get misused.

Over the last 7 days 13 arrests were made:

3 x Public disorder
1 x Criminal damage
3 x Warrant for failing to appear in court
1 x Theft
2 x Assault actual bodily harm
1 x Robbery
2 x Possession of controlled drugs

If you have any information regarding the above offences or any other crimes, then please come forward and help us with our enquiries:  it may be your evidence, which successfully secures a conviction.  Instead of accepting that crime is part of the Bridport society, let’s give the courts the facts and allow them to decide.

Contact the police station direct, or speak to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 – all calls will be treated in confidence

PC 2232 Scott McGregor
Community Beat Officer