Pilning & Severn Beach Crime Intelligence

There has been an increase in Rural Crime activities in Alveston, Oldbury and Littleton-upon-Severn.  The local policing team are working closely with the Rural Crime team.  They are gathering intel regarding these issues and encourage the public to report anything immediately.

Rural crime is an issue for large areas of the country but it tends to go unreported. It can impact on insurance premiums, food prices and damage local communities.

We continue to see periods where burglary activity increases, and we are encouraging all residents to take practical steps to help protect their homes and valuables throughout the year.

Protecting Your Property

• Avoid keeping valuables in obvious locations such as the main bedroom, bedside drawers, or anywhere visible from the road. Consider using less predictable storage areas within your home.
• If you use a safe, ensure it is securely fixed so it cannot be lifted out or removed. A properly installed safe should be bolted to a solid surface.
• Keep doors, windows and gates locked even when you are at home, working in the garden, or popping out briefly.
• Use timers for lights and electronics to make your home look occupied when you’re away, especially during evenings or longer trips.
• Ensure sheds, garages and outbuildings are locked and consider adding security lighting or alarms to these areas.
• Keep tools and ladders secured so they cannot be used to gain entry.
• Register valuable items such as electronics, bikes and jewellery on property databases like Immobilise to assist in recovery if stolen.
• Install and maintain good-quality home security measures, including CCTV, motion‑activated lighting, doorbell cameras and intruder alarms where possible.

Be Aware of What You Share

• Avoid posting details of holidays or long periods away on social media.
• Review privacy settings so your posts are not publicly visible.

Look Out for Your Community

• Get to know your neighbours and consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
• Look out for each other’s homes, especially if someone is away for extended periods.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

We are urging residents to remain vigilant and not be taken in by rogue traders who often target vulnerable or elderly people. These individuals may pressure you into having work done on your property and may fail to offer the legally required 14‑day cooling‑off period. If you feel pressured, concerned, or unsure, please contact South Gloucestershire Trading Standards for advice and support.

Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team is working closely with South Gloucestershire Trading Standards to prevent and detect this type of criminal activity. Recent incidents in Thornbury and the surrounding areas have seen residents paying large amounts of money for poor‑quality work—or, in some cases, no work at all. Please remain cautious of unsolicited callers, and if something does not feel right, trust your instincts. Report suspicious activity to 101, or 999 in an emergency if a crime is in progress or you feel threatened.

Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team has recently joined forces with the Environmental Enforcement Team at South Gloucestershire Council to target vehicles transporting waste illegally. These joint operations have already taken place, with further dates planned throughout the year.

Fly‑tipping continues to cause significant harm to our rural areas, including recent incidents at Redham Lane, Pilning and Hollywood Lane, Easter Compton. We are asking residents to help us prevent this type of offending.

How You Can Help

• Always check that anyone removing waste from your property is a registered waste carrier. You can verify this on the government register: Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers (data.gov.uk).
• Do not hand over waste to unlicensed individuals, even if the offer seems cheap. You are legally responsible for ensuring your waste is disposed of correctly.
• Report suspicious behaviour, especially vehicles dumping rubbish or acting unusually in rural areas.

• Police on 101 (or 999 if the incident is happening and there is immediate danger)
• South Gloucestershire Council to report fly‑tipping and provide vehicle details wherever possible

Your Voice community meeting, previously known as Safer and Stronger Community Groups, in South Gloucestershire, are about listening and responding to local people’s real issues. People in their communities know best what works for them and what their real needs are.

The aims are:

• to promote pride in the local area as a safe, thriving and pleasant place to live, work and play
• to reduce crime, disorder and drug and alcohol misuse in the area
• to empower local people to have a greater voice and influence over local decision making and service delivery by increasing the strength, capacity and engagement of the local community
• to improve the quality of life of people in the local area by identifying community aspirations, needs and local priorities.

For future dates please contact South Gloucester Council