Crime

Four men from Spelthorne and north Runnymede have been given more than ten years in jail collectively for their involvement in a street brawl in Staines last year.

Kevin Kurlej, 22, from Cordelia Road, Stanwell, Samuel Tite, 26, of Oakley Mill House, Thorpe, John Murphy, 23, of the Nightingales, Staines and Nicholas Fitzpatrick, 24, of White Hill Place, Virginia Water were given 30, 40, 40, and 18 months in jail respectively for being involved in a mass brawl when they appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Friday (January 5).

A pay phone was ripped off a wall and a small amount of money taken during a burglary at Burway Rowing Club.

Criminals forced open doors and windows to get in to the Thames Side building between Saturday January 6 and Thursday 4.

Police said the burglars also damaged the interior of the building.

Anyone with information should call the police in 0800 125 2222.

A building which has been burgled six times in under a year was targeted again last week.

Between January Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 a catalytic converter was stolen from an office of Lotus Landscaping, in Kingston Road, Staines.

Since April last year the place has been burgled seven times, where thieves took vehicles and small items.

The police are calling on neighbours to be more aware of anything suspicious and to call them on 0800 125 2222.

Firefighters from Staines were called to two suspicious fires in the space of a few hours on Sunday January 31.

Crews from Staines were called to a car fire in Petersfield Road at 3.15am, about a hour and a half after being called to another suspicious fire in Strode's Crescent.

Allotment holders are being targeted by thefts of equipment in Staines, and the police are calling for incidents to be reported.

Holders at the site in Commercial Road, Staines, have complained of minor thefts of vegetables and garden equipment, and break-ins to sheds, but according to the police, there have only been two incidents reported in the past two months.

Criminals are slashing tyres and damaging cars in the Moormede estate over a believed dispute over parking.

On Friday January 22 three tyres were slashed, which follows on from similar trends during December and January.

It is believed that the criminals may be doing it to obtain money after being called for repairs, but it is also thought that residents of the estate may be damaging the cars over a dislike of Staines shoppers parking in their road.

The police have issued leaflets to residents of the estate, stating that parking on unmarked roads is not a crime.

During late December and early January, a car slash victim, of Grosvenor Road, saw three men in a white van driving down the road twice.

Staines is one of the best places in Surrey concerning people who evade their TV licence
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TV Licensing released information on the number of people found without a licence in 2009, with Staines having 162 people caught.

Guildford had 185, while Woking had 273, but Croydon had a whopping 1334 people caught.

Ian Fannon, spoksperson for TV Licensing, said: "On behalf of the vast majority of people who pay for their TV Licence, we work hard to catch those who attempt to cheat the system. These figures demonstrate that there really is no hiding place for TV Licence evaders, and we continue to be highly effective at catching them.

A crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Staines Town Centre took place on Sunday January 24.

Herald and News reporter Mark Goode joined the police as part of 'Operation Drive Smart' in and around the town, which also saw officers focus on town centre rowdiness and violence.

Shoppers and staff in stores had complained off large groups of travellers meeting in the town every Sunday, wheel spinning in car parks, and blocking entrances to shops, so the police decided to make a presence to deter their behaviour.
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Arsonists torched a dereclict bungalow neighbours say was a den for drug users and homeless people.

The property, in Chertsey Lane, suffered 80% damage during the blaze, which was first reported to emergency services by a member of the public at around 5.50pm.

A 24-year-old woman suffered a fright on Friday January when a man exposed himself to her in WH Smith in Staines.

The incident happened between 1.20pm and 1.35pm in the High Street store when the victim was minding her own business.