This week in Stoke and Wyken.

Dear Residents and Local Businesses, here is your weekly update from your local neighbourhood Policing Team, Stoke and Wyken.  

What we have been doing …

Officers have remained proactive in tackling crime and supporting the community. During recent patrols, officers have arrested multiple individuals for shoplifting offences, helping to reduce retail crime in the area. In a separate incident, officers also arrested a suspect for attempted vehicle theft; the individual was later convicted and sentenced by the courts. Alongside enforcement activity, officers have continued to support local policing operations, including deployments during football match days to ensure public safety and maintain order. The team has also been actively engaging with the community by attending local meetings, listening to residents’ concerns, and maintaining a visible presence through regular patrols across the neighbourhood.

Officers have continued to carry out regular high-visibility patrols across the area, engaging with members of the public and providing reassurance within the community. As part of this work, officers have also attended local women’s group meetings to provide crime prevention advice, including personal safety guidance, ways to report concerns, and tips on how to stay safe when out and about. These sessions have been well received and help strengthen the relationship between local policing teams and community groups. 👮‍♀️🚶‍♂️

Officers have also been working closely with the community to help raise awareness around keeping valuable items safe, particularly gold jewellery which is often targeted during burglaries. Advice has been shared with residents on how to safely store and protect Asian gold, including the use of secure safes, keeping items out of sight, and ensuring homes have appropriate security measures such as locks, alarms, and lighting. Officers continue to encourage residents to report suspicious behaviour and to mark or photograph valuable items where possible to assist in recovery if they are ever stolen. 🔐🏠

Nature watch

For this week’s Nature Watch, officers received an interesting report from a member of the public who advised that they had spotted a small group of what appeared to be parakeets in the area around Wyken Slough. This information was kindly shared with us by one of our readers while officers were on patrol in Caludon Castle Park. Parakeets have been increasingly sighted in various parts of the UK, so it was great to hear about a possible local sighting. If anyone else has spotted these colourful birds in the area, we would love to hear from you. 🦜🌿👀

Although the team will continue their strategic patrols aimed to prevent and disrupt, there are some things you can also do to deter potential burglars;

- Close and lock all doors and windows when leaving your property and overnight.

- Secure all outbuildings.

- Property, door and window alarms are an effective deterrent.

- Physical security measures like extra locks, chain locks, sash locks etc.

- Cameras and CCTV. These are not just a deterrent, they also provide us with a line of enquiry in identifying offenders should something happen to your property.

- Do not leave valuables in sight when leaving the property and overnight. Close curtains and blinds as opportunistic thieves and burglars may choose to take advantage.

If you see any suspicious behaviour, please report to us via 101, Live Chat, or if an emergency 999.

In regards to off-road bikes, West Midlands Police maintains a stringent policy against the illegal and antisocial use of off-road bikes, prioritising community safety and addressing public concerns. 

We are regularly organising Targeted Operations and Initiatives, focussing on areas with high reports of illegal off-road bike activity, employing tactics such as surveillance, warrants, and community collaboration. 

Please continue to report this in as much detail as possible; Location, time, description of the bike(s), description of the rider(s), routes they use to and from the location, any names and addresses if known etc. Photos and videos are ideal (if possible to obtain without putting yourself in danger). 

This information is key to us as a Neighbourhood Team in building a bigger picture of the problem and tackling these issues through robust enforcement, community engagement, and strategic operations.

Live Chat | West Midlands Police (west-midlands.police.uk)  

Please be aware that this inbox is NOT monitored 24 hours a day and is purely for non-emergencies. In an emergency please call 999. To report a crime in a non-emergency situation please call 101 or visit Report a crime | West Midlands Police to do this online.     

📞 How to Contact Us or Report Information 📞  

Non-Emergency: 101  

Emergency: 999 / 112 (if crime in progress or immediate danger)  

Report Online: West Midlands Police  

Anonymous Reporting: Crimestoppers 

Kind Regards,   

The Stoke & Wyken Neighbourhood Policing Team