'Hot Spots' patrols advise residents on potential thefts

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon Johnston
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Mildenhall police officers have started a program called "Hot Spots" patrols, aimed at notifying and advising members of the local community on how to better protect their belongings.

Hot Spots is not only geared toward protecting British civilians on the dangers of insecure belongings, but American service members and their dependants as well.
Police Community Support Officer David Cowen, Mildenhall Police Station, heads a Hot Spots patrol in the area around RAF Mildenhall.

"We've come out to Red Lodge in order to do Hot Spots patrols because we've had some thefts from motor vehicles," Cowen said. "We looked at about 200 to 300 cars today across Red Lodge. And, of those, there were about 30 we found insecure."

Through the Hot Spots program, Cowen hopes to relay a message of prevention to would-be victims of theft.

"If you've got (satellite navigation devices), GPS, phones, (MP3 players), (money), uniforms, ID, personal documents, anything valuable on show in your car - take it out, because if your car's unlocked, someone will take it," Cowen said.

The patrols also help garner friendships between the Americans stationed here and the local police. By keeping the areas around RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath safe, Mildenhall police can help service members feel more secure.

"It's good to forge links with the base, because obviously crime doesn't affect just British citizens, it affects American citizens as well," Cowen said. "Crime happens off base as well as on base, so it's quite important to work with RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, and that way we can help reduce crime and prevent it from happening in the future."

Regardless of where valuables are stored, it is essential to keep them secure, lest they be stolen or destroyed. With Hot Spots, Mildenhall police are helping deter the number of thefts in the local area, keeping the community secure and safe.