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Tandridge Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter |
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Bulletin 17 August 13 th – August 26th 2026
Dear Residents We are noticing an increase in reports of distraction thefts across Tandridge and Reigate & Banstead.
Distraction thefts happen when a suspect or suspects strikes up conversations or causes a diversion to draw attention, causing confusion or distraction to enable them to steal items such as phones, wallets, or jewellery.
The offences reported to us have happened in supermarket carparks, but they can also happen on high streets and in shopping centres, in cafés and restaurants, or on public transport.
Common tactics include asking for help with directions and reading maps, ‘accidentally’ spilling food or drink on you and then offering help while stealing your wallet, and asking for help with a fake emergency.
In the cases reported to us, victims have been putting their shopping in the car, or returning their trolleys, when they were approached by a man who struck up conversation with them, asking questions such as how much the trolleys were, or pointing out scratches on the victim’s car. While the victims were distracted, wallets or mobile phones were stolen from their bags.
To keep yourself and your belongings safe, we recommend: • Always being aware of your surroundings, even in somewhere familiar to you like the supermarket where you do your weekly shop. • Watch out for anyone loitering in the car park or paying close attention to where you’re going. • Keep valuables with you at all times in zipped bags or pockets. • Be polite but cautious of strangers, especially unsolicited approaches for help that you’re not comfortable giving.
If you are targeted, stay calm and move to a safe place, such as inside the shop, and make the staff aware of what has happened. Report it to police and cancel any stolen bank cards, In an emergency, always call 999.
Inspector Rob Staplehurst Tandridge Borough Commander
CRIME REPORTS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
Our Response Team and Safer Neighbourhood Team deal with a variety of incidents. Here are a few they dealt with since the last Bulletin.
There were 36 Arrests in the period August 10th 2026 to August 23rd 2026 : Domestic Abuse / Violent Domestic Abuse 11 , Child at Risk 5 , Prescribed Limit Offence 2 , Alcohol Related 1 , Crime Other 1 , Theft 1, Drunk/Drug In Charge 1 , Arson 2 , Public Order 2, Immigration 4 , Assault on Police 1 , Criminal Damage 1, Sexual Offence 2, Breach of Sexual Risk Order 1, Hate/Diversity 1 .
On August 17th Warlingham a highly intoxicated male was arrested in a park for being drunk and disorderly and subsequently arrested for assaulting police, criminal damage and theft of a Travel Card.
On August 19th in Newchapel a male driver was arrested for driving whilst under the influence, no insurance and not driving in accordance with a Licence. On the same day a male driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a road traffic collision in Caterham On The Hill.
A vehicle was stopped in Caterham on August 21st and the male driver was subsequently arrested after initially refusing to take a breath test (although subsequently failing one in custody), no insurance and no MOT.
On August 24th in Smallfield a quad bike was stopped after being seen leaving a petrol station at speed and without index plates. The male driver was arrested for driving without insurance, no index plates, and possession of cannabis and for failing a drug test.
Following a single vehicle collision on the Caterham By Pass on August 25th the male driver was arrested after refusing to provide a roadside breath test and on suspicion of being unfit to drive through drugs or drink.
If your area is NOT referred to below it is because we have not been informed of the crime or it has not been affected by reported crime in the categories below. Feedback from you will help to achieve the most appropriate circulation of information.
LINGFIELD, DORMANSLAND AND BLINDLEY HEATH
Burglary Business and Community
High Street, Lingfield. Around 02.50 August 25th two males in black clothing were recorded on CCTV using crowbars to gain access to the CO-OP store where they used the crowbars to open tills and steal cash (PR45260103332).
Vehicle Crime
Eastbourne Road, Blindley Heath – Criminal Damage. Overnight August 13th to 14th the crown/logo was stolen from a BMW and some minor scratches made on the bonnet (PR45260098743). Racecourse Road, Dormansland – Keyless Theft. Overnight August 18th to 19th an Audi A3 was stolen from a hotel car park but later recovered in South Croydon (PR45260100783).
NUTFIELD
Burglary Residential including Sheds and Garages Coopers Hill Road, Nutfield. Between 17.50 and 18.00 August 19th CCTV revealed four young males had walked around a house smashing the glass in a door leading onto the terrace and smashing the glass in the door of an outbuilding. No entry was gained (PR45260101335).
OXTED, HURST GREEN AND LIMPSFIELD
Burglary Residential including Sheds and Garages
Brassey Road, Oxted. Around 15.03 August 25th the kitchen window of a house was smashed to gain entry and an untidy search undertaken .It is not known what was stolen (PR45260103627). Park Road, Oxted. Between August 3rd and 24th a house under renovation was broken into and a water tank stolen and significant damage was caused (PR45260103689).
Burglary Business and Community Church Lane, Oxted. Between August 9th and 20th there was an attempt to break in through the back door of the First Church of Christ Scientist and a glass window in the door was smashed (PR4526010753).
Theft Pollards Oak Road, Hurst Green. Between 15.30 and 20.30 August 24th a purple Shimano Jewel bicycle was stolen from the stairwell of a property (PR45260103245).
Vehicle Crime Park Road, Oxted – Attempt Theft. Around 04.00 August 14th a car arrived at the end of a driveway and two suspects walked onto the drive to check a parked vehicle before walking onto another driveway close by (PR45260099316).
Mill Lane, Hurst Green – Criminal Damage. Between 09.20 and 13.40 August 19th the passenger window of a car was smashed (PR45260100992).
High Street, Limpsfield – Theft. Between 14.30 August 22nd and 11.00 August 24th a car was entered and a bag stolen (PR45260102815).
CATERHAM, CHALDON AND WHYTELEAFE Burglary Residential including Sheds and Garages
Church Lane, Chaldon. Between 10.30 and 19.30 August 24th a house was entered after the back door window was smashed and an untidy search took place .It is not believed anything was stolen (PR45260103168).
Criminal Damage Rook Lane, Chaldon. Between 19.00 and 19.50 August 20th serious damage was caused to one of the greens at a golf club believed to be by an e bike doing wheel spins (PR45260101871).
Vehicle Crime Tupwood Lane, Caterham – Theft. Around 19.00 August 12th a Blue Badge was stolen from a car (PR45260098237).
Old Barn Lane, Whyteleafe – Theft. Around 13.42 August 23rd a motorbike was stolen but recovered by the owner and police on Farleigh Common, Warlingham a short time later. The suspects were seen driving off on a moped into the woods but despite an area search were not located (PR45260102614).
WARLINGHAM, TATSFIELD
Burglary Residential including Sheds and Garages Hillbury Crescent, Warlingham. Between August 15th and 23rd a house was entered via a rear sliding door. An untidy search took place but only a watch appeared to have been stolen (PR45260102625).
Spire Place, Warlingham. Around 20.30 August 19th suspects forced open a bathroom window causing damage but fled after being disturbed by the occupants (PR45260101025).
Vehicle Crime
The Parade, Tatsfield. Overnight August 18th to 19th a van was broken into and tools stolen (PR45260100782).
Limpsfield Road, Warlingham – Theft. Overnight August 21st to 22nd a grey Peugeot motorbike FP72AJO was stolen (PR45260102396).
Harrow Gardens, Warlingham. Between 20.00 August 24th and 15.00 August 25th power tools and other specialist equipment was stolen from a van (PR45260103621).
If you have to contact us about a non urgent matter or to provide information on non-urgent suspicious matters or unusual behaviour you have observed which may be useful intelligence for us at a future date please email Tandridge Safer Neighbourhood Team: tandridge@surrey.police.uk
We have a portal for circumstances where no crime has been reported, but the suspicious behaviour could potentially be related to a burglary, theft of a vehicle, or catalytic converter, for example. We have a different unique link we provide to victims and witnesses when a burglary has occurred. To find out more about the portal and submit your footage visit this link: https://surrey.police.uk/suspiciousactivityportal
How to contact us with information when we issue Witness Appeals or Appeals for information
Webchat on the right hand side of the Surrey Police homepage at https:/surrey.police.uk Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ Calling us on 101
Any recipient of Neighbourhood Alert is free to copy our Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter to any other interested party who can also register to receive the bulletin at: https://neighbourhoodalert.co.uk You can read past editions on the Tandridge Neighbourhood Watch website www.tandridgenhw.org if you click on the tab headed Police Tandridge Beat Facebook Page Just a gentle reminder that our Safer Neighbourhood Team mail box, Facebook and X account are not monitored 24/7. To report incidents please call 101 or in an emergency 999. | ||
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