Elderly pedestrian injured following collision at Crosspool shops

Crosspool precinct, October 2014
Crosspool precinct this morning

Police are appealing for witnesses after an elderly pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries following a collision at Crosspool shops.

At around 11am today (Saturday 25 October) a black Toyota Celica was in collision with a 93-year-old woman outside the shops in the precinct on Sandygate Road.

The car was reversing when it collided with the woman.

She was taken to hospital suffering what were first thought to be minor injuries but her condition deteriorated is now described as life threatening.

Officers investigating are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or events leading up the collision.

Contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 406 of 25 October 2014.

Crosspool salon ram-raided in overnight burglary

Crosspool salon Inspiration was ram-raided on Monday night
Crosspool salon Inspiration was ram-raided on Monday night

A 4×4 vehicle ram-raided Crosspool hairdressers Inspiration on Monday night.

The thieves took out one of the large windows and made off with hairdressing equipment including hair straighteners.

Appointments for today were cancelled, although the salon should be open on Wednesday. Anyone with an appointment can call 0114 266 3996 to confirm it.

Bullet points from Special Allotments Open Meeting

Fire at Hagg Lane & District Gardeners' Allotments Society hut
Damage caused by the recent arson at
Hagg Lane & District Gardeners’ Allotments Society hut

Earlier today Crosspool Forum hosted a Special Open Meeting at St Columba’s to discuss recent vandalism to local allotments.

Fifty three allotment tenants from Marsh Lane, Hagg Lane, Rosco Bank and Rivelin attended with a view to discussing how to prevent such problems in the future.

The attendees came up with nine proposals – download the bullet point summary below.

Special Allotments Open Meeting bullet points (PDF, 58KB)

Local shops targeted in mobile phone theft

A mobile phone was stolen from Bamforths greengrocer last month as thieves targeted Crosspool shops.

On Thursday 7 August two men were seen acting suspiciously as they visited the precinct shops and distracted owners. An iPhone was stolen from Bamforths.

Police are investigating and want to speak with two men captured on CCTV. Anyone with information should call them by dialling 101.

cctv620

Arson attack and more break-ins on Crosspool allotments

Fire at  Hagg Lane & District Gardeners' Allotments Society hut
Fire at
Hagg Lane & District Gardeners’ Allotments Society hut

Volunteers have been left devastated following an arson attack on Hagg Lane allotment hut.

The main building was set alight on Thursday 14 August at around 11pm. The fire brigade was called and the fire put out but not before serious damage had been done to both the building and stock.

In addition there were some more break-ins to individual huts.

Hagg Lane & District Gardeners’ Allotments Society would like to say thank you for the over 50 emails of support since the fire and the help they’ve had clearing up.

If you’d like to lend your support then please contact them via their website.

For more information and photos, read their latest posts.

Handbag stolen in Crosspool doorbell scam

A Crosspool resident who had their handbag stolen from their house this week is warning people to be vigilant.

The person living on Tapton Crescent Road was in their garden with the back door open when the front doorbell rang. There was no-one there when they answered the door but on returning to the garden they saw their handbag had been stolen from inside their back door.

This theft follows reports from the local police at last night’s Open Meeting of washing from three different clothes lines being stolen on one day in the recent warm weather.

Calver Fields armed mugging: Crosspool teenagers reminded to be vigilant

Carver fields
Carver fields

Local Neighbourhood Watch representatives are urging Crosspool teenagers to employ streetwise safety after three boys were threatened with guns and mugged near Calver Fields on Thursday 19 June around 11pm.

The teenagers were among the last to leave an end-of-exams gathering in the field near Hagg Lane. While walking up the hill to go home two men stopped them and threatened them with guns. The men escaped with at least one mobile phone.

The boys called the police, who met them at the junction of Hagg Lane and Manchester Road. You may have heard a police helicopter looking for the perpetrators later on Thursday night.

If you have teenagers celebrating the end of term or passing exams then a reminder to be extra vigilant.

Crosspool residents warned to be vigilant

A local resident has been in touch to warn of three men aged 18-20 acting suspiciously in Crosspool on Thursday.

One knocked on one door of an empty-looking house and was surprised when the owner answered. He asked for directions and then set off walking the opposite way. He was later seen with two other youths knocking on other doors on nearby streets.

The police were notified via 101 and agreed this was suspicious behaviour. They suggested that it sounded as if they were canvassing properties with the potential to commit burglary.

A reminder to keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously and report to 101 if you do. Keep your valuables out of sight and to let elderly relatives/neighbours know that they should exercise caution when opening the door to strangers.

Crosspool man jailed for haul of disguised tasers

Matthew Bandoo of Lydgate Hall Crescent
Matthew Bandoo of Lydgate Hall Crescent

A man living on Lydgate Hall Crescent has been jailed after police found more than a hundred tasers and CS gas canisters disguised as mobile phones, torches and lipsticks.

Former doorman Matthew Bandoo was identified by police after a package from China was traced to his home address.

When officers searched his home address in Lydgate Hall Crescent, Crosspool, Sheffield, they recovered the parcel which, according to the customs declaration, contained flashlights.

However, inside the box was actually 52 tasers and 50 CS gas canisters which are both classed as banned weapons. The gas canisters looked like lipsticks and the tasers were disguised as mobile phones and torches.

A further four tasers and one gas canister were found in the house and police also recovered a quantity of Mephadrone – a class B drug known as MKAT.

Bandoo, 29, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday 12 February where he pleaded guilty to possession of disguised firearms, possession of prohibited articles and possession of a class B drug. He was sentenced to five years for the crimes.

Detective Constable Bradley Ward said: “This was an unusual case in which these dangerous weapons had been made to look like everyday objects, concealing the potentially life-changing damage they could do.

“It still remains unclear as to what Bandoo aimed to do with more than 100 tasers and CS gas canisters but a trawl of his computer’s history was found to contain searches for stun guns, hidden stun guns and pepper spray.

“Thankfully the swift actions of colleagues in the UK Border Agency, and local officers, meant the items have been recovered and Bandoo is now rightly facing a lengthy time in jail.”

The disguised devices
The disguised devices

Bogus workman targets Crosspool

An elderly Crosspool woman had her purse stolen by a man posing as a workman on Thursday.

The man arrived at her address at around 11.40am, saying he needed to check the water pressure. He asked the pensioner for a cup of tea, which she went to make for him. When he went to leave, she found her purse had been taken.

The suspect is described as white, tanned, slim and between 6ft and 6ft 2ins tall. He was clean-shaven, had brown eyes and was wearing a jacket described as orange and industrial-looking, as well as a hard hat.

Inspector Alexandra Murthi said: “Distraction burglaries can be very distressing for vulnerable and elderly people, who unfortunately are often the victims of such crimes.

“While not wanting to frighten residents unnecessarily, we feel it is important for the community to be aware of bogus officials operating and some of the tactics that have been employed by bogus callers in the past.”

Members of the public are reminded to:

  • Always keep the front and back doors locked at all times, even when at home
  • Think about whether you are expecting anyone and look through the window before answering the door
  • Always check ID carefully and contact the company to see if that person should be at your house. Some companies use a password system, which the caller should give when they arrive. If in doubt, do not let the person into your house I

Inspector Murthi added: “People should not feel rude for saying no or for not answering the door to someone they do not know.

“We would encourage anyone, if they think they may have been a victim of this type of crime or an attempt has been made, to contact the police on the numbers below.”

There was similar incident earlier on that day in Netherthorpe. Anyone with any information on distraction burglaries should call South Yorkshire Police’s non-emergency number on 101.