About two months ago my boyfriend was approached by someone at the Snowden playing field. This chap had an Italian accent and asked my BF if he wanted to buy some watches. When BF said he wasn't interested, the "Italian" started to get upset, showed BF a photo of his wife and children and said he had no money to buy petrol to get home. Then the tears came, and my BF, being too soft-hearted, and also knowing the watches weren't going to be worth much, bought some off him, having knocked the price down. He told me it was his good deed for the day, just in case the chap was genuine.

A couple of weeks later another "Italian" approached BF as we was working in another area of Crowland and gave him the same sob story re not being able to buy petrol to get home. BF told him that he had heard it all before.

Then, blow me down, if it didn't happen again recently. BF was cutting a friend's grass when a car pulled up, a chap indicated for him to come to the car and in an Italian accent said "Psst, wanna buy some watches?" BF was furious and shouted at him "And I suppose you can't afford petrol to get home to your family either! Clear off, mate!!"

Be warned.

This is a fairly commonplace approach these days. The list also includes perfumes, kitchen knives, jewellery, paintings, clothes and electrical goods.

My advice would be not to touch it with JuanCornetto's gondola pole. Report it to the police with registration numbers, descriptions etc on the non-emergency number 01522 532222.

thanks for the warning. You like to think you wouldn't fall for a sob story but you never know as you also like to think you would help someone in trouble.

The new non-emergency number to inform the Police is 0300 111 0300

Our local PC and PCSO are pretty much on the ball with crime in Crowland but they need to be told about incidents like these with as much detail about the perpetrators as possible (date, time, place, car colour/make/registration and height, build, hair, accent etc). The Police Station will be opening soon staffed for most of the time by volunteers so there will be an opportunity to call in and pass information on. If suspicious activity is reported then the Police can link it with other information they hold (for instance the items they are selling or the car they are using may be stolen). We don't need people behaving like this in our town.

The new non-emergency number to inform the Police is 0300 111 0300
Thanks Wildwoman. Any number that works is a good number.
The old one still works too!

If we all keep an eye out for each other and are prepared to contact the police when something appears wrong the crime will go away.

We as a community are a powerful tool against crime providing we all act as one.

Just the simple thought in a crimnals mind that he or she is being watched will deter them from their activites.


Lets make the neighbour hood watch a Crowland Town watch.

The Police Station will be opening soon staffed for most of the time by volunteers

I understand this has been put on hold now. Lincs Constabulary are having a rethink.

I understand this has been put on hold now. Lincs Constabulary are having a rethink. Oh that's a shame. What's happened to Dave's big community? I was looking forward to helping out there. I guess I'll have to see if they're short of a "Greater Sooty Owl" at Brownies.

According to PC Nic they had a huge response for volunteers but the whole manning concept is now under review.