I've been meaning to post this poll for several weeks now, but the events of the last 48 hours have reminded me to get on with it! The events I'm referring to are the armed raid of the B&Q on Queens Road and now the apparent ram-raid and arson attack on the Forum bar on Division Street.

However, even before these latest incidents, I was starting to 'feel' that crime was on the increase in and around the city centre. Within recent months, I've seen Aslan's (West St), Nirmals (West St) and a shop on Division Street all have their windows smashed. I asked the staff at Aslans and they said it was simply some drunken customers who were asked to leave and didn't want to - nothing racial - just pure drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Obviously there is a big difference between an armed raid and a smashed window, but as a resident of Sheffield, they have both contributed to my feeling that the number of crimes being committed in Sheffield is on the increase.

Based on your own experiences, do you feel (and that's all I'm 'measuring' here) that crime has increased over this last year? Please vote on the poll above and depending on the number of people who participate, I will hand on the results (either way) to the police, council and anyone else who might be interested.

Just as an extra note: It would be interesting to know which way you voted and a reason why. Perhaps you voted 'Yes' because, like me, you've seen more shop windows smashed in the last few months than you have in the last few years! Or perhaps you voted 'No' because you live in an area with very little crime or perhaps you feel it's always been like this. Feel free to join in and explain your choice.

I really don't 'feel' that there is any more crime than usual in Sheffield. Windows broken by people who are drunk is nothing new or unusual... I remember that happening in town alot 10 years ago. There haven't been stories in the newspaper every week about being killed, and I personally have seen very little crime this year... which makes a change.

In particular, it 'feels' to me that there is less car crime and burglary than a few years ago. I can remember a time when the majority of the houses on my road were burgled in the space of about two years and it seemed there was a police car parked on the street every couple of weeks, and there were cars stolen from the area all the time... doesn't seem to happen very often now.

I'm glad to hear that the broken windows in town weren't race related... I suppose that we just have a drink problem instead.

i'd like to see a 'don't know' or similar option.

Personally I doubt that any one of us see's enough of 'the big picture' to make a sensible judgement.
Afterall, it could be that we've just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and therefore have either seen more or less incidents this year.

I doubt even a single police officer could give us a good idea as they will probably see crime everyday and they're too immersed in it to give an objective opinion.

So I guess i'm saying that only figures compiled by the local police force (rather than a single officers opinion) would answer the question for definite. And even then I expect you could find trends going both ways depending on what sort of crime you looked at. Overall I doubt it's really changed to a significant amount, but that's just suposition.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I doubt that any one of us see's enough of 'the big picture' to make a sensible judgement.
That is why I said 'feel' - no-one is pretending that this is scientific or massively accurate - I was simply interested in people's perceptions.

:)

fair enough.

my feeling is that i don't can't make any sensible answer to the question because i lack the information to make a reasonable judgement. :P

Not really, last year i was mugged by the tram line behind the station as i was walking back up to Norfolk Park student village, but even around that time i felt that sheffield feels safe. So long as you keep your wits about you, and don't take your safety or your possesions security for granted i think sheffield is the safest big city in britain!

I gave it a 'no'.
Similar to "Snook", compared to previous years, this year has been relatively peaceful with regard to local car damage, car theft and break ins.
Normally we expect an average of one incident (car/garage/shed/house) per year. So far it's a clear run.


<touching every piece of wood within reach!>

I've voted "no". I'm only going on what I personally have seen or what i have heard from friends/family but I don't get the feeling crime has increased, if anything I feel it has decreased.

I voted no but I believe there are more drink related incidents of vandalism like smashing windows, the word crime in the public eye can cover almost everything and the examples Geoff gave are extreme cases that have happend lately. I think crime (muggings, burgalry and car crime) is down and I feel safe around Sheffield but like AndrewC said you do need your wits about you. It can't be expected that Sheffield will ever be crime free or any place crime free from the darkest alleyway to the City centre.

There are rumers flying around about a second armed raid on Queens Rd today?

I voted "no" - if anything it seems to me crime is going down rather than up.

Particularly car crime and burglary as mentioned earlier. Yeah, some drunkards are gonna break stuff and they'll be some scallies out on the rob but if anything I've seen less of this.

Though I have moved to Banner Cross tho which might have summat to do with it......

But then I was up West Street last night ('parrently the coppers call it "Black Eye Friday") and saw nae bother at all, even queuing for a kebab at shuttin time...

MAybe it is the season of goodwill towards all men?

I voted no because I haven't seen any crime recently. I think people who have recently been a victim of crime are bound to recognise an increase. Although lots of people who I know are always asking for it. My mate recently had his car stereo pinched, but he never took the front panel off, and leaves lots of original CDs strewn over his passenger seat. Somebody else I know often is so lazy that he sometimes goes to bed in the summer with his back door wide open and his car keys in full view of a window in the front of his house and the lights on. Another good mate of mine 10 years ago left his expensive motorbike without it's shackle lock on over night and it was stolen from behind the house. Another family I know are always loosing (or getting relieved of) their mobile phones.
People need to take more responsibility for themselves and their belongings, taking they keys to bed with them and leaving no valuables on display.
I have always been aware of the occasional crime, but have never thought that most of the city was particularly crime prone.

Yes, I spoke too soon.
Two cars were done round the corner from me on Thursday night.

Christmas is coming!

I also voted no, I agree with Duffman that there is probably a higher rise in drink related incidents, from those who can not handle it or never know when they've had enough..

I think that certain crimes have gone up ,those that involve the use of firearms and the use of knives seem to be on the increase.
As for burgalry and vehicle crime I think this has gone down slightly,also drink related crime seems to be on the increase.
I dont have the figures to show for this ,it's just my gut feeling on this.

What you need is a policeman/woman with ten years service to reply to your question

Yes! It may be because I have been moving around in different parts of Sheffield but have come across so many shifty characters this year. Definitely feel there's more knife/weapon related crime but still feels like a relatively safe city.

My Mum had her car stolen out of the drive way in Fulwood last night. :mad: She was having a party and someone sneaked in and took the keys from the basket in the kitchen. Anyway she has good insurance with AA and they will pay for a rental car while the police sort all this out. So if you see a brand new silver grey Ford Focus being driven around, call the police! Seriously though if someone has one that didn't have one before or if you see one parked up for a few days in place where it doesn't belong then call the police. Thanks.
She's devastated that her baby has gone. They have had 3 cars in the past that were stolen out of the driveway. All locked and with steering locks and handbrake locks. This was the first time someone was bold enought to come in the house and steal the keys. F***ers.
She's having new keys made for the front and back door today.
:mad: :mad: :mad: and still :mad:

I sympathise. In addition to having my car stolen from my drive about 4 years ago, I've also had two car break ins in the last year (on both occasions, window smashed and stereo stolen). Because of this I lost my no claims bonus and my premium went through the roof. The Autoglass guys who fixed it both times say that they are very busy in Sheffield these days. The Autoglass guy said one woman has had her car (I think a Focus) done four times in the last year. Its probably much harder to steal cars these days because most modern cars are fitted with immobilisers - so we also need to keep our doors locked and our car keys tucked safely away. I would like to see the statistics on car break ins - I suspect they would make depressing reading.

Originally posted by Funke88

She's having new keys made for the front and back door today.
:mad: :mad: :mad: and still :mad:

It would be much wiser to have new locks fitted if the thieves have the keys to the existing ones....don't you think ??

Originally posted by Greybeard
It would be much wiser to have new locks fitted if the thieves have the keys to the existing ones....don't you think ??
That's what I meant. New locks and keys.

Originally posted by LordChaverly
I sympathise. In addition to having my car stolen from my drive about 4 years ago, I've also had two car break ins in the last year (on both occasions, window smashed and stereo stolen). Because of this I lost my no claims bonus and my premium went through the roof. The Autoglass guys who fixed it both times say that they are very busy in Sheffield these days. The Autoglass guy said one woman has had her car (I think a Focus) done four times in the last year. Its probably much harder to steal cars these days because most modern cars are fitted with immobilisers - so we also need to keep our doors locked and our car keys tucked safely away. I would like to see the statistics on car break ins - I suspect they would make depressing reading.

wouldn't removing the face of the stereo and not bothering to claim through the insurance (it's rarely worth it for a stereo + glass) be a sensible route to take?

This is what I would do now. Its easy to be wise after the event. I wouldn't advise anyone to claim for a car break in, unless the cost is huge. As for removing the face, this is what i always did after the first burglary when I parked it anywhere off my drive and also when I left it on my drive when I was out. But they nicked it from my drive very early one morning when I was in the house.

I voted yes, crime is definately on the increase.

The use of drugs in the city is massive. Almost every pub and club in the city has a certain clientelle who use drugs as an aid to a night out, although the law seems to have gone a little slack on drugs it is still a crime and a huge cause of crime.

Violent crimes with weapons seem to have rissen alot recently, alot of which is drug related. Most of the thieves burglars robbers and vandels do so to feed habits that they cant afford to pay for with a giro or wages, so it is innoscent victims who pay for the addicts heroin charlie crack weed or phet, what ever they have a liking for. (generally the weaker people out there who cant defend themselves.

There is also loads of un reported crimes that people just dont bother to report, as the victims first encounters with police does not get any further than a crime number there is no point in reporting crime unless you have proof of who has done it as the police are so busy with more important stuff like sitting in the office drinking tea, or sitting in there nice warm cars.

The main cause of crime is drugs, cut it off at source and the crime stats will only have one way to go.

Then again I suppose it depends on where you live, I imagine there isnt much crime in the money areas, but the poorer you get the worse the crimes.

Police found Mum's car in Pitsmoor. Along with 2 other cars from Fulwood. There has been a spree of robberies in the area and thieves may have been scoping out the area for weeks. So, the car has been damaged and is now with the police and insurance company being assessed for the damage.
So all of the neighbours have been warned keep all doors locked even when you are home and do not keep you handbags or car keys downstairs. The policeman told my mum to always keep valuables upstairs. Never in a basket or on a hook in the kitchen. There has been a lesson learned here - it doesn't matter where you live, crime is everywhere. Just be more aware.

Originally posted by jonsastar
Then again I suppose it depends on where you live, I imagine there isnt much crime in the money areas, but the poorer you get the worse the crimes.

The use of drugs in the city is massive. Almost every pub and club in the city has a certain clientelle who use drugs as an aid to a night out


I would have throught the best place to do a robbery was in the posh areas where there will be more to steal ?

And I don't think most pubs in town have a drug problem, unless you know more about drugs than I do.

Possibly.

I do know people who are well out of control.
And I guess that because I have seen that side of life then it is easier for me to spot.

The richer areas are obviuosly better targets but that is a crime you need to think about ,most of the criminals who are going to break into a house are kids and druggies who because of low brain power are struggling to rob there grandparents never mind robbing a place with a burglar alarm, dogs and someone who is strong enough to fight them off.

On the Shiregreen in my area i think crime has dropped i dont know anyone who has been broken into this year :o touch wood (my head) the year isn't over yet...but i'm sorry if you do live on the Shiregreen and have been broken into in 2004 :mad:

Better than Leeds
Police in West Yorkshire have seized more guns than any other force outside London
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4138091.stm