Police crack down on fake robbery claims (From Witney Gazette)

Police crack down on fake robbery claims

7:30am Tuesday 2nd January 2007 in Headlines By Matt Wilkinson

POLICE are warning people they will come down hard on anyone reporting fictitious robberies after a rise in recent weeks.

They issued the warning after a woman was fined over one bogus claim and they are investigating two others after wasting hours on fake claims in the run-up to Christmas.

The woman claimed she was robbed of £500-worth of jewellery in November in Cowley, Oxford.

But it turned out she had in fact lost the valuables and decided to tell officers she was mugged so she could get the money back on her insurance. She was given an £80 fine by officers.

A 14-year-old boy is at the centre of a police investigation after alleging he was robbed in Turl Street, Oxford, while another schoolboy is to be quizzed by officers over a claim he was threatened and robbed in Barns Road, Cowley.

It is suspected the boy had stolen the money from his family and said he was robbed after the theft was discovered, said police spokesman Toby Shergold.

It follows the conviction of Victoria East, 23, of Trevor Place, Oxford, at Oxford Crown Court for perverting the course of justice after making a false robbery allegation in August.

East said she was threatened with violence and had items stolen, including her medical prescription.

Police made two arrests before discovering she had made up the crime in an attempt to get another prescription.

The crown court sentenced her to 100 hours community service and an 18-month supervision order.

Anyone found guilty of making a false claim and wasting police time faces an £80 on-the-spot fine or even jail.

Dick Evans, a case investigator with the Oxford police's robbery team, said: "The number of false robbery allegations is very concerning and appear to be on the increase, especially around the festive period when money can be short.

"Robbery is a serious offence and one that police spend a great deal of time investigating. We will deal robustly with those who make false allegations."

Mr Evans added: "The last thing we want to do is discourage genuine victims of crime contacting the police.

"But we want to warn those people who might consider making a false crime report that all such incidents are thoroughly investigated and anyone discovered to be attempting to mislead the police will face a fine, a criminal conviction or even imprisonment."

Anyone with information that could assist police inquiries can contact Mr Evans at Oxford police station on 08458 505505 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.