POLICE!

[Chubbhead EFM]

Has anyone been down near Sandridge Road today? Something majors obvioulsy happened as the park with the curly slide(as I used to call it!) has been cordened off with police tape. It was there when I went to work this morning at 7am, and when we drove past this evening (at about 5pm) it was still there, plus two police cars and a bunch of officers wearing black (scenes of crime officers, according to my dad!) who looked like they may have been about to do a search of some kind. Also, saw a couple of officers watching the traffic near the Cricketers pub which must be related.There's a wood nearby so I'm thinking something may have happened in there.

 

It's all very scary, particularly as it's near where I live and I've often walked past that park on my way home! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I live almost oppersite the Crickters, better not be watching me <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

[Chubbhead EFM]

Do you live in those flats neardby? The one's almost opposite the church? If so they were kind of around that area, maybe a bit further down. Sorry to scare you!!

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

From the St.Albans Observer site:

 

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a lorry driver, who was transporting £800,000-worth of digital cameras and camcorders from a St Albans depot, was hijacked at gunpoint on Thursday morning, April 1.

 

The 40-year-old driver left the depot in Acrewood Way, in a white 17-ton lorry with Globe Trotter written on the front, just after 7am when the gunman pounced.

 

The driver pulled up at the T-junction at Hatfield Road and Acrewood Way when he was confronted by an armed man who pulled open the passenger door and jumped into the cab.

 

The white man, who wore a green baseball cap and body warmer, threatened the driver and ordered him to drive to the M25.

 

The driver was ordered to continue driving along the M25 clockwise towards junction 26 at Loughton and then forced to park in a lay-by at Loughton Services. At this point he was ordered into the back of the cab.

 

A second robber joined the hijacker and the lorry was driven away. The victim was driven around for the next 45 minutes before the lorry was parked in an unknown location and unloaded.

 

It was then driven around for a further 45 minutes to an hour before the men pulled up and ran off, leaving the vehicle in Honey Pot Lane, Stanmore.

 

The driver raised the alarm shortly after they left.

 

Despite being threatened the driver was not injured in the incident, although he remains severely shocked by what happened. Police detectives have described the hijack as a highly professional crime.

 

The lorry registration number KV51 CTX contained highly specialised Canon products, with some items worth up to £2,300 each. The load was en-route to retailers in Tottenham Court Road, London, when the hijack happened.

 

Detective Sergeant Eddie Edwards said: "This was a well planned crime executed with perfect timing. The driver is understandably shaken by what has happened and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."

 

Police are appealing for anyone who is offered a low cost Canon digital camera or hi-tech camcorder to come forward. They also want to hear from anyone who saw the hijacker standing at the junction of Acrewood Way and Hatfield Road.

 

Anyone with information should call the police on 01707 638231.

 

Calls will be dealt with in strictest confidence. People can also ring Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

I left my flat at 06.05 this morning, hope they ain't looking for me!

 

[Webbo MFI]

I think it might have something to do with this....

 

Police hunt sex attacker

By Alex Lewis

 

 

WOMEN have been warned to be on their guard after a sex attack on Bernard's Heath, St Albans, on Saturday night.

 

The 20-year-old victim was walking home at about midnight after a night out when she was grabbed by a man in dark clothing, pulled across the park near the children's play area and sexually assaulted.

 

The woman, who is not from St Albans but is temporarily staying and working in the city, did not report the attack until 4.20pm on Sunday.

 

Police, who have described the attack as a serious sexual assault but have not said whether it was a rape, have cordoned off a large part of the park to search for clues.

 

Detectives Superintendent Adrian Tapp said: "The woman is understandably very traumatised by the incident and is currently with specially trained officers to try to piece together exactly what happened.

 

"There would have been dozens of people in the area, including drivers along Sandridge Road, and I would appeal to them to come forward as they may have seen something, however insignificant it may seem, which may help us with our enquiries.

 

"While we establish what happened to this woman on Saturday night, I would urge women and girls to take extra care and try not to walk in secluded areas alone."

 

Women have been warned to stay alert, stick to busy and well-lit areas, avoid secluded short-cuts and alleyways, carry mobile phones and stick with friends rather than walking alone.

 

Police have also advised women not to speak to strangers, and not to walk listening to personal stereo headphones as they can make it difficult to hear someone approaching.

 

 

5:02pm Monday 5th April 2004

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I woz in batchwood guv!

 

Isn't that the 2nd in the area in a couple of weeks? Theres a madman on the loose!

[gertcha EFM]

Yeah but you left early and didn't come back to mine with everyone else.........

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I didn't need to go to yours I got lucky on bernard..... Ooops have I said too much <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />