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Please read… Merseyside Police and
Debenhams.
The Editor’s warning to all…
MOST people who know my background, consider that I know a fair bit about keeping things safe, but this experience can happen at any time and to anyone. Some time on Friday 29 March /Saturday 30 March 2003, my wallet was stolen somewhere in Merseyside. It must have been done with the skill of a magician! My bank phoned me on Saturday afternoon, inquiring if I had my credit cards on me. I looked and to my horror I found out they were not in my pocket. Thanks to the vigilance of a Southport Debenhams till operator and their security staff, a suspect was spotted, using my cards, They subsequently managed to alert the police. The police reacted swiftly and within an hour of the suspects leaving the shop, they were apprehended red handed with my wallet and credit cards. Thankfully, I never have cash in it and the bank was quickly alerted to the misuse. The police then stopped all my store cards, shop cards and credit cards. They also rang the bank and got them to contact me. All the time this was happening I was not aware of the situation. The Police tried to phone me themselves via the phone numbers on my wallet, in the end succeeding via the bank. I went in to Southport Police station and the officers who had the suspect in custody at the time waited till I had arrived, well past their knocking off time, to see I was ok. I would like to take this opportunity to say a very, very big thank you to all of the people involved. Well done to the police officers involved for their dedication to the job and their support and efforts in trying to locate me. Unfortunately not all the shops in Southport were as vigilant as Debenhams, so I have to make special note to thank them for spotting my stolen cards.
May I pass on some useful advice,
1. Keep all your credit cards separate to your cash.
2. Keep all cash and credit cards in inside pockets, preferably closed.
3. Make a note of your card numbers and keep them in a safe and secure place at home.
4. Never give your pin number out.
5. Never ever keep your pin number on you.
6. Choose one you can remember and not a pin like 1234 or 2323 etc. That can be easily worked out.
7. Put your name and contact information on your wallet but not address. If you are in a card protection group, your card protection telephone number and your reference number. That way the police can track you down quicker.
8. If you ever suspect your credit or debit cards have been stolen or lost, do not risk it, stop them as soon as possible.
9. Make a note of the last purchase on your card and the time, location and cost of the purchase. That way, false transactions can be tracked.
10. Join a card protection plan.
11. If you are a female, try to avoid keeping your credit cards in a handbag.
12. Remember it can happen to anyone at any time.
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- SEARCH IS ON FOR STAR PERFORMER
- Report by Julia Brough and photographs
by Patrick Trollope.
SHOWBIZ hopefuls have just a few days left to register their interest to take part in the UK’s longest running and best-established talent-spotting competition.
Would-be stars have until Monday April 7 if they wish to audition for the Search for a Star competition. In which more than Ł1,700 is up for grabs in the regional competition and heat winners will have the chance to perform live on Magic FM radio.
Competitors can follow in the footsteps of Southport teenager Bethany Greenway who won the North West final last year and went on to perform in the grand national final in Bournemouth where she finished fourth. She was also named ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ in the Liverpool Echo sponsored Scouseology Awards.
Contestants must be 16 years-old by November 29th 2003. Heats are to be staged throughout July and August in the Southport Arts Centre, where the North West final will take place before a 1,600-strong audience at the Southport Theatre later this year.
Interested?
Well then take a look at last years Search for A Star.
GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL RELOCATED
THE celebration of the annual Grand National horseracing event is to take a further the development as the city prepares for the Liverpool Grand National Festival.
The flagship event staged at Williamson Square in the city centre given the popularity of recent football screened events. Has forced the relocation of the screening to Chavasse Park given the demand and turnout, which has seen Liverpool Council information lines flooded since the announcement of the screening of the Manchester United versus Liverpool game prior to the big race.
Chas Cole said, "This is brilliant news and shows that the Liverpool public is right behind the festival."
"We thought the Big Screen would prove to be a popular idea amongst Liverpudlians keen to watch their football team in action in one of the biggest games of the season alongside the greatest horse-race in the world. Chavasse Park is a much bigger area than Williamson Square and we feel this is a more appropriate venue for such a great family day out."
Also included in the day's events are attractions such as street entertainers and music to create a real family-friendly feel to the event. In which the expectation of thousands are to flock to Liverpool during the national day of the ‘flutter’. If the event is a success, it may yet turn out to be one of Europe's greatest cultural celebrations.
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