Crime

TWO men have been charged over the discovery of a cannabis factory in Ickenham.

Officers from the safer neighbourhood team were alerted to suspicions about an address in Pepys Close and conducted a raid on Friday.

Hiep Son Nguyen, 34, and Nguyen Phoe Thian, 48, were both arrested and charged at the scene with the production of cannabis, a class B drug.

Both have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at Uxbridge Magistrate's Court on Monday. (15)

A man charged with stealing more than £3,000 worth of music equipment is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.

Louie Joe Buckingham, 18, of Primrose Drive, West Drayton, admitted taking Gibson and Fender guitars worth £3680 from Pro Music International in Swakeleys Road, Ickenham on October 12 last year.

He is due to be sentenced on February 1.

AN ELDERY lady who invited woman into her housing believing she was a new neighbour returned from making a cup of tea to find the woman had burgled her.

On Sunday (25) at about 6.30pm, police attended the home of the elderly victim in Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, after receiving a call from her.

She told the police how she had been sitting in her house when she heard a knock on the front door.

She opened the door to a woman, who she was then led to believe was a new neighbour checking on her welfare.

The victim invited the woman in for a cup of tea, but when she went off to make the tea her house was searched and some of her property stolen. The suspect then left the house.

The suspect is described as white, aged about 20 years old, about 5' 2" tall, slim build, with shoulder length brown hair and with an English accent.

Detective Sergeant Mark Adams said: "It is possible that there was another suspect involved who searched the upstairs of the house.

"This is a horrible offence against an elderly person who has been left very upset by her experience."

If anyone was in the area at the time or has any information about this incident call Hillingdon Police on 0208 246 1445 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Advice from the police -

When someone calls at your home, it is important to take your time. Don't be rushed.

If you don't want to open your door you don't have to. If you do open the door always put the chain on.

And remember - you can always ask the person outside to come back when you have a neighbour or a relative with you.

Treat every stranger with caution. If you are still worried, dial 999 immediately and ask for the police.

A MAN in his 30s has been sent to crown court after he was charged with rape, false imprisonment and committing actual bodily harm (ABH).

Robin Junior Onyia, 39, from Buckinghamshire, was charged with committing the rape against a woman in Darwent Avenue, Ickenham, on October 4.

He was also charged with assaulting and unlawfully and injuriously imprisoning a woman on or around October 3 and assaulting her on October 4 within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court.

He is due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on December 22.

A MYSTERIOUS explosion in the woods saw police and paramedics scramble to Ickenham yesterday (Thursday).

Bomb disposal experts and an armed response team were also called to The Grove, Ickenham, and the road was cordoned off until past 6.30pm.

A CAR used as a getaway vehicle by the gang behind the £40 million Graff gems has been discovered in Ickenham.

Forensic experts are studying the burned-out Volkswagen Sharan, which police believe could be a crucial part of the criminal jigsaw.

AN ARREST was made after a car lost control, crossed oncoming traffic and smashed through a wall onto a petrol station forecourt.

The dramatic scenes happened at 9.15am yesterday at the Total petrol station at the junction of High Road, and Oak Avenue in Ickenham.

After careering through the wall the car only came to a halt when it crashed into a stationary car parked on the forcourt.

An ambulance was called to the scene but nobody was taken to hospital.

An eyewitness said: "I was sitting here having a cup of tea when this car lost control with its wheel hanging off.

"It then went straight through the wall onto the station, it was dramatic, when the police got there they arrested the driver straight away."

Police confirmed an arrest had been made and an investigation was ongoing.

OVER 400 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £50,000 were discovered by police when they raided a house in Ickenham.

The haul was seized by officers at a house in Edinburgh Drive, Ickenham at 4.30pm on Thursday (12/2) when they searched the property.

Three rooms inside the house has been converted to grow cannabis, with most plants fully grown and in the process of being cut ready for supply.

A large amount of cultivating equipment was also present, and all plants have now been seized and destroyed.

The raid came after concerned residents had made a tip-off to Ickenham Safer Neighbourhood Team who obtained a search warrant for the rented property.

PC Andy Kirkland of the Ickenham Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "Early intervention by the police has prevented the plants from being converted to the herbal form of cannabis and did not make its way onto our streets.

"This is a prime example of the local community working alongside the local police in an effort to combat crime in our neighbourhoods.

"We are here to improve the quality of life of the local communities and these sort of activities will not be tolerated."

So far no arrests have been made but police are continuing their enquiries in trying to track down the suspects who were responsible for the cannabis factory.

Police have issued a list of warning signs for residents who fear a neighbouring property may be being used as a cannabis factory.

They include irregular attendance at an address, often by a single occupant, blocked out windows with curtains permanently drawn, short term renting of a property, and no frost being seen on a roof at this time of year because of heat coming from the house.

AN ELDERLY woman has been left badly shaken after being robbed and knocked to the ground in Ickenham.

Police dog units and a helicopter attended the scene in at Boniface Road, Ickenham, at 3.45pm on Wednesday, November 12 after being called to the scene.

The 80 year-old woman had been shopping in Uxbridge and got the tube to Ickenham when her bag was snatched, causing her to fall.

She had her bag taken by two youths as she walked down the alleyway opposite the Wetherspoons pub, leading from Swakeley's Road to Boniface Road.

The men ran off down Swakeley's Road and are believed to have come through the alley from Boniface Road.

Paramedics were called to the scene and treated the woman for facial injuries while police helicopters scoured the area for signs of her attackers.

PC Jon Williams from the robbery unit in Hillingdon said: "This was a cowardly incident and has left this lady shocked and upset and we are keen to trace the suspects."

There were two suspects, one is mixed race, 5ft 10" and aged 25-30 and the second is white, 6ft 2" and aged between 20-30.

Police have arrested a 29 year-old man and enquries are currently ongoing.

If anyone has any information they should contact us 0208 246 1471 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.