Three cars were damaged in a fire in south Lincoln.

The incident happened on Nightingale Crescent in Birchwood at around 2am on May 14.

A report led officers to a grey Volkswagen Touran, parked under a streetlight, which was alight.

The car was totally destroyed by the fire, and damage to two cars nearby and the streetlight was also sustained from the blaze.

Nobody was injured. The vehicles were removed after the fire was extinguished.

01:35 Lincoln South used 2 BA & 2 hose reel jets to extinguish a car & nearby hedge on fire at Nightingale Crescent, Lincoln.

— Lincs Fire & Rescue (@LincsFireRescue) May 14, 2014

Police are investigating if the fire was deliberate and related to a car fire on nearby Fulmar Road on May 5, involving a blue Mini.

Police would like anyone who witnessed the incident or heard anything suspicious to contact them on 101, quoting incident 17 of May 14, 2014.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A man who died following a serious crash on the A15 near Navenby has been named by Lincolnshire Police.

Michael Allsopp (40) from North Hykeham, Lincoln and was driving a silver Chevrolet Lacetti at the time of the crash.

As previously mentioned, the three-car collision was reported to Lincolnshire Police at 4.40pm on May 8.

Fire and Rescue, police, and ambulance attended, and the road had to be closed off until 11.44pm while recovery and investigations were carried out.

The other two cars involved were a white Scania Artic and a blue X type Jaguar.

Anyone who witnessed the incident can contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 258 of May 8.

Two people from Lincoln have been jailed after they robbed a woman, attacked her and allowed her to be bitten by a dog last year.

Kylee Orton (35) of Newland Street West and Craig Wallard (24) were each jailed for four and a half years after stealing two phones, a camera and cash from a 38-year-old woman.

Wallard also received a three-month sentence for theft following the incident.

The incident was reported via a 999 call to police at 6.05pm on November 29, 2013.

A 38-year-old woman stated she had just been robbed and bitten by a dog, and she was bleeding from the arm and head.

She had been visiting Orton in Lincoln from her home in East Heckington in order to do some Christmas shopping.

As she got to Orton’s address just before 6pm, she was pushed into the living room.

Then, Wallard snatched her black handbag and began rifling through it. The pair shouted at her “Where’s the money?”

The victim said she was being punched in the head by Orton, while Orton’s terrier-type dog began attacking her. Neither Wallard nor Orton tried to stop the dog.

The attack continued until she handed over some cash and she managed to escape the property before calling the police.

She was taken to Lincoln County Hospital for treatment for her two head wounds and dog bites to her elbow and hip.

DS Jen Waddington, of Lincoln CID, said: “This was a brutal and unprovoked attack that was motivated by Orton and Wallard wanting to rob the victim.

“It was terrifying, violent, and altogether unnecessary, and not only did Orton and Wallard fail to stop the dog attacking the woman, they actively encouraged it.

“The length of the sentences handed to the pair reflects the seriousness of the crimes they carried out and we are pleased with the results.

“We hope that their convictions and sentence show to the public how committed Lincolnshire Police officers are to tackling serious crime.”

Lincolnshire Trading Standards are warning residents to be on alert for a computer scam after receiving a number of reports in the county.

According to the organisation, the telephone scammers claim to be from a major computer or software company.

They call people at random, offering to fix a pretend computer problem.

The callers usually state that it’s a form of virus, and if the problem is not fixed the computer will be unusable.

They then direct the victim to a website in order to download a program to “fix” the problem, and gives the scammer remote access to the computer.

The scammer can then control the computer, stating they know what the problem is, and ask for payment to fix it.

If you think you may have been a victim of this scam contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.or visit the website.

Microsoft has also issued advice regarding phone scams, and you can get advice on avoiding scams by calling Citizens Advice on 08454 04 05 06.

Police in Lincoln are reminding residents in the Ermine area of Lincoln to be vigilant after a number of burglaries on one day.

The incidents all happened in the early hours of May 15 in the Ermine West area of the city.

The first incident (crime number 32140019913) occurred at around 2.15am on Trelawney Crescent.

The occupants left the door unlocked overnight and offenders entered the property.

The occupants woke up and chased the offenders away, but they got away with a number of items, such as a black BMX bike with yellow brakes and chrome stunt pegs and handle bars.

Next, at around 2:25am on Amble Close (crime number 32140019915), an attempted burglary occurred.

Three male offenders opened the door to a property, but the occupant was awake and went to the door, causing the offenders to run.

The men were seen running from the property towards the direction of Bain Street.

Finally, at approximately 3:15am on Honnington Approach (crime number 32140019912) another attempted burglary occurred.

Three men gained entry to a property via an unlocked door. The occupant woke up and chased the offenders out of the property.

Police warn that while the weather gets warmer, redients should still make sure doors and windows are locked overnight or if a room is unoccupied.

Officers advise valuables should not be left on display, and house and car keys need to be away from a door or window.

If you have any information with regards to these crimes, or saw anyone acting suspiciously at these times, contact police on 101, quoting the crime numbers.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two more cars have been set on fire in Birchwood in Lincoln over the weekend, the third and fourth similar incidents in the area this month.

Both fires were reported in the early hours of Saturday, May 17.

At around 12.30am, police received a call reporting a green Volkswagen Polo car on fire at Halton Close in Lincoln.

The caller had managed to notice the fire at an early stage and extinguished it.

Another report was made to Lincolnshire Police just after 4am, of a Vauxhall Vivaro van on fire at Sycamore Crescent in Lincoln.

Officers say the fires are believed to have been started deliberately, and enquiries are being made as to whether they are related to two other vehicle fires earlier this month.

03:54-Crew from Lincoln South attended a van fire on Sycamore Crescent, Lincoln.Fire extinguished 1 hosereel and cutting gear for access.

— Lincs Fire & Rescue (@LincsFireRescue) May 17, 2014

As previously reported, a blue Mini Cooper was set on fire on Fulmar Road in Birchwood on May 5.

On May 14, three cars were damaged by a blaze on Nightingale Crescent in Birchwood.

Officers are still investigating the fire which totally destroyed a grey Volkswagen Touran.

There have been no injuries at any of the reported incidents.

Residents in the Birchwood area have also recently alerted police to a number of vandalism and graffiti incidents.

Some eight cars were spray painted and outbuildings written on with black paint overnight between April 24 and 25.

Officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious around the areas of Halton Close and Sycamore Crescent on May 17 to get in touch.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incidents 15 and 86 of May 17,2014.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police are appealing for information after a red Vauxhall Corsa was deliberately set on fire on Rasen Lane in Lincoln – the fifth car fire reported this month.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were called to attend the fire at around 5am on Sunday, May 18.

They confirmed that the cause had been intentional arson.

Lincolnshire Police arrived at the scene at around 5.10am and have been conducting local enquiries.

There were no reported injuries at the scene.

The incident follows a spate of vehicle fires in Lincoln.

Four other car fires have been reported this month, all from the Birchwood area.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to call them on 101, quoting incident number 112 of May 18.

Lincolnshire Police are recruiting a new deputy chief constable ahead of the planned retirement of Keith Smy.

The £110,000 per year role is being advertised on the force’s website.

The force is seeking “ambitious senior police officers who are ready to take on the role of deputy chief constable and in due course to aspire to a chief constable position.”

There is also a requirement to be contactable 24 hours per day when not on leave or in the absence of a designated deputy.

The successful candidate will be expected to take up the role in September.

Under new regulations, the deputy chief constable will be required to undertake an annual fitness test and live within one hour travel time from force headquarters in Nettleham.

A housing allowance or transitional housing allowance will be paid if appropriate, along with a car and phone, among other benefits.

Keith Smy, the Deputy Chief Constable, will retire this year after working for Lincolnshire Police since 2009.

A road in Welton was closed off for the evening after a collision between a vehicle and a cyclist.

The incident was reported to police at 8.15pm on May 20, when a cyclist had fallen of his bike following a collision on Dunholme Road, Welton.

Lincolnshire Police and an ambulance crew attended the scene, and the road was closed while recovery took place.

The cyclist sustained a knee injury and broken fingers, and was taken to Lincoln County Hospital to be treated.

No-one was seriously injured in the incident, and the road reopened at 11.42pm.

Anyone who witnessed the collision can give information to the police on 101, quoting incident number 441 of May 20, 2014.

A local man was arrested and later bailed on suspicion of burglary in Lincoln this week.

The incident happened on May 20 at around 7.30pm on Scott Gardens, Lincoln.

Officers attended after reports of banging coming from a property. Police found a 38-year-old local man inside, who was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

Officers think access was gained by the offender forcing a rear ground floor window, which would have caused the loud banging in the area.

Lincolnshire Police is keen to get a bigger idea of what happened, so are appealing for anyone who heard a disturbance or saw anything suspicious to get in touch.

DC Gareth Ramsey, of Lincoln CID, said: “We have arrested one man in relation to this burglary but still need as much information as possible to try and obtain a full account of the circumstances.

“It’s probable that the offender would have made a lot of noise making their way into the property and we would like to hear from anyone who may have heard any unusual loud bangs or similar around Scott Gardens on the morning of Tuesday 20th of May.

“If anyone saw anything suspicious in the area, or saw anything that seemed odd or out of place, we would very much like them to make contact with us.

“What might seem an innocuous piece of information could very well help us build up a crime picture and assist us in ensuring the offender is brought to justice.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident 64 of May 20, 2014.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.

Lincolnshire Police are warning Lincoln residents to be wary of potential bogus callers after a distraction burglary in the city.

The incident happened on May 20 at around 9.10am on the St Giles estate.

A woman opened the door to a man claiming to be from the TV Licensing Agency.

He said her TV licence was due and she had to pay £200 on the spot or pay a penalty of £1,000 later, and her name would also appear in the local newspaper. The lady handed over the cash then he left.

The offender is described as white and in his 40s, around 5ft 10 and medium build, with swept or greased back hair.

He was wearing a light blue shirt, with suit trousers and a suit jacket.

Officers advise residents to always ask for ID to prove identity, and if unsure about someone on your doorstep, do not engage with them give any cash or bank details.

If you have been the victim of a bogus trader or cold caller, contact police as soon as possible on 101.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have any information about the burglary, or has seen a man matching the description in the area to get in touch on 101, quoting incident 164 of May 20, 2014.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An Albanian man was arrested after Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers raided a car wash in South Hykeham.

Acting on intelligence, officers went to the Hand Car Wash on Newark Road on Wednesday, May 21 at 3.50pm.

The 23-year-old Albanian man was arrested for entering the UK illegally. He is now in immigration detention while investigations continue into his case.

Hand Car Wash will be served a notice warning and are liable for a fine of up to £20,000 for employing an illegal worker, unless evidence is provided that they carried out legally required pre-employment checks such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Illegal working is not victimless. It defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities. Our enforcement visits are intelligence-led and timed to maximise their effectiveness.

“We would urge members of the public with information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

A Lincoln biker is being treated for serious injuries after a collision near Bracebridge Heath.

Lincolnshire Police attended the scene of the incident at 5.15pm on May 22, on the B1131 Canwick Avenue at Bracebridge Heath in Lincoln.

The collision involved a blue Vauxhall Corsa and a black Honda motorcycle.

The male motorcyclist, aged 28, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Lincoln County Hospital for treatment. He was then transferred to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

The 53-year old female driver of the Corsa and the 18-year-old female passenger, from Sleaford, are not thought to have sustained serious injuries.

The road was closed for some time while investigations took place, and reopened just before 9pm.

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact police on 101, quoting incident 348 of 22/05/2014.

The British Heart Foundation charity shop on Lincoln High Street has been burgled.

The incident happened some time overnight between Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21.

Police believe offenders entered the shop through a rear door and carried out an untidy search of the premises once inside.

They say “a fairly substantial amount of jewellery” was taken from the shop and a selection of T-shirts for men were also stolen from the clothing racks.

Officers found that offenders also forced entry to the office in the shop.

An ornamental Alexandra Calfiano jewelled globe was stolen from the office area. It is described as approximately 18in/2ft tall on a brass stand.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity around the shop overnight on May 20, or who may have any information relating to the stolen items, to contact them on 101 quoting incident 44 of 21/05/2014.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A man appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Saturday, May 24, charged with two counts related to human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Lincolnshire.

Marcin Wawrzynowski (29), of Grosvenor Road in Skegness, was one of the three men Lincolnshire Police arrested on May 22 on suspicion of being involved in human trafficking in the Kirton area near Boston.

The other two, a 22-year-old man from Hounslow and a 34-year-old man from Skegness, have been released on police bail to return to the police station at a later date for further enquiries.

Wawrzynowski was charged with two counts under the Asylum and Immigration Act 2006 of intentionally arranging or facilitating the travel of a person within the UK/another country with a view to their sexual exploitation.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Lincoln Crown Court via video link on May 29.

A burglar has stolen handbags and a moped from two homes in the Moorland area of Lincoln.

The first incident was reported to police on Constable Avenue, where some time between 6.15am and and 6.45am on May 23 an unknown offender entered a house through an unlocked front door.

Two handbags reportedly stolen from the property.

The second incident was reported nearby on Lavenham Grove. It happened some time between 4.30pm on Wednesday, May 21 and 5pm on Friday, May 23.

The burglar took an orange Peugeot Vivacity moped from the the rear garden.

Lincolnshire Police’s Moorland Neighbourhood Policing Team are appealing for information regarding these crimes.

Officers are asking anyone who has seen a man acting suspiciously at the time of the incident in the area to call them on 101, quoting crime numbers 32140021150 and/or 32140021244.

Alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police have traced four people after a local man suffered serious injuries to his jaw following an assault in a Lincoln bar.

- Update at 1.15pm: Lincolnshire Police said they have identified the people in the photos and do not require any more information.

The force said: “We would like to thank the public for what has been an overwhelming response to the appeal for information regarding the GBH in the Jail House Rock Bar in Lincoln.”

The incident happened in the early hours of May 10 at the Jailhouse Rock Bar on Butchery Court in Lincoln.

A 22-year-old Lincoln man was speaking to an unknown male in the bar, when an assault between them took place.

The Lincoln man was punched in the face, which caused him to stumble and fall backwards.

He was taken to Lincoln County Hospital, where he was treated for a fractured jaw in four places with four metal plates. He remained there for two days.

The incident went unreported to police until May 14, so police are keen to speak to the four people in the photos in connection with the incident.

The photographs were taken by the staff at the venue before the assault occurred.

Police are warning residents to secure their properties after four homes have been targeted by burglars in the West End of Lincoln at the weekend.

Electronics, wallets, cash, and bags were taken in the burglaries.

Two of the incidents happened on Newland Street West, one on Charles Street West and one on Gresham Street; one burglary was reported on Friday, May 23, and two on Saturday, May 24.

The Gresham Street burglary is believed to have happened between 2am and 6am on May 24.

Offenders are thought to have gained access through a rear door that was left unlocked. They took a wallet and cash.

On Newland Street West, a laptop and iPad were stolen after offenders made their way into a property through an unlocked rear door.

Nearby on Charles Street West, offenders entered the property through an unlocked rear door, but no items are thought to have been taken.

Also Newland Street West, a burglary is believed to have occurred between 11pm on May 22 and 6.15am on May 23 after a rear door and window were left open.

A laptop, handbag, car and house keys, bank card and identification cards were all taken in this burglary.

Officers are urging people to remember to secure their homes as instances of insecurity burglaries typically rise around this time of year, especially when people are enjoying the warmer weather.

Students who live in shared housing are also reminded to remember to shut and lock all doors and windows as burglars can often make off with a number of high-value electrical items from these properties.

Inspector Pat Coates, of Lincoln Community Policing, said: “We are again reminding people to secure their homes and make sure all doors and windows are locked.

“It is very easy to simply forget to make sure that everything is secure, especially when you go to bed, but if you take just a few minutes to double-check you could save yourself a lot of upset and hours of inconvenience trying to sort out the aftermath of being burgled.

“We are also urging students who live in shared properties to be vigilant and not simply assume that each other have locked up because it might not always be the case.

“Burglars who access these properties can easily make off with a number of high-value electrical goods.

“If you take the time to make sure that everything is shut and secure you will deprive opportunistic burglars the chance of getting into your home.”

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious relating to the four burglaries over the weekend.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 59 of 23/05/2014 or incidents 119, 130 or 113 of 24/05/2014.

Four pedigree dogs have been stolen from a property in a village near Lincoln.

The incident was reported to police at 10.08pm on May 27, and happened some time between 10.20am and 3pm at a property on Sturton Road, Ingleby, Saxilby.

Offenders managed to break in by forcing padlocks and breaking into the kennels in which the dogs were kept.

The four dogs stolen are all female pedigree Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

All are white with brown patches, and three are eight-years-old and one is 12. All the dogs have been microchipped.

The owner is concerned someone may attempt to breed from the elderly dogs.

Anyone with information or may know where the dogs are should call Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 386 of May 27.

Overall crime in Lincolnshire last year has dropped by 2.7%, with 1,017 fewer crimes recorded, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Lincolnshire annual report shows.

PCC Alan Hardwick highlighted a 16.5% decrease in burglaries (from a dwelling), an 18% decrease in anti-social behaviour and a 6% decrease in violence against a person with injury in the period April 2013 – March 2014.

Some 83% of victims surveyed were satisfied with the service they received.

However, thefts and shoplifting has increased by 2% (235 crimes), and sexual offences increased by 18.4%, meaning some 104 more crimes compared to last year.

Watch our interview with PCC Hardwick and read the full annual report.