I have been contacted today (Friday 3rd May 2013) by Nicky Biddlestone, Communications Officer at West Midlands Police, with a timely warning that opportunist con merchants are preying on the local senior citizens again.

Just wanted to make you aware of a report of a bogus caller at an elderly residents home in Deakin Avenue, Brownhills.

Male and female callers said they were jet washing drain and 92 year old woman handed over £200. The female also asked to use the toilet.

Neighbourhood officers have distributed letters in the area warning residents of bogus callers.

Please tell your relatives and neighbours about these ratbags, and impress upon them how important it is not to buy from, or accept services at the door, no matter how plausible the people offering them. Genuine companies will always contact you by other means.

Explain that no official body will turn up unannounced demanding money for services like drain cleaning, tree pruning etc., and that if they are at all unsure of any caller, to close the door and contact the police.

For more information on the signs that give away rogue traders, read Community Partnerships Officer Kevin Pitt’s blogpost – Making Walsall Too Hot for the Bogus Callers.

Scumbags engaged in the robbing of OAPs are lower than a snake’s knees, and I hope the police continue to crack down on this cowardly, nasty crime.

Please,  if you have any further information relating to this, or any other incident, or if you witnessed something  please contact Walsall Police by dialling 101 (999 in an emergency, obviously) or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Tell your elderly relatives and friends to be careful; local police can advise on door chains and other security measures. Most of all, don’t buy at the door! Image from Cambridge Police.