Make sure to warn all your elderly or vulnerable friends and family to take cre – and to fit a door chain and other security measures if possible. Image from Suffolk Police.

I am seeing various reports circulating locally about bogus tradesmen calling on the elderly and attempting to coerce them into handing money over or having work done against their will.

One of the most recent came from North Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch:

Urgent! Just received a telephone call from a lady in Druids Avenue who has been conned out of £280 by a man in a large white van who said a neighbour had sent him round to repair their joint fence.

Described as well built with a baseball cap.

Please can you report any suspicious activity to the police via 101 (reference 841) and advise North Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch with any information and we will circulate a warning – thank you!

Please don’t become a victim of crime! You can ALWAYS say ‘NO’ and if in fear ring 999.

And also:

WARNING BOGUS BUILDER ALERT

Be on the look out for a 63 registration white Ford Transit van driven by a white male with an Irish accent, who called on a vulnerable elderly person in the Hatherton area earlier today with a view to persuading them to have building or gardening work carried out.

We have reason to believe that this man is a rogue trader. If you see a vehicle fitting this description, particularly near to homes occupied by elderly or vulnerable people, please contact the police immediately by dialling 101.

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.