12
May
2015
By Calvin at 14:06 GMT, 10 years ago
Wolverhampton Police are requesting local people’s help after two bogus callers attempted to trick their way into the homes of elderly residents on May 9.
The suspects are described as follows:
- White, dark hair, late 40s, large build, wearing black shirt and black trousers
- White, dark hair, late 40s, medium build, wearing black T-shirt, dark grey trousers, tweed jacket
The suspects tried to make out they were from the council and had come to test their intruder alarms. [Some councils provide subsidised alarms to elderly residents and unfortunately some of the alarm boxes are marked with the council’s crest or logo – they should have thought about that!]
PCSO Lee Haynes, of St Peters and Park Local Policing Unit, told today’s online Express and Star that police are asking people to check on elderly residents in the area and to remind them to take on board crime prevention advice:
- Never invite unexpected visitors into your home, use a door chain and ask for ID
- Keep strangers out of the home until you’ve phoned the organisation they claim to be from
Anyone with information about these bogus callers is asked to call police on 101
TCPW Comment I wonder just how many people living in the St Peters area of Wolverhampton will see this article and of those who might see it how many will give Aunty Flo or Uncle Bert a call to put them on guard? Past experience in dealing with such incidents tells me not many.
The low-life that target our elderly neighbours recognise the signs that a house might be occupied by someone in their later years. Maybe it’s an old car parked out the front or timber windows in need of a lick of paint. Possibly it’s the faded net curtains, which are not so fashionable these days or maybe there’s a couple of loose tiles sliding down the roof.
Whatever the outward signs might be they try not to knock on the doors of alert people who might call the police.
So here are a couple of requests from me to help your police
- If you’re young (or youngish) and have an elderly relative or neighbour do take a minute or two to give them a call to warn them of this constant threat of bogus callers.
- If you run a Neighbourhood Watch please run a piece on bogus callers in your next newsletter
- If you are a person that might be targeted by these tricksters try not to open the door if the caller is not expected. If you do open the door then use a chain. If the caller is not expected and seems suspicious then close the door and call the police. Police officers are patrolling the streets all the time and it won’t be much bother to take a detour down your street to have a word with the people who called at your home.
- There’s a lot more advice on my website at the link below and you might want to read that too
- If you want to be a bit shrewd you could sneak a look at the departing caller to gather more information about his or her description and maybe even the vehicle. This could help the police track them down
Source Express and Star: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-news/2015/05/12/bogus-callers-targeting-wolverhampton-residents/
Bogus Callers (Distraction Burglary) http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/personal-security/633/bogus-callers-distraction-burglary/
