This in from the police, in their own words. Ed
Between Monday, April 7 and Friday, April 11, officers visited 1,000 previous victims of doorstep crime, spoke to 700 motorists as part of a ring of steel operation and executed three warrants.
Doorstep criminals call at homes unannounced. They may claim to be working in the area and to have noticed a problem that needs fixing, subsequently pressuring the homeowner into paying them in cash for work that hasn’t been requested or agreed to. They often charge vastly over inflated prices and the work is either of poor quality or not completed at all.
Masquerading criminals
Other criminals may claim to be from a utility company or even to be a police officer, and say they need to enter the house to check water or power supplies or to search inside the house for a lost child or pet. The reality is they search the home for money or other items to steal, often making off with hundreds of pounds.
These criminals are convincing and often target the most vulnerable members of the community within their own homes.
Providing crime prevention advice and reassurance will help to prevent victims from being tricked by these criminals.
Nominated neighbours
Officers from the force’s Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) visited more than 1,000 past victims of doorstep crime or internet and telephone scams to check on their welfare, offer crime prevention advice and discuss the Nominated Neighbour Scheme (NNS). Householders who join the NNS choose a trusted neighbour, friend or relative to whom they can direct all unknown callers so that they can verify the reason for their call, check the caller’s identity and confirm whether they are genuine.
Further details of the nominated neighbour scheme can be found on our website.
Ring of steel operation
On Wednesday, April 9, around 250 officers were joined by 100 staff from partner agencies to take part in a ring of steel operation across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which saw them stopping vehicles and speaking to motorists at 14 check points leading into the county and towards our towns and cities.
Officers with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment scanned thousands of number plates in a bid to deny criminals the use of the roads and access into the force area.
Officers worked together with Trading Standards staff to seek out doorstep criminals including rogue traders and distraction burglars. They also sought to educate traders regarding responsible practices such as allowing customers a cooling off period of seven days.
During the ring of steel operation officers stopped around 700 commercial vehicles and made two arrests including a man who was wanted for rogue trader offences in Coventry. He was charged with offences including fraud by false representation.
Potential evidence seized
On Thursday, April 10 officers executed a search warrant at a house on Trowes Lane in Swallowfield. They seized cash along with other potential evidence of rogue trader offences.
Two simultaneous warrants were carried out on Friday, April 11 at address at Sandleford Lodge Park in Thatcham and Botany Bay Road in Southampton.
Arrests
Property has been seized from both addresses and a 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud. He is currently being questioned by police.
During the week officers arrested two further men on suspicion of rogue trader offences.
A 48-year-old man from Blackwater was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit fraud following an incident on Gravelly Close in Tadley on Friday, March 21 in which a 54-year-old woman was over charged for tree surgery work.
The suspect has been bailed pending further enquiries until June 3.
Mark Cooper, 48, from Stovolds Hill in Cranleigh was charged with fraud by false representation following an incident in Bordon in which an elderly couple were charged £1300 to carry out 30 minutes work to their roof.
Cooper appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 10 and has been bailed to appear at Winchester Crown Court on May 7.
Supporting our communities
PC Steve Court said:
“Our aim is to support our communities and raise awareness of doorstep criminals and the tricks they use to gain access to victim’s homes or to trick them out of their money.
“This is a particularly callous and despicable crime that affects vulnerable people in the place they should feel safest – their own homes.
“Hopefully our action this week has demonstrated our ongoing commitment to target the perpetrators of these crimes and ensure they are cannot operate in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“We aim to build on the activity of this week to continue to work with our communities in order to keep doorstep criminals out.
“If you have an older relative, friend or neighbour, please take a few minutes to talk about this issue with them and let them know there is help and information available.”
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said: “Weeks like these are an important way to raise awareness among Hampshire residents about doorstep crime, and through working with the police, we are able to make a joint effort to crack down on the number of doorstep criminals operating in the county.
“We would always urge residents to be on their guard and say ‘No’ to doorstep cold callers, and not to agree to work that is instigated as a result of a cold call or via a leaflet drop. Instead, we would recommend consumers obtain at least three quotes from reputable businesses or traders who are either members of the County Council’s Buy With Confidence Scheme or a recognised trade association.”
Anyone who suspects they have been targeted by a doorstep criminal should contact 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.
