CW N&S Please warn elderly or vulnerable people in your community to beware of bogus callers to their home

WARWICKSHIRE POLICE COMMUNITY SAFETY TEAM WATCH SCHEMES
Warwickshire Police - 01926 415000 Ext : 8185
Fax - 01926 415389
Email - relay@warwickshire.police.uk
MESSAGE .................CW N&S Please warn elderly or vulnerable people in your community to beware of bogus callers to their home
Following an increase in the number of distraction burglaries across the county over recent months, please could we ask you to alert elderly and vulnerable members of your community to be very wary of potential bogus callers to their homes.

The most common story from a distraction Burglar is that he has come from the Water Board and needs to check the taps, look for coloured dye in the water or, there has been a leak at a neighbouring house and the plumbing needs to be checked.

Whilst the resident of the house, usually an elderly person, turns on taps or empties cupboards as directed by the burglar, an accomplice enters the house, searches rooms and usually makes off with cash, bank books or jewellery.

Please could you advise elderly or vulnerable residents in your care or in your local community not to allow anyone they do not know or are not expecting into their homes without thoroughly checking out their identity first, even if the caller says that it is an emergency.

The company the caller says that they are representing should be contacted using a number from the telephone directory and not by using a number on any literature or card supplied by the caller.

If the caller states that he is from any utility 'board', the resident should shut the door immediately as these boards have ceased to exist. The police should then be contacted immediately on 999.

Please remind the residents that if in doubt as the to identity of the caller they should not open the door but tell the caller to get their company to write to make an appointment.

The resident could also ask the caller to wait while they contact a neighbour to ask for help identifying the caller. If the caller is genuine they will not mind waiting or making an appointment by telephone first. Thankyou.

Julie Dale
Watch Co-ordinator
Community Safety Team

If you call the Police about an incident please ring 01926 415000 and ask for the Communications Centre. Please tell them that you are ringing in response to a message. Please quote the incident number, if one is given.

Protecting our communities together

"We are building a new police service that is even more capable of protecting people who live, work and travel in Warwickshire from harm."

Keith Bristow, Chief Constable

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