Dorset Police, Trading Standards Officers and partner agencies are working together to tackle the national issue of doorstep crime, which affects vulnerable and elderly people across the county, in a countrywide week of action.
Wednesday 30 September was the UK’s national day of action, which involved representatives from Dorset’s authorities educating the public in how to avoid becoming of a victim of fraud at their door and how to report suspicious and criminal activity.
The day of action focused on Trading Standards and the Police speaking to traders who were working on houses and in gardens and also the householder.
Police Community Support Officers have been raising awareness of doorstep crime by attending banks, chemists and coffee mornings to educate residents on what cold calling is and how to avoid being conned.
Rogue traders knock on a person’s door and offer a service, but overcharge for poor craftsmanship or unnecessary or unfinished work.
Offenders appear very friendly and often deceive people into thinking they’re helping, by giving their victim a good deal and for pointing out work which needs fixing immediately.
The offenders offer services including; power washing driveways, cutting down trees and tending gardens and selling chainsaws and generators. They also carry out general building work including tarmacking in exchange for cash.
Police believe that criminals who carry out this type of fraud are doing so whilst travelling through the county, but there are also people who live in the area who try to con the elderly.
Officers from neighbourhood policing teams including; Weymouth, Dorchester, Christchurch, Wimborne, Poole and Winton are working in collaboration with Trading Standards Officers to spread the message of ‘Be Sure Who’s At Your Door’.
Free door stickers are available from libraries across Dorset or by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. To find a Trading Standards approved business and find reputable traders, visit the Buy With Confidence website.
Crime prevention advice:
- Keep your doors locked, even if you’re in the premises, and put a chain on if you have one
- Don’t let anyone into your property that you don’t know
- Don’t accept work from people calling at your door, no matter how urgent they say the work is
- Never go to the bank with someone you don’t know or trust
- Call the police on 101 if you think you have been a victim of a crime or you see any suspicious behaviour