Police in East Cheshire are reminding residents to look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours during the summer months.
Historically, reports of bogus callers increase during this time as unscrupulous thieves take advantage of the need for garden work and odd jobs around the outside of the home such as cleaning gutters, to be carried out.
Detective Inspector Nigel Groom
"This year's good weather has come earlier which gives more opportunities for the rogue traders to ply their bogus trade.”
Scams tend to include asking for cash up front and only carrying out half the work, or asking to cut trees down and distracting the householder while another sneaks into the house to steal money and cards.
In Crewe at the beginning of this month a group of men offered to cut the hedge and lawn for £225 for a 57-year-old woman who is partially sighted. The woman declined but agreed a fee of £90.
The men left after completing only half of the lawn and not cutting any of the hedge. The same men approached a neighbour who is in his 80's. Once again completed only half a job and made off with £103.
In Sandbach a man knocked on the door of a woman in her 80's and told her she was due to have her path redone by the council. As she was talking to the man who had been invited in she heard someone upstairs. The thieves escaped with a quantity of cash.
Insp Groom said: "If you see anyone acting suspiciously in your area, contact the police. And if you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours or relatives, keep an eye on them to ensure they aren't being targeted by the bogus callers.”
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Jane Thirsk
Watch Officer
Office: 01244 612725
Wilmslow Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6374
Knutsford Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6380
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6371