Following a spate of incidents in Barrow involving bogus builders targeting the elderly in their homes, Cumbria Trading Standards and the county's police are reminding householders never to employ cold-callers.
The warning comes after a 94-year old man who lives alone was the victim of conmen who knocked on his door and told him that his fascias needed replacing. He was told that it would cost ‘four fifty’ and believing this to be £4.50, gave the go-ahead. When the work was part-done, the conmen demanded £450 and having been paid they disappeared without finishing the job.
Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards said: “This case illustrates perfectly that older people can be vulnerable to doorstep conmen. We all have a responsibility to look after our elderly relatives, friends and neighbours, and if necessary intervene to ensure that they don’t become a victim of doorstep crime”.
Barrow police are currently investigating two suspicious incidents of doorstep crime.
Police and Trading Standards offer the following advice, which if followed should stop people becoming a victim:
-Never employ cold-callers;
-Never let strangers into your house;
-Have a doorchain fitted and always use it when answering the door;
-Do not keep large amounts of cash in the house.