CONFIDENCE tricksters have been with us for many years. But it is only when they begin operating close to home that you realise the danger. Three years ago, I became a victim myself when they got away with £100 but I am determined that my experience will help protect others from the same fate, especially the old and the vulnerable.

All uninvited callers should be regarded with suspicion, especially those selling unwanted goods and services, because the unscrupulous ones among them will stop at nothing to make rich pickings wherever possible. These people have been known to get away with the entire life savings of their victims. It is a hideous crime and one to which Bourne may be prone because the town is close to several main roads, the A15, the A16 and even the A1, which makes a speedy getaway an easy matter before an investigation has time to get underway.
 

Now, Lincolnshire Police have joined the initiative to help make it difficult for these unscrupulous men to carry out their nefarious activities because doorstep tricksters will go to any lengths to part honest citizens from their cash. One lady was even frogmarched to the bank by an uninvited caller and it was only the quick thinking of the staff behind the counter that prevented the crook from making off with everything she had in the world.

Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards Department recently organised a seminar at Grantham to raise awareness of this issue, inviting the police, social services, councillors from county, district and town, as well as other interested parties, to tell them how it was being tackled in other parts of the country and to gather support to move things forward in this county. One of the speakers was Brian Steele, a former police superintendent, who gave a graphic and disturbing account of the investigation of a murder of an 82 year old disabled pensioner by a group of criminals posing as property repairers intent on forcibly depriving the lady of her life savings. Brian’s talk was a seminal experience, not just for me but for many of his audience that morning. I was made quite determined to do all that I could to make it harder for this sort of horrific crime to occur in Bourne.

These people are grasping and unfeeling, they have no regard for the community and anyone living alone is seen as easy prey, particularly the more vulnerable members of society such as the elderly and the recently bereaved.

The tactics of these villains are a variation on the same theme, targeting a town or village and then seeking out their victims with bogus tales that begin with a knock on the door. Then comes an offer to repair the roof or the guttering “before it gets worse“, resurface the drive or some other outside task, any excuse in fact to do little or no proper work with the prospect of rich pickings. This is the sting. Then comes the demand for money, large sums of money. Any resistance is met with verbal abuse in the first instance, worse if required. Pressure is applied to force payment even to the extent of escorting them to the bank to get the cash to pay them. The perpetrators of the crime then jump in their vehicle and head smartly out of the area to avoid any possibility of easy detection.

Unfortunately, the victims are usually too shocked, frightened and perhaps even embarrassed, to report what has happened to the police or even in some cases, tell friends and relatives, for fear of looking foolish or even being considered incapable of living independently in their own home. In fact, it is estimated that fewer than one in ten, probably nearer one in thirty, of these crimes are reported even though their victims are frequently left mentally scarred and, in many cases, their life expectancy is greatly affected by the experience.

But their ordeal is not yet over. They will, almost certainly, have their address passed on by the perpetrators to another gang who will, in turn, try even harder to bleed that victim dry of their money using whatever tactics it takes, even strong arm methods if necessary, safe in the knowledge that the original crime is unlikely to have been reported or that the victim will have taken advice on their civil rights and how best to deal with such callers.

The doorstep crime initiative involves an awareness campaign among potential victims and those who have regard for their welfare, a system by which they can know their rights beforehand, the introduction of strategies for dealing with the stranger at the door, a contact telephone number for advice and the knowledge that they can report suspicious callers before a situation gets out of hand.

We would like to see the establishment of no cold calling zones, areas similar to Neighbourhood Watch, where the more vulnerable members of our society live and who can go about their daily business without the constant fear of being ripped off in this way. All residents must be made aware that no one should be knocking on the door without prior notice.

These zones would have official posters and stickers displayed in public places warning off potential criminals that they are not welcome and their activities are being monitored while every household would be issued with specially designed literature giving the fullest possible advice and contact telephone numbers for assistance. Unwanted callers would be shown a card asking them to go to a neighbour’s house where their identity can then be verified. A grapevine of cross county intelligence by police and trading standards is also envisaged, as already happens in other parts of the country. This will enable the department gather information and descriptions of suspect callers, issue warnings and deter gangs from concentrating on the area.

It is important that everyone works together to protect their more vulnerable neighbours, friends or relatives, especially those living alone, and if you know of some in such circumstances then please offer your services as a nominated neighbour who can be called upon as a safeguard.

Bogus callers are the scourge of our modern society. They have no right to spread their terror among decent people. We must make it difficult for them to operate and increase the chances of them being caught and brought to justice when they do. I am giving my whole-hearted support to this initiative and am asking the people of Bourne to do the same. The Chamber of Trade has already offered its cooperation and now we have a positive response from the police who are anxious to see an end to rogue doorstep traders.

Remember, if you are not expecting a caller and the doorbell rings, you have every right to be suspicious. Always be on your guard and if you have been duped, then it is vitally important that you report it as soon as possible.

I am giving my wholehearted support to this initiative. Will you?

For more information please telephone me at 01778 424110 or
email

WRITTEN MAY 2006
 

NOTE: Photograph of Councillor Holmes courtesy the Stamford Mercury

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