Officers in Blaenau Gwent are advising residents to be vigilant when answering the door to cold callers.
The warning comes after it has been brought to the attention of that there have been two cases of a male posing as a Gwent PoliceBlaenau Gwent County Borough Council representative visiting properties in the Ebbw Vale and Tredegar area. In both cases, a male visited homes of the elderly stating he was sent to cut their grass for free of charge. It later transpired that the male requested £10.00 for the work and either completed it poorly or not at all.
Team Sergeant for the Tredegar area, Robert Petrie has said: ‘It is important that people remember to check the identity of any stranger who calls at their door. Help and support is available from the police and local authorities so please use it. We want residents to feel safe in their homes and following our crime prevention advice below should deter bogus callers.”
Gwent Police offers the following advice when strangers call at your door:
- When someone unexpectedly calls at your door, take a look out of the window. If you do not recognise them, don’t open your door to them. If in doubt – keep them out.
- Make sure both your front and back doors are locked.
- Ask them to post their details through your door but do not open your door.
- If you don’t know them, ask them to leave.
- If they claim to be from a utility company, ask them to call back when a relative or friend will be there with you.
- If the person refuses to go away, ring Gwent Police immediately on 999 and report it to them. Try to provide a description of the person, vehicle or anything else that seems suspicious.
- Talk to your family and friends about this caller and consider talking to your neighbours about any suspicious activity just in case the same scam is tried on them.
If any one has information that relates to cold callers, then please contact Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to pass on information about crime anonymously.
