A Neath police officer has received a Chief Constable’s Commendation after he tracked down two conmen who had overcharged a pensioner for gardening work.
PC Martin Jenkins led an investigation into the fraud which saw a 90-year-old Glynneath woman handing over £1,400 to have a lawn and hedge cut.
Alf Peter Marshall Probert, aged 19, and Jamie Lee Smith, aged 20, both of the Ebbw Vale area, were convicted of fraud offences at Neath Magistrates Court and received 112-day custodial sentences.
PC Jenkins, of the Glynneath Neighbourhood Policing Team, also recovered some of the money and returned it to the victim when he called to see her to deliver news of the successful prosecution.
Superintendent Joe Ruddy, operational commander for Neath Port Talbot Police, said: “This was a cowardly crime against an elderly member of the community which was a difficult crime to detect.
“PC Martin Jenkins was absolutely relentless in his pursuit of those responsible and was able to bring them to justice and ensure the victim got her money back.”
The rogue traders had travelled to Glynneath from the Ebbw Vale area and confused the victim into believing that she had asked them to carry out the gardening work for the price of £1,400.
PC Jenkins said: “I was struck by the callous nature of this crime as the victim had been conned out of this money in her own home.”
The Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership continues its work to spread the message about doorstep crime.
Rogue traders use unscrupulous tactics and target residents, particularly the elderly or vulnerable, and deliberately overcharge for unsatisfactory services. They are often linked to distraction burglaries.
This can include charging for unnecessary work, damaging property deliberately in order to obtain money to repair it, leaving work unfinished or even intimidating residents in order to extort money.
Police advise residents to follow the Police Doorstep Code and not allow any strangers into their homes.
When a stranger calls at your door, follow the Police Doorstep Code:
- 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.
- Make sure both your front and back doors are locked.
- Attract the caller to a secure and locked window and display your Nominated Neighbour Scheme card (available from the Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership).
- If you do not have a card, 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 the person refuses to go away, ring South Wales Police immediately on 101 and report it to them. Try to provide a description of the person, vehicle or anything else 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.
