There was a chill in the air at the Anglesey Showground this week when Mr Iceman – a character from the All Wales Doorstep Crime Campaign, visited the two-day event to help further promote the No Cold Callers initiative.
The fully bi-lingual campaign which aims to help reduce doorstep crime was launched by the All Wales Doorstep Crime Group back in May. Since that time TV ads have been beamed into living rooms, adverts have appeared on buses as well as in the press and mailers have been posted through hundreds of thousands of letterboxes throughout Wales.
The campaign offers advice in the form of three clear steps:
- If in doubt, keep them out!
- Be prepared, be in control
- Call a neighbour or the police
These steps have been developed to help decrease the number of rogue trader and distraction burglary victims across Wales, and to increase the reporting of suspicious doorstep incidents.
Mr Iceman, the animated character which features prominently throughout the campaign recently visited the Anglesey Showground in Gwalchmai, but was quickly thwarted by North Wales Police and Trading Standards Officers from Anglesey County Council.
Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Andy McGregor said: “Over the two days booklets containing key information and advice regarding doorstep callers were handed out by the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Cadets as well as Trading Standards officers. Mr Iceman was also taken on a tour of the field but was quickly arrested and placed in the stocks!”
“This campaign aims to raise awareness of the threat from doorstep crime across the whole community and together, in partnership with Anglesey County Council, we can do something about these crimes and further protect our vulnerable communities.”
Alison Farrar, Fair Trading Officer at Anglesey County Council said: “This national campaign is asking the whole community to get involved in the fight against Doorstep Crime, from the staff at the bank to neighbours and family.
“We urge members of the public to report cold callers in their area to the Police as soon as they can, so that officers can respond quickly and hopefully catch rogue traders and distraction burglars before they leave the area.”
If you suspect a cold caller or rogue trader is operating in your area contact North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555 111.
