More than 200 homes have been visited by police as part of an operation aimed at stopping rogue traders and distraction burglars in their tracks.
The Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership targeted areas during a week of action which saw officers stop and check traders and offer crime prevention advice to residents.
Agencies such as Neighbourhood Watch also joined the operation to spread the word to vulnerable and elderly people.
A total of 131 houses were attended in Park Avenue, Maes yr Eglwys, Nant Hir and surrounding areas of Glynneath, while a further 98 houses were attended in Waun Wen, Heol Jubilee, Jersey Road, Michaelstone Close and London Close in Cwmavon.
Inspector Mark Lenihan of the Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership, said: “Our aims were to target and disrupt rogue traders and to gather intelligence on individuals suspected of being involved in this type of criminality.
“We also focused on raising awareness on rogue traders and distraction burglars in our communities which saw more than 230 households visited and the occupants provided with relevant crime prevention advice.
“More than 20 referrals were made for homes to have their security upgraded which will substantially reduce the risk of the homeowner becoming a victim.”
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.
Inspector Lenihan added: “There have been some disturbing incidents where people have been conned out of lots of money after being intimidated by rogue traders.
“Our work was designed to raise awareness of this issue and to ask people to be vigilant and look out for their elderly friends or relatives.”
