Plea to stop "preventable offences"

“The offences can only happen because people let bogus callers into their homes,” CSO Sally Price says. “We do put messages out to the types of people usually affected by the offence, but they do not seem to be listening.

“We need relatives, friends and neighbours of older people to constantly remind them not to open their door to people they don’t know, and certainly not to let them into their homes.

“Distraction burglary is one of the most distressing types of offence, and yet one that is completely preventable. We need people to help us get this message out and to keep stressing it.”

The latest available figures show that in the police A division, covering Amber Valley and Erewash, 21 distraction burglaries took place between 1 October and 9 December 2009 compared with eight for the same period in 2008.

The most common method used by the offenders to gain access to properties was to say they were from the water board. Other excuses used included they were from housing, health and safety and had come to fit a kitchen. Genuine callers from any of these organisations would always make a prior appointment.

While A Division has witnessed an increase, the county as a whole has seen a reduction in the offence and the partnership is keen to stress that there is no need to worry, just to act sensibly.

Sally Price says: “Our advice is simple. Do not let anyone into your house that you do not know. Use a door chain – they are available for all door types now including those made from pvc – and allow you to check who a caller is.

“If callers insist that they are there for a legitimate reason ask for identification and for their office telephone number so you can call to check. Make sure it is a landline number and not a mobile one that they give you.

“Genuine callers will not be put out by checks, they are more likely to be pleased to prove that they should be there.”

Sally says that the Community Safety Partnership and its members including the police, borough council and Amber Valley Housing have put this advice out to older people, but they are not heeding it.

“We hope that by asking friends and relatives to pass on and remind older people about this, they may be more willing to listen,” Sally said.

A full list of tips on how to deal with bogus callers is available on the Home Office Crime Reduction website (opens in a new window).