22
May
2014
By Calvin at 13:15 GMT, 12 years ago
I’ve said before that the crime stories published by West Mercia Police really are typical of the types of crimes that occur throughout the UK and this latest series has certainly occurred down my way - and I’m in West London
Here’s the news item:
Police are appealing for witnesses and warning Redditch residents to be vigilant after a series of offences in which a woman has conned people out of money on their own doorsteps by claiming she needed cash for a taxi.
Three out of the six incidents were reported today (Wednesday, 21 May) and while most of them are being treated as fraud or attempted fraud one is being investigated as a distraction burglary. All the offences have taken place in the Winyates and Matchborough area of the town and it is believed that the woman responsible, who in each case has been on foot, lives locally.
In every instance the woman has claimed to need cash for a taxi, usually saying she is locked out of an address in the same street and needs the money to get back to her workplace and retrieve her house keys.
At Holyoakes Close at 7.30pm last night (Tuesday) she turned up at the home of a vulnerable woman and after talking her way into the house she persuaded her to part with a total of £55. Arrangements were made for the woman to bring back some groceries but she never returned.
The same woman is believed to have called at homes in Ledbury Close at 12.45am last night and about half an hour later in Jackfield Close, again telling a variation of the same story and saying she lived nearby. On one occasion she was given £1 for a taxi but the other occupier became suspicious and she left empty-handed.
A further two incidents happened in Edgmond Close, Winyates West, between about 10pm and 10.15pm on Sunday, 18 May, when the woman was given a total of £22 for taxi fares. She also struck in Kinlet Close on Wednesday, 14 May, between 8.30pm and 9pm, when she was given £10
The offender is described as white, about 5ft in height, slim, with blonde or brown hair, and one witness believed she had a spotty complexion.
PC Paul Downes from the Winyates and Matchborough Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “It is concerning that she has struck at least six times in such a short space of time and it is quite likely there other incidents which have not been reported.
“If you know who this woman is or think you have seen her getting into a vehicle near any of these incidents then please let us know immediately. The most likely scenario is that she lives locally as she has struck at addresses in the same area and always appears to be on foot.
“We are urging residents not to hand over cash to anyone with a hard luck story, no matter how convincing they sound, and to contact the police immediately. It is also vital residents do not let anyone into the house who they do not know and use a chain or spy-hole to check who is at the door before opening it.”
Witnesses or anyone else with information are asked to contact PC Downes on 101 quoting incident 586-S-190514 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
TCPW Comment: PC Downes quite rightly advises people not to be taken in by hard luck stories on the doorstep and not to open the door to callers until you’ve checked who’s there through the spy hole.
Whilst there is nothing wrong with this advice it would appear, according to the results of my Home Security Survey (HSS), that 42% of you wouldn’t be able to follow part of it because you don’t have a spy hole or clear glass in the entrance door!
The chances of you using a door chain or door limiter are even less likely since the HSS reveals that only 34% of you have one!
So what to do?
Door viewers are very easy to install and relatively cheap to buy and it would make me feel better knowing that you were checking the caller first, using the door viewer or looking through a window, instead of blindly opening the door to ‘who knows who’. I’m big and ugly and a former policeman and I always use the door viewer! If you can’t fit one yourself I’m sure you’ll be able to get help from a friend, relative or neighbour. If you’re an older person organisations like Age UK or your local authority might be able to help.
Although I use a door chain, together with my size 10 behind the door, I’m not so fussed about door chains, unless it’s the type that sets off an alarm and sprays the caller with a special DNA solution (which can stay in the villain’s clothes for weeks). See StrandDNA (UK) Ltd on this website. (I’ve got one of these beauties on my door). The reason I’m not too fussed is simply that a door is most secure when it’s closed and locked and if you’re at all worried about who’s on the other side, why open it at all?
For example, when there’s a knock on the door my Mum answers the window! What I mean by this is that she pops upstairs and looks out from an upstairs window to see who’s calling, thereby keeping the door closed and locked, like it should be.
I could go on, but why bother when you can visit this section on The Crime Prevention Website for lots more help http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/personal-security/633/bogus-callers-distraction-burglary/
You know it makes sense and DON’T GET CONNED BY ONE OF THE OLDEST TRICKS IN THE BOOK (I’d like to see this book......)
