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Alerts !  Three Distraction/Bogus call burglaries this week, one in the Woodside area was unusual but obviously well planned. A 62 year old female victim had scaffolding erected outside her house at the start of some renovation work. A 35 year old white male wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase called and demanded a large cash sum form the victim or the work would not be completed. The victim withdrew cash from the bank and gave it to the caller. In Brighton Rd Croham a 44 year old white male posed as a police officer gained entry to an 84 year old female victims home pointing out a Police vehicle parked across the road, this was on a routine call nearby. Soon after the victim’s son called in, he immediately went to call police from a local phone and the suspect was arrested at the scene. In Addiscombe a 25 year old white male suspect wearing a blue jumper and trousers called at an 87 year old female victim’s home. He claimed to be checking the water supply and was let into the premises, a second male then entered while victim distracted and searched the premises. In the last few months, there have been three attacks in our area. In one, someone was jumped and beaten when walking down Everton Road during the late evening. In the others, an elderly lady was attacked and mugged at 10am in the morning on Sundridge Road & a 75 year old man had his bag snatched in Inglis Road. In both cases the attackers wore hoodies and were believed to be teenagers. Please keep a look out and report anything suspicious - we must not let these thugs win ! |
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Police warn against burglar alarm scammers |
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Detective Inspector Clare Mullenger, from Croydon’s Burglary Squad said: “If in doubt, call us to check, but in general I would advise all residents to not answer the door to cold callers, check I.D. and credentials carefully and call the organisation they claim to be from to verify their identity - even if they claim to be police.” Residents are advised to: · Not open the door to cold callers or unexpected guests · Carefully check the identification of all callers before allowing them into your home, even if they have previously made an appointment · If you are unsure of the identity of the caller, contact the organisation they claim to be from (using a number from a public phone book or the company’s website) to confirm the caller is who they say - remember genuine callers will be happy to wait. · Alternatively, ask them to make an appointment to come back when a friend or relative is available to be with you. A genuine caller will understand. · If you see somebody acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood, call 999. Officers from Croydon’s Burglary Squad are liaising with the Older Persons Forum, to provide elderly residents with crime prevention information and officers from West Thornton Safer Neighbourhoods Team along with colleagues from Trading Standards, has today (16 March 2011) launched a scheme where they are visiting local residents across the ward to offer crime prevention advice in relation to doorstep crime. For further crime prevention information visit; www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention or contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team. |
The fraud usually follows the following pattern:
- Potential Victims are over 70 / vulnerable
- They are cold called by telephone
- The caller claims to be either the owner or in some way involved with the property that adjoins theirs
- Caller says the property that adjoins theirs requires drainage work urgently and if it is not done it may affect the victim’s property
- The caller tells them they are already paying significantly more money for the work (£12,000 - £18,000)
- The victim receives a separate call from someone claiming to be from the hire company
- The victim is told to go to the bank and do a bank transfer to a particular account in a private name
- The callers are very persuasive and persistent and will use technical language in attempt to seem plausible
- The callers are usually male and sound middle aged with local London accents.
Names given differ but include Drains UK, AC Drains and A1 Plant Company.
So far, of three reported attempts, one victim has handed £3000 in cash to a courier claiming to be from the hire company and the other £8,500.
Please report any suspicions to:
Croydon trading standards on 020 8407 1311 or Croydon CID on 020 8649 0146. Alternatively to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
REPORT A FRAUD: NEW GOVERNMENT AGENCY
Every fraud, no matter what scale, is important. Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
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