Safeguarding week highlights doorstep crime

Keeping vulnerable and older people safe from doorstep crime and rogue traders will form the main theme of this year’s Safeguarding Week (17 to 21 June).

During the week, information packs will be distributed to local advice and support agencies to help raise awareness of door step crime and provide practical tips on how to stay safe.

The packs include a range of material including fact sheets, a booklet and video.

Neighbourhood Watches will circulate fact sheets to residents while Barnet Homes will also be running sessions with tenants.

Advice includes what to do if you have an unexpected caller.

If in doubt residents should ‘stop, chain and check’. If you are unsure check the person’s identity card carefully.

Consider contacting the company using a telephone number provided on a bill or from the phone book. You could also ask the person to make an official appointment or to come back when someone else is with you. Genuine callers will not mind.

There is also guidance on some of the tactics employed by distraction burglars.

These include people claiming to be from the council, police or utility company, asking to use the toilet or for a glass of water and posing as a door-to-door sales person or tradesman.

Each year the council holds safeguarding week to coincide with World Elder Abuse Aware Day (15 June).

Councillor Sachin Rajput, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “Unfortunately there are unscrupulous individuals out there who are intent on targeting older and vulnerable residents.

“Safeguarding Week is an opportunity to highlight the issue of doorstep crime and to provide some practical tips and advice to help people to stay safe.

“I would urge anyone approached by a bogus caller to contact the police straight away.”

Superintendent Neil Seabridge from Barnet Police said: "If you are suspicious about a possible bogus caller you should always contact the police. Your prompt call might stop someone else, possibly a friend or neighbour, becoming the victim of crime.

“In non urgent cases you can telephone101 but if the crime is happening always call 999. Your information might be the vital step that will help keep vulnerable members of our community safe.”

More information on tips on how to deal with rogue traders, and for details of scams which have been reported locally can be found here: http://www.barnet.gov.uk/info/930210/scams/1111/scams