Bogus callers in Mid Sussex - reducing doorstep crime & distraction burglary

Here's what you can do to keep yourself safe - and help others.

When you hear someone at the door:

• Take your time - a genuine caller will wait

• Look and see who is there, using the door viewer or a window

If you do not recognise who it is:

• apply your door chain or door bar

• check all your doors are locked - burglars often come in pairs, so one may come in the back why you're being distracted at the front door

Always ask for identification, but remember:

• ID cars are easy to copy.  If in doubt, ask them to wait and call their company to check - once again, a genuine caller will not mind

• Use your phone book or utility bill to find the number - don't accept a mobile number offered to you by the caller

You do not have to let people in and if you are uncertain then don't, however persuasive or plausible the caller is.  It is better that a genuine caller is turned away than a burglar is let in.

And if you look after someone who is elderly or vulnerable, please do all you can to make sure they heed this advice - and to persuade them not to keep large sums of money at home.

The latest Mid Sussex bogus caller alerts are posted on our blog and our feed can be used to alert you automatically.

Report bogus callers...
Call the police immediately on 0845 60 70 999 if you become the victim of one of these burglars, or if you see anyone behaving suspiciously near where you live.  Try to give a description.  Prompt information concerning suspect callers working in the area may prevent other crimes.

If in doubt keep them out!

Do not agree to any work being done, or sign anything until you've discussed it with family, friends or neighbours.  Bogus callers can pose as builders or gardeners and try to trick you into paying for unnecessary work - never agree to this and always get at least two quotes from reputable companies.  You can check with the local Trading Standards office.

If the caller is asking for urgent help, only help them if you have someone else with you, or offer to call the emergency services for them.  They sometimes ask to come in and use the phone or have a glass of water - a trick to gain entry.

If in doubt keep them out!

Please visit the links page for links to many other crime related websites.  Some useful links are provided here for further crime prevention advice in general:

Home Office advice
Sussex Police Community Safety
BBCi crime prevention advice
Government advice site

The products page contains details of security products available from Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch.

If in doubt keep them out!

Further checking a caller's ID...

• Look up the phone number and check it  against the callers ID card.  Don't just ring the number on the card - it may be a fake

• Phone directory enquiries to help check whether the company is genuine

• Look at a recent bill to check the phone number

• If after these checks you still have doubts, especially if they called unannounced, tell them to return later when someone can be with you or ask them to arrange a more convenient time by letter

It's a good idea to keep a list of useful phone numbers handy so you can refer to it easily.  The contacts page contains such a list, you may like to print it out and add to it.

If in doubt keep them out!

Help available...
Operation Secure and the Nominated Neighbour Scheme exists to provide support for those most vulnerable to the bogus caller.  Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch is funding a number of door bars and Sussex Police Authority are providing memo-minders to help those most at risk.

The bogus caller information leaflet is available in large print and also an audio cassette is available free of charge.
Lifeline Alarms - the monitoring centre are happy for them to be activated if you are worried about the caller and they will then 'talk you through' the response to the caller.  The alarms can be upgraded to include a bogus caller button.

Free security advice is available from the local Neighbourhood Specialist Team:

Police Station, Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath,  RH16 4BA.

If in doubt keep them out!

At the 2006 North Downs Neighbourhood Watch Conference Trading Standards was publicising the Priority Services Registers which must be maintained by every energy supplier.  It was suggested that we include more information about this via the Extranet. Here is an outline of the Register scheme:

• It is available to anyone who is of pensionable age, has a disability, has long term ill health or is blind or visually impaired

• Consumers can choose from a range of free services including a password protection scheme, quarterly meter reading, and a free gas safety check

For more information, click on the link below and download from the Energy Watch website:
Free Services1 (128KB)
Downloading and Printing info here.

Operation Secure is highly significant as a glut of bogus callers continue to operate in the Mid Sussex area.  We would like everyone to be vigilant and display the door stickers.  If we got information promptly concerning suspect callers it may link into other crimes.

• 'Checking on why you are not at school today'

• 'Looking round the house to see if you have anything to sell'

• 'The windows need replacing'

• 'I am doing a survey on fire risk'

• 'I just want to use the toilet'

These are all excuses used for entering homes in Mid Sussex.

Operation Secure is intended to provide support for those most vulnerable to the bogus caller.  Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch funds a number of door bars and Sussex Police Authority provide memo-minders to help those most at risk.

We have all been visited by an itinerant trader at some stage.  Some 40 years ago trading at the door was a way of life, thus, it is the older members of the community who are likely to trust such traders.

Home Office research* confirms that victims of bogus callers often become, subsequently, victims of burglary.  This same study projects, from its research, that only 10% of these incidents are reported to the Police.  The intention of Operation Secure is to reduce the numbers of victims in Sussex and, with your help, it will see hundreds of vulnerable householders more able to effectively deal with callers at the door.

Operation Secure gives the vulnerable the confidence to refuse entry to the suspicious caller and to report activity to the Police.

* For more information see the government's
Crime Reduction site.

Please see the blog for recent crime incidents to be aware of in the Mid Sussex area.

If in doubt keep them out!

Operation Secure has been upgraded.  Vulnerable people can nominate a neighbour to help them deal with callers at the door.

A nominated neighbour pack is available from your coordinator (see below), police stations and Mid Sussex District Council.

The elderly and vulnerable often need help in assessing if a caller is genuine.  As a result, Mid Sussex Police launched the Nominated Neighbour Scheme; rather than discuss a callers' requirements the homeowner can simply hold up a card requesting the caller to attend their 'nominated neighbour' who will return with them if appropriate.  So far the response has been deemed 'magnificent'.

First Point Alarms, part of Downland Housing, have also been extremely supportive in addressing issues of doorstep crime and they are sponsoring an information pack together with West Sussex Trading Standards.

Mid Sussex Police continue to work with the community to provide a proactive response to curb doorstep crime by providing:

• Guidance in dealing with callers at the door

• Advice on door security

• Advice to users of Lifeline Alarms

• Information packs including door stickers

• Nominated Neighbour Scheme

Notices showing 'cold callers get the cold shoulder here' can be erected with the consent of the community.

With plausible identity cards all too easy to produce, it is no longer adequate to take a quick glance at identity cards and be satisfied that a caller is who they say they are.

SAY no to doorstep callers is the message from Mid Sussex Police.

Police Community Support Officer:

Sally Howarth, Police Station, Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath,  RH16 4BA.

The security products page contains details of security products available for purchase from Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch.