POLICE are asking people in North East Lincolnshire to be vigilant after a man claiming to be from a local housing company has managed to steal cash from a woman.
At around 0930hrs on Friday 07 February a man approached the home of a woman on Willing Way, Grimsby and claimed to be from local housing company, Shoreline.
He is reported to have told the woman that she owed money to the company and he was collecting that from her. The woman then let the man into her home, handed over a small amount of cash. The man gave her a receipt and left.
The offender is believed to have had some form of identification with him. He was a white male, with dark hair aged in his 40s and around 6ft tall. He was wearing a yellow coat, which could have been high vis, blue coloured trousers and spectacles. He spoke with a local accent.
To avoid becoming a victim of a bogus caller police offer the follow advice.
When someone calls at your door and offers to do repairs to your home, ask for urgent help, or claims to be a company representative, follow these simple steps to help protect yourself and your home.
LOCK: Keep your front and back doors locked, even when at home.
STOP: Before you answer, stop to think if you are expecting anyone. Check that your back door is locked and any keys are taken out. Look through the spy hole or the window to see who it is.
CHAIN: If answering the door, keep the bar or chain on while you are talking to the person on the doorstep. (when the door is shut and locked, leave the bar or chain off in case of an emergency.) Some bogus callers target older and vulnerable people saying they need help urgently. They may ask you to help them outside the house or ask to use a phone or request a drink. Only offer to help if you have someone with you. Don't worry if you choose not to help it is not rude or unfriendly.
CHECK: If someone who looks official calls at your door, always ask for and carefully check their identity card, even if they have an appointment. Do they look like the person on the card? Do their details match any prior correspondence? Close the door while you do this. If you are not expecting them and they don't show you an identity card, do not let them in until you have double-checked their validity.
ONLY LET THEM IN WHEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THEY ARE GENUINE.
Following the incident Shoreline, who work closely with Humberside Police to help reduce crime across North East Lincolnshire issued this statement:
Shoreline is warning residents to be on their guard against bogus callers posing as employees.
The warning comes after a caller obtained cash from a tenant by posing as a Shoreline employee collecting rent payments, claiming the tenant owed money on their account.
Please remember - all legitimate Shoreline employees and repairs and maintenance partners Mears carry identification.
All residents should check caller ID before letting anyone into their home.
Do not be afraid to contact Shoreline to check on a caller if you have any doubts that they are genuine but make sure that you ring Shoreline on 0845 849 2000 and not on any number that a caller may hand you. Genuine employees will not mind you checking on them.
If residents remain suspicious about a caller they should contact the police and let Shoreline know.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Humberside Police tel 101 quoting crime reference AC/2025358/2014.
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WARNING TO RESIDENTS IN NORTH EAST LINCS RE BOGUS CALLERS
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