Police Chief warns Shropshire residents over rogue traders
A Shropshire police chief today issued a reminder about doorstep strangers offering to do work on the home or garden.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, the county's senior detective, was speaking in the run-up to National Rogue Traders Week which gets underway on Monday.
"I want to highlight the dangers of consenting to have work carried out by people who call at your door unannounced. Rogue traders are brazen, persuasive and unscrupulous who pretend to be a legitimate builder or gardener.
"If there is a stranger at your door, stop, think and remember SOS - Stay Out Stranger."
DCI Edwards said a small number of people in Shropshire fell victim to rogue traders each year, especially during the autumn.
"Fortunately, such incidents are relatively rare in the county. But they do happen and invariably, it's elderly people who are targeted. Everyone needs to be on their guard.
"My advice is quite clear - don't accept work from strangers knocking on your door. They will often use intimidating behaviour to convince you to have work done that is usually not needed, the end result will be sub-standard, costing much more than the original quote.
"Rogue traders prey on the elderly and vulnerable, conning people into paying high prices for low quality work."
During National Rogue Traders Week, West Mercia Police and Shropshire Trading Standards will work together giving advice on how to avoid falling victim to a rogue trader.
DCI Edwards said: "Reducing the number of these offences is a key priority in Shropshire and other parts of the West Mercia area.
"Because criminals will pose as tradespeople offering to carryout out maintenance work on the home or garden, my advice is to get a local business to do the work so when they turn up, you know they are genuine.
"Rogue traders can even demand payment up front and then fail to do the work, leaving fake contact details so the householder has no opportunity to get their money back."
