Cops’ warning as bogus workmen dupe pensioners

Apr 3 2008 By Gary Fanning

POLICE this week warned residents not to be duped by heartless crooks posing as handymen — after at least six OAPs were targeted in Lanarkshire.

The plea came after the elderly residents, aged between 69 and 87, were conned out of a total of a four-figure sum of cash in the last few weeks.

Conmen are targeting elderly and vulnerable residents by visiting their homes and offering to carry out odd jobs, gardening work and roof repairs.

On some occasions, they are claiming to be working on faulty water pipes which are not faulty.

The tricksters are calling on the pretext of carrying out what they claim are necessary or urgent repairs to people’s homes.

Police are appealing for witnesses after elderly residents were duped in Hamilton, Stonehouse, and Douglas.

l Two conmen went to a Hamilton house to carry out roof repairs but money was taken without any work being done.

l Two fraudsters attended another house in Hamilton to do garden work but they left with money and no work was done.

l Two bogus workmen claiming to be from South Lanarkshire Council entered a house in Stonehouse’s McLean Gardens, claiming there were problems with the water supply in the area.

l Two men entered a house in Douglas on the pretext of selling food.

l Two crooks entered two different houses in Douglas after claiming there was a problem with the water supply.

Inspector Russell Lockhart, of Hamilton Police’s Community Safety Department, urged the elderly to be on their guard against the conmen.

He added: “People should not feel pressurised or intimidated into letting them into their house or doing business with them.

“There are plenty of simple and practical measures that householders can take to help protect themselves and their property from unscrupulous and criminal tradesmen.”

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “We would take any incident of someone impersonating a council officer extremely seriously.

“Anyone calling from the council should always present appropriate ID and will have no qualms about the resident inspecting it.

“We would advise that if anyone is in any doubt, ask for a landline telephone number of the person’s manager and contact them.

“If you are still concerned, then phone the police.”

Strathclyde Police and South Lanarkshire Community Safety Partnership have joined forces to provide a range of free advice and assistance in a bid to stop people becoming victims of bogus callers.

Police urged people not to let anyone into their homes unless they are absolutely sure they are genuine.

For further advice, contact Hamilton Police’s Community Safety Department on 483300.