90-year-old tricked by bogus callers

POLICE are warning Bexhill residents to beware of bogus callers after a 90-year-old woman was targeted in De La Warr Road on Monday.

They say Bexhill is a popular hunting ground for conmen and confidence thieves because of the town's unusually high proportion of elderly and vulnerable residents.

There were an incredible thirty reports of distraction burglary in Bexhill between August 4 and 29 and doubtless many others not reported.

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On Monday the woman was visited by two men who said something about cutting grass and entered the house by the back door. The lady later found her handbag had been stolen.

Neighbours saw a black Ford Transit van in the area which police believe could be connected to a number of similar thefts in Bexhill and Eastbourne.

The 'gardening' trick has been attempted several times in recent weeks and on one occasion an elderly man was stopped in the street by men claiming to be his gardeners.

Senlac division crime prevention coordinator Thelma Blankley said: "They always seem to know which house to visit to find a vulnerable, often elderly victim.

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The advice about dealing with such callers is often repeated, but the elderly and vulnerable are not always able to remember how to deal with these people who are well practiced. It is up to their more alert neighbours to remind them regularly and be prepared intervene if they are concerned."

The advice is:

p Do not allow casual callers into your home. Always leave the back door locked.

p Check callers through a door viewer or nearby window. Put on the door chain or bar before opening the door to check identity even when a caller is expected.

p Genuine callers are happy to wait. Ring up the organisation they claim to represent using the number in the telephone book rather than a number they give you.

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Thelma added: "One ploy is to say they have done work for you before or that you know them. If you do not remember them, say so, do not be embarrassed. This ploy was used on one elderly resident who said not only did he remember them but he recalled that he had told them where to go when they had visited him previously and proceeded to do the same again.

"Elderly people on their own are often more vulnerable because they rarely have visitors. Be a good neighbour and keep an eye on such residents. A quick hallo and asking after their health can make a real difference to their quality of life. It is also an opportunity to remind them to use their door chain."

Inspector Max Mosley said later that two people had been arrested on Tuesday and had been bailed pending identification procedures.

He said Moat Care and Repair still had kits available for free installation to protect the homes of the vulnerable from distraction burglars.

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He said the kits had proved highly effective. "We would really prefer that people had them installed rather than not.

"Protecting elderly victims is an absolute priority for Sussex Police and the public should not be concerned about phoning 999 if they are suspicious about people."

Moat Care and Repair has a list of reputable traders and will also fit distraction burglary kits for residents. They can be contacted on 216077.