Spalding residents warned of "cold callers"

Description:

Residents in Spalding and South Holland are being warned to be on their guard against "cold callers" offering crime prevention advice or to security mark their belongings.

The warning comes from Lincolnshire Police following two incidents in the county.

In the first a woman received a call from someone saying he was from a security firm and that he would be in the area the following day giving out pens for marking household belongings.

When the woman told the caller she was a member of the Crime Prevention Panel, the man hesitated then put the phone down.
 

The householder dialed 1471 and discovered that the number had been withheld.

In another incident, a woman received call from man who did not offer his name or his company's name, saying he wanted to come to her home the following day to discuss fire prevention/crime prevention and general security.

When checked, the caller's number was also found to have been withheld.

Lincolnshire Police cannot be sure as to the motives for such calls, but it would appear likely that the intention is to make appointments to enable the callers to gain access to people's homes.

Lincolnshire Police's community safety and crime reduction manager, Sarah-Jane Freeman stresses that no police officer or member of police staff will "cold call" households.

In all cases of visits and phone calls made by the police, the officer or member of police staff will identify himself or herself by identity card, or by name over the phone, and give the householder the opportunity to contact the main police switchboard on 01522 532222 in order to verify who they are. 

Sarah-Jane said: "Please don't give out personal information or make appointments to allow people into your home on the basis of a phone approach, unless you have checked the legitimacy of the caller.

"We are not absolutely sure as to the motives of the callers in the recent incidents, but their behaviour is extremely suspicious".