Warning after bogus caller steals from pensioner

People could ask who the caller was through the unopened door if they felt comfortable and could check their identity by calling the company they were claiming to be from.

If the caller was genuine then they should not mind waiting for householders to check, said the spokeswoman.

Householders should use a number listed in a telephone directory or directly by the company to check a company was legitimate as a bogus caller could give out a fake number.

People should check a caller’s identity card carefully and with the door closed — again, genuine callers would not mind people taking this precaution, said the spokeswoman.

Some utility companies operate a password scheme for elderly or vulnerable customers so that any representative from the company must give a pre-approved password to gain access to a person’s home.

“Bogus callers can be very smartly dressed, especially if they’re claiming to be from the council, police or ‘water board’,” said the spokeswoman.

“It is worth remembering that the ‘water board’ no longer exists, it is an obsolete phrase.

“Some may pretend to be builders or gardeners, and try to trick people into paying for unnecessary work.”

Anyone with concerns about suspicious activity in their area should call police on 101 or, if a crime is in progress or a life is at risk, call 999.

Anyone with information about the incident on Winifred Street should call 101, quoting incident number 1106 of May 14.