Police chief calls on communities to fight back against conmen (From Witney Gazette)

Police chief calls on communities to fight back against conmen

3:37pm Tuesday 13th March 2007 in Witney By Tim Hughes

A SENIOR policeman is calling on communities to fight back against conmen preying on elderly people.

Chief Inspector Dennis Evernden, area commander for West Oxfordshire, said the area was being plagued by travelling thieves, targeting elderly householders. And he urged families and neighbours to unite against the criminals, by looking out for pensioners.

He also urged elderly householders to protect themselves, with the message: "Don't trust anyone!"

As reported in the Witney Gazette, at least 17 distraction burglaries have taken place in Oxfordshire in the past three weeks - though police believe more incidents may have gone unreported.

They include thefts from homes in Witney, Chipping Norton, Yarnton, and Woodstock.

Chief Inspector Evernden, who is based in Witney, said people in towns and villages needed to pull together to protect those at risk. He said: "We have a series of these crimes, and the offenders appear to be travelling into the area. It is the most insidious crime there can be. What can be worse than preying on our older people?

"It ruins lives. Some people never recover from it. It destroys their confidence.

"We as a community must fight back by looking after our vulnerable people. Make contact, offer friendship, and tell them you are looking out for them.

"When you are older, you might tend your garden less, and your hedges might not get cut. These are signs that say 'knock here'. So help by cutting their grass and trimming hedges - and make sure they don't have masses of cash in the house."

He told pensioners: "Don't be afraid to be rude, and don't trust ID cards. It's your house - and no one has any right to come in."

"Callers may say they are from the water board, gas board, social services, council, or even Neighbourhood Watch. Don't trust anyone. We need to make West Oxfordshire an unattractive place for travelling criminals."

Sgt Craig Kirby, of Witney police, said: "We've been really hit by distraction burglaries.

"These callous criminals prey on people who they think might be vulnerable. It is a violation of people's honesty."

Last month, two homes in Blakes Avenue, Witney, were targeted on the same day - February 21 - by the same two men.

At one address, they pretended to be from the water board - which does not exist.

At the other, they claimed to be from the local Neighbourhood Watch. The householders, both women aged in their 80s, had cash stolen.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt Kirby via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505, or the anonymous Crimestoppers service on 0800 555 111.