Witney MP supports fight against conmen (From Witney Gazette)

Witney MP supports fight against conmen

3:15pm Monday 14th January 2008 in Witney By Matt Wilkinson

CONSERVATIVE Party leader David Cameron has pledged his support in the fight back against doorstep crime.

The Witney MP is backing the campaign to lock out the distraction burglar.

West Oxfordshire has become a hot-spot for rogue traders and distraction burglars in recent years.

'No cold-calling' zones have been introduced for residents living in Witney, Woodstock, Chipping Norton, and Eynsham, because homes in these areas have been frequently targeted.

In 2007, there were at least 27 distraction burglars in West Oxfordshire - but many more could have gone unreported.

Mr Cameron said: "People should be very careful when they answer the door. Police are running a great campaign, and we are living in a low-crime area, but there is more we can do to stop these burglars.

"Distraction burglars can hit quiet rural communities pretending to be the gas man or water board. Often it is the elderly and vulnerable people who suffer, including many people in my constituency.

"These men are absolutely despicable. In my view, when you suffer a burglary, you feel completely violated. I want to see really tough penalties for burglars.

"If they cross the boundaries of someone's property, we should come down like a tonne of bricks."

In September last year, Mr Cameron met trading standards, police, and elderly charities in Woodstock to discuss distraction burglaries and tactics used to drive them out of the area.

In a three-week period in January and February, there were 17 distraction burglaries in West and South Oxfordshire alone.

The West Oxfordshire police commander, Chief Inspector Dennis Evernden, said the conmen travel to rural areas Oxfordshire from neighbouring counties to commit their crimes.

Because they come and go and cross policing and local authority boundaries, they are very difficult to catch. Mr Evernden added: "You don't have to open your door to anybody. It's your house, and no one has the right to come in.

"They are career criminals. It's what they do. It's how they make a living. They are parasites on society, who prey on the most vulnerable.

"If these people cannot make you pay over the odds for work that doesn't need to be done, then they will not hesitate about getting into homes and stealing cash."

Anyone who fears a bogus caller has been to their door should contact police, on 08458 505505.

But if the caller does not leave when asked, or you feel in danger, contact police immediately, on 999.

To report a rogue trader, contact trading standards, on 0845 051 0845