Giving conmen the red card
21/06/2006
A football legend is encouraging people to be on the ball to prevent callous conmen striking.
Jack Charlton has put his weight behind a campaign run by Northumbrian Water, Hartlepool Water and Cleveland Police to raise awareness about bogus callers – people who claim to be employed by a water company but who are only interested in stealing from customers’ homes.
The three organisations have produced a sticker, to be distributed in the Hartlepool area, for vulnerable people to put in their homes reminding them to protect themselves and their property. The sticker lists telephone numbers of companies who are likely to call at peoples’ homes.
People are encouraged to check the identity of the person standing on their doorstep is genuine by ringing the organisation they claim to be from.
World Cup hero, Jack, encourages people to use the stickers and to follow sound from Northumbrian Water, Hartlepool Water and the police: “I think this campaign is very important and if people follow this advice heartache and injury and worse can be prevented. Some people are very trusting and let strangers into their homes. Unfortunately in this day and age you can’t trust everyone – if the person standing on your doorstep is a stranger, regardless where they say they are from, check and double check their identity. If in doubt – keep them out!”
The sticker will be accompanied by a leaflet giving simple steps people should follow when someone calls at their home claiming to be from Northumbrian Water or Hartlepool Water:
0 Front and back doors should be locked at all times.
0 It is very unlikely that Hartlepool Water or Northumbrian Water will need to get into a customer’s home without arranging an appointment first.
0 Customers should look for Hartlepool Water or Northumbrian Water branding on the caller’s vehicle and clothing.
0 The caller’s identity should be checked – every water company employee carries an identity card. Customers can also ring the Hartlepool Water’s customer centre on 0800 028 1054 or Northumbrian Water’s customer centre on 0845 717 1100 to confirm the caller is genuine.
0 A genuine caller will not mind these checks being carried out and customers should use their door chain, if they have one, while checking a caller’s identity. Alternatively, customers should speak to the caller through a locked door – the caller can pass their identity card through the letterbox.
Northumbrian Water’s Cara Hall said: “It is so important that customers take note of this advice – younger members of the family should pass the advice onto their parents and grandparents to ensure they protect themselves and their property.
“Northumbrian Water customers can register a password – anyone from Northumbrian Water needing to gain access to a customer’s property will know this word. To register a password ring the customer centre on 0845 717 1100 or log onto www.nwl.co.uk.”
Cleveland Police’s Steve Davies, said: “The doorstep check is a joint initiative with Cleveland Police, Safer Hartlepool Partnership, Hartlepool and Northumbrian Water. It will hopefully raise the awareness of the importance of householders checking the identity of callers to their door and will help to prevent distraction burglaries and bogus caller crime. As well as delivering the checklists and Northumbrian Water’s leaflet to vulnerable people, they will be available at the main Police Station in Hartlepool and from local police stations throughout the town.”
Kevin Ensell, Water Operations Manager for Hartlepool Water, added: "Hartlepool Water supports the stickers because we know they work. We had at least one case of a vulnerable lady who followed the advice, called our helpline and prevented a bogus official going into her home. If this simple sticker can stop just one more case in the future, then it is a success in preventing the misery that bogus officials bring to our vulnerable customers in the Hartlepool community."
For further information contact Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720.