Notts: County Council urges residents to be vigilant after rise in number of doorstep crime incidents

Figures for 2013-14 show there was 160 per cent rise in complaints about bogus gardeners, a 72 per cent rise in the number of complaints about incidents involving bogus tarmac and paving workers and a 62 per cent rise in the number of calls concerning bogus roofers.

The council’s main advice to all householders is to say no to all cold callers to avoid being a victim of a scam and seek a trader through recommendation or one signed up to its Buy with Confidence scheme which has traders who have been vetted by the service.

Coun Glynn Gilfoyle, chairman of the council’s community safety committee, said: “Doorstep crime is under-reported as victims are often embarrassed or ashamed about their experiences.”

“It is important people do not suffer in silence and we have done a lot of work recently to raise awareness on this issue, which may have partly led to the increase in reports.”

“Prevention is better than cure so we are urging residents not to get sucked in by the sales patter of a doorstep trader .”

“Don’t be afraid to say no.”