Always check worker ID
Residents are being reminded to check a worker’s credentials before allowing them through the front door after reports of distraction burglaries.
No one should enter a resident’s home, even if they are expected, without having identification and it being verified with the relevant organisation.
In one incident, a resident was targeted by a man pretending to be a council worker who, when challenged by the homeowner for his identification, pretended to have left it in a vehicle.
A genuine worker visiting residents will not mind being asked if they are legitimate and will wait while checks are carried out. To check if the caller is from Slough Borough Council, call our contact centre on 01753 475111. Residents who use Careline can also make contact through their red button for assistance to check whether a caller is genuine.
Those who knock on the door and are not genuine will hurry and fluster the resident and make excuses for the lack of their ID.
Cllr Mohammed Nazir, cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: “I am horrified there are despicable people out there who could say they are from the council when all they want to do was get into a resident’s home to steal from them.
“Residents have been used to weeks and weeks of peace and quiet with very few strangers and workers knocking on their door. As we are slowly released from lockdown we just need to be reminded about crime prevention measures so residents don’t become victims.
“Unfortunately, residents have to be cautious about anyone knocking on their door whether arranged or not, and know there are people out there who are not as honest as we want them to be.”
Other crime prevention measures to be reminded of include:-
*shutting windows when not in a room accessible to people walking by
*locking front doors with a key when out of the house or asleep
*not leaving boxes from new purchases on display outside the house
*be cautious giving details online
*don’t answer unexpected emails or texts especially those offering refunds or rebates
*mark and take pictures of expensive property like laptops, jewellery and bicycles
*beware of anyone claiming to be from generic entities like the water or electric board as there is no such thing
For more information about crime prevention measures please visit http://www.slough.gov.uk/crime-prevention-and-emergencies/crime-prevention-advice.aspx or Thames Valley Police here https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/.
No one should enter a resident’s home, even if they are expected, without having identification and it being verified with the relevant organisation.
In one incident, a resident was targeted by a man pretending to be a council worker who, when challenged by the homeowner for his identification, pretended to have left it in a vehicle.
A genuine worker visiting residents will not mind being asked if they are legitimate and will wait while checks are carried out. To check if the caller is from Slough Borough Council, call our contact centre on 01753 475111. Residents who use Careline can also make contact through their red button for assistance to check whether a caller is genuine.
Those who knock on the door and are not genuine will hurry and fluster the resident and make excuses for the lack of their ID.
Cllr Mohammed Nazir, cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: “I am horrified there are despicable people out there who could say they are from the council when all they want to do was get into a resident’s home to steal from them.
“Residents have been used to weeks and weeks of peace and quiet with very few strangers and workers knocking on their door. As we are slowly released from lockdown we just need to be reminded about crime prevention measures so residents don’t become victims.
“Unfortunately, residents have to be cautious about anyone knocking on their door whether arranged or not, and know there are people out there who are not as honest as we want them to be.”
Other crime prevention measures to be reminded of include:-
*shutting windows when not in a room accessible to people walking by
*locking front doors with a key when out of the house or asleep
*not leaving boxes from new purchases on display outside the house
*be cautious giving details online
*don’t answer unexpected emails or texts especially those offering refunds or rebates
*mark and take pictures of expensive property like laptops, jewellery and bicycles
*beware of anyone claiming to be from generic entities like the water or electric board as there is no such thing
For more information about crime prevention measures please visit http://www.slough.gov.uk/crime-prevention-and-emergencies/crime-prevention-advice.aspx or Thames Valley Police here https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/.
