RESIDENTS are being urged to make sure elderly family members and neighbours are not vulnerable to bogus callers this Christmas.

Dorset Police say distraction burglars use a wide variety of excuses to gain access to people’s homes, including claiming they are from the water board or other official agencies.

They also target vulnerable members of the community such as the elderly and those who live alone.

Inspector Richard Dixey, of Dorset Police, said: “Offenders will often work in pairs with one person distracting the homeowner while the other enters the house to remove cash and valuables. They are also known to work on their own and can be male or female and will sometimes take children with them.”

He is urging people to not keep large amounts of money in the home and have regular contact and interaction with neighbours and family members.

To avoid becoming a victim of bogus callers, people should follow this advice and take careful note.

  • LOCKED – Is the back door locked?
  • STOP – Am I expecting anyone?
  • CHAIN – Put the chain on BEFORE opening the door.
  • CHECK – Ask for the callers’ ID and shut the door while you check.

Insp Dixey says people should not buy or sign up to any work on the doorstep and request to time to make a decision.

Advice about distraction burglars and bogus callers is behind day 15 of Dorset Police’s Christmas advent calendar.

The initiative, supported by the Daily Echo in the paper and online, aims to spread a different crime prevention message throughout December.

You can view the interactive Christmas advent calendar at dorset.police.uk or search #dpadventcalendar on Twitter.

Recent thefts

  • A conman attempted to target four Bournemouth homes in two hours in September.

The crook told the elderly residents in Redhill and Northbourne that he was doing urgent drain repairs on behalf of the council. One of his victims was a woman in her 90s.

Police said the man wanted to trick his way inside and steal cash but was unsuccessful.

  • Callous burglars posed as tradesmen to steal from a 90-year-old woman and her son in Ferndown in May.

Two men were allowed into the back garden of the family’s home in Stapleford Avenue after calling round to discuss paving. One kept the mother and son talking while the other sneaked into the house and stole a wallet, credit cards and cash.

  • In April cowardly burglars posed as gardeners to con their way into the Poole home of a 79-year-old woman.

The crooks stole the pensioner’s handbag, containing cash and bank cards.

  • And earlier this year prolific distraction burglar Mark Anthony Rhodes, 28, was jailed for six years for preying on elderly Poole residents.

Knocking on doors, he convinced victims that his car had broken down and on the pretext of using the phone book, was allowed to enter homes.

He admitted in April to stealing items from address in Richmond Road, Parkstone and Birds Hill Road.