Alert after roof repair conmen incidents (From York Press)

Alert after roof repair conmen incidents

10:03am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

ELDERLY people have been targeted in a spate of incidents involving “despicable” rogue callers pretending to carry out roof repairs.

There have been six recent incidents of pensioners in Haxby being targeted by two men claiming to have seen a bird fly into their roof.

Twice, the men have offered to go into the loft to get the bird out and check for damage. They offer to repair the damage – which has been caused by themselves – at an inflated price and on other incidents they have demanded a fee to remove the bird, police said.

North Yorkshire Police are issuing a county-wide warning as two similar incidents have also happened in Selby in recent weeks.

PC Hayley Rowbotham, of York Police, said: “These people are some of the most cowardly and despicable people we come across. It is bad enough to try to con innocent members of the public out of their hard-earned cash, but to target the most trusting and vulnerable people in our communities is beyond contempt.

“Anyone who is targeted by this pair or suspects or have seen them in action, should contact North Yorkshire Police as a matter or urgency.

“If you see them in your neighbourhood or at the home of an elderly or vulnerable person, do not hesitate to phone 999.” Police have been working with Trading Standards officers and have issued crime prevention advice in Haxby and Selby, a police spokesman said.

PC Rowbotham advised people not to answer the door to cold callers and never to let them into your home.

She said genuine callers would understand being asked to wait while householders checked credentials and said people should ask callers to provide ID through the letterbox, then make them wait while phoning their company to check them.

She added: “If you do need any work doing on your property, discuss with family or friends and approach a reputable business.”