PC Stuart Burns, who leads our community Policing Team with Sergeant Graeme Stitt, covering Nithsdale came to the recent CCA meeting and relayed some important information to pass onto the community.
He warned that this time of year is bad for doorstep crime – and advises us to please be aware of people wanting to carry out unwarranted services.
We outline some important steps you can take to keep yourself safe in our ‘Useful Info’ section, outlined here:
All genuine callers will be happy to show you their card and wait while you check it. Ask them to post it through the letter box to avoid opening the door. You should check that the photo on the card matches your visitor, that there is a valid helpline number to call and that it is not tampered with in any way.
If you have any doubts, contact the company – use the phone directory or internet – not the number on the card as it may be false. If you are not entirely satisfied, post the card back to them and say something polite but firm e.g. ‘not today thank you!’ and if you are suspicious, contact a neighbour or call the police. Click here for more and here for more info.
PC Burns also asked us to be aware of phone calls from anyone asking for your card details. Fraudsters can sound very plausible and may pretend to be from well known companies such as Microsoft.
The police advise us to never give card details or pin numbers to anyone.
If you have any doubts about a phone call, just hang up. It’s not rude. You can phone the company, using their documented phone number, to check if the call was genuine.
Letters from the Spanish lottery telling you you have won a large amount of money are also a scam.
A couple of useful links on the subject of scams:
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/phone-scams#what-to-do-if-youre-scammed
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/scams/spotting-and-reporting-scams/how-to-report-a-scam/
We are also reminded that when we chat about going on holiday on social media, we are advertising that our house is empty – this gives rise to house break-ins. You can save all your best pics to show off to everyone when you get back home!
Remember never use a mobile phone when driving.
In an emergency always dial 999.
For non-urgent crime, you can contact your local police office by telephoning 101 or you can email the Nith ward police community here: NithsdaleCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk