WORCESTER residents are being urged to remain vigilant after three suspicious men in a white van demanded cash from two City properties.
West Mercia Police are reminding residents to always ask for identification from traders following two incidents on Thursday, June 15, where homeowners in Virgonia Avenue and Wylds Lane were targeted by suspected bogus traders.
The first incident happened in Wylds Lane between 10.30am and 11am, where a man knocked on the victim’s door and stated he was working on behalf of the council and offered to clean their guttering for free.
A second man then went up a ladder and claimed that rotten wood needed replacing, before entering the back of the property and removing a section of guttering.
The men then demanded cash in the region of £1,200 to complete the work, and when the victim refused they asked for payment by cheque.
But when it was made clear the victim would not pay them they left the property, leaving behind the section of guttering they had removed.
It is believed the same men then knocked on the door of an address in Virgonia Avenue between 1.30pm and 2pm, where they stated they had been working on the house next door and offered to repair the victim’s roof.
One of the three men went up a ladder to inspect the property, claiming again that rotten wood needed replacing and a sum of £150 was exchanged for them to carry out the work.
However, the men left the area without undertaking any repairs.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour in both areas should call police on 101, quoting incident 403s of June, 15.
Visit www.westmercia.police.uk/bogus for more information on bogus traders.
