WARNING TO PUBLIC AFTER FOUR DISTRACTION THEFTS

Dorset residents are being advised to be on their guard – and to make sure that they take suitable security precautions – after a spate of four distraction thefts against elderly victims in the Bournemouth, Poole and Wareham areas.

Householders are also being asked to keep an eye out on their vulnerable neighbours and to immediately report any suspicious activity that could be a distraction theft or distraction burglary in progress to the police by dialling 999.

In the first distraction theft, around mid-day on Christmas Eve, a 92-year old man in Northbourne, Bournemouth, had his wallet containing cash stolen after a bogus water-board official gained entry into the pensioner’s property on the pretence of checking the water. The amount of money stolen has not been released.

In the second distraction theft – in Poole – around 7pm on Monday, 29 December 2008, an elderly man had his wallet containing credit cards and cash stolen after he let two men into his home in Freshwater Drive in Hamworthy.

The third distraction theft was reported in Bournemouth in the afternoon of 30 December 2008.  A man in the Townsend area had his wallet stolen after answering the door  to a man falsely claiming that someone had reversed into the householder’s car.

The resident went outside to check his car with the man and when he returned, his wallet containing cash had been stolen. It is thought that a second person may have entered the man’s home and stolen the wallet.

The same evening, a fourth distraction theft happened in Wareham town centre.  Two men posing as police officers persuaded an elderly woman to left them into her flat; stealing a quantity of cash from her bedroom.

In all four instances, police officers searched the areas and carried out house-to-house enquiries while crime scene investigators have carried out forensic examinations at the properties. No arrests have so far been made.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We would like to hear from anyone who has any information at all about those responsible for these despicable crimes that take advantage of the good nature of householders – no matter how insignificant that information may appear to be.

“The public can also be a big help in preventing distraction thefts while those people with elderly relatives or vulnerable neighbours should urge them to always use a door chain and urge them to never keep large amounts of money at home.

“Householders should ask callers to hand identification documents through the gap while the chain is still on the door so they can be checked by the householder who should shut and lock the door while they check the identification documents at their own speed.

“If householders are suspicious about a caller’s identification documents, they should look up the telephone number of the organisation or company that the caller claims to be from in a directory and call that number to ensure that everything is genuine.

“Legitimate callers will be happy to provide identification for inspection and they will never mind waiting on the doorstep with the door locked. When faced with such a response, bogus callers normally immediately leave the area.

“Together, we can make a difference by urging our neighbours or relatives to take these few simple measures to foil the thieves,” explained the Dorset Police spokesman.

Suspicious activity that could be a distraction burglary should be immediately reported to Dorset Police in confidence by dialling 999 while anyone with information about past suspicious activity should dial 01202 222 222.