Man arrested for distraction burglary

A man was arrested yesterday (5 August) in connection with a distraction burglary that took place in April.

The incident took place on 16 April, when a woman in her 70s was approached at her residential park home in Stratford upon Avon by a man asking if she had jewellery that she would like to sell.

He was allowed to enter her property and a sale was agreed and cash exchanged in return for some items. However the victim subsequently noticed that another item of jewellery had been stolen.

Following a police investigation, a 57-year-old man from Portsmouth was arrested and later bailed to Leamington Spa Justice Centre until 1 October 2021 whilst enquiries continue.

Detective Constable Leanne Ganley from Leamington Spa Proactive CID said “Members of the community are reminded to be on their guard when they receive unexpected visitors who call at their door.

“Genuine callers will usually have an appointment and cold callers should be asked for identification. If there is any doubt, they should not be allowed in.

“We would ask that our guidance below is shared, particularly with vulnerable people, so they can be aware to the threat of bogus callers, remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to these callous opportunists.”

• check to see who is at the door by using a door viewer, or looking through a front window
• put the chain on before you open the door as this is a barrier against unwanted callers
• when an unexpected caller claims they work for a utility company, they must be able to quote your password and unique customer number and produce an identity card
• if someone claims to be from the police, they should carry an ID card with their photograph on - check this carefully and keep the chain on. This also applies to genuine tradespeople.
• if you're unsure about the caller's identity, telephone the company the caller claims to represent, but don't rely on them giving you the number as it may be false - genuine callers won't mind waiting
• if you're still unsure, ask the caller to come back later so that you can arrange for a friend or relative to be present
• if you feel uncomfortable or are concerned with the person’s presence, call 101 or 999 if a crime is in action