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Police blitz rogue workmen and fraudsters

7:46pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

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By Ben Parsons »

Travelling con-artists and distraction burglars were the target of a massive operation across Sussex today.

Scores of police and Trading Standards officers stopped trucks and vans to try to catch rogue traders while others toured neighbourhoods giving advice to householders.

Every police division in the county carried out spot-checks on groups such as tarmac-layers, roofers and gardeners and people in unmarked traders' vans.

Detectives want to smash the organised groups running distraction burglaries and cons against lone elderly pensioners.

In the latest spate of burglaries five Sussex towns were targeted on Saturday afternoon by people claiming to be either working or helping to deal with a water leak.

The addresses and details of victims are believed to be shared between criminal groups, meaning vulnerable elderly people can end up with repeated cold-calls.

In the last year there have been more than 200 reports of distraction burglaries across the county.

Your Say YourArgus

S.T. Rewth, Brighton says...
8:37pm Wed 21 May 08

Its about time, they are easy to spot and generally can be found on travellers sites that spring up this time of year.

James, West Sussex says...
11:31pm Wed 21 May 08

I take it this 'gloves off' initiative originates from the new Chief Constables office, and I must say very well done.

These dispicable 'people' (I used the term 'people' in its broadest sense) are the lowest of the low, yet previously had (it appeared) been allowed to break most of societies rules on a day to day basis, and then abuse, threaten and rob homeowners using every means possible.

My Grandmothers life was destroyed by members of a group who, according to the Police, were alledged to be travellers involved in numerous scams and thefts in the area. They knocked on my 86yo grans door and told her they had detected a gas leak from her bungalow, and she must leave the building immediately. The man had a woman with him, who it was claimed was there to look after my gran while he checked inside for the leak. He spent only a few minutes inside, but it was long enough to find my grans money, pension book, and her jewelery.

She could not make herself return to her bungalow ever again, and past away in an old peoples home, a shattered person. Other than describing Irish accents and the colour of a van, she couldnt give any description of use.

Please, anyone reading this report, dont come up with things about the 'rights' of people that choose a different lifestyle. As far as im concerned, people like this have no rights at all. It is not 'a few bad apples' amongst a group of decent people. It is a large group of 'bad apples' with a possibilty of one or two good ones amongst them.

As was said in another thread on here recently, dont have anything to do with them in any shape or form. And if you are elderly and live alone, keep the chain on your door, and dont let them in. If they call, politely close the door, and phone 999.

Well done Mr Chief Constable - youve started on this the right, please finished the job and they wont come back.

Gentleman Jim, Brighton says...
12:38am Thu 22 May 08

Well done sir,now please attend to the travellers who have been receiving free parking in areas such as Preston park,clear these ex ambulances,coaches etc from our streets

xxx, roving says...
1:22am Thu 22 May 08

But...
They are not 'your' streets.
You may think you own your house, but you certainly do not own your street.
Your house is likely owned by your bank or building society.
Beginning to see the joke anyone?
Yawn


Ronnie, Brighton says...
2:25am Thu 22 May 08

xxx wrote:
But... They are not 'your' streets. You may think you own your house, but you certainly do not own your street. Your house is likely owned by your bank or building society. Beginning to see the joke anyone? Yawn
go and wash yer dreadlocks stinky

Chris, Brighton says...
10:01am Thu 22 May 08

I hear most of them are pretending to be Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem politicians.

They promise you a better standard of living, fewer working hours, more housing and lower taxes.

But all they deliver is the complete opposite in the form of lower staandards of living, longer working hours less and more expensive housing and very high taxes.

If a politican from Labour, Conservative or the Lib Dems visits your home and is making great promises - report them to the police because they are con artists.

Dave, Wivelsfield says...
12:10pm Thu 22 May 08

xxx wrote:
But... They are not \'your\' streets. You may think you own your house, but you certainly do not own your street. Your house is likely owned by your bank or building society. Beginning to see the joke anyone? Yawn
What joke, I own my house, the building society even gave me the deeds to look after. I also own all of my cars - which are taxed and insured, I support a number of local and national charities financially and in person, I pay all taxes due (including local taxes for education and social services two services I do not use, never had kids in state education and fortunately in good enough health despite advancing years not to need soc serv) How does this compare to the van residents, their dogs and feral kids?

Oh sorry, yes I am starting to see the joke. Its just not funny.

mal, Brighton says...
12:50pm Thu 22 May 08

If you vote Labour you get wwhat you deserve.

Gordon Brown and the Labour Liars promised us a referendum on the EU Treaty / Referendum in their last election manifesto.

The idiots voted Labour back into power but the Labour Liars stitched us up by failing to give us a referendum.

If you vote Labour you get what you deserve.

Roy Hills, Heathfield says...
12:59pm Thu 22 May 08

They're not after 'rogue traders'. It's a Treasury inspired exercise to catch the red diesel users, the benefit fraudsters and the road tax dodgers. Good thing, but lets tell the truth!

Mr No Junk Fraudulent Mail, Sussex says...
2:30pm Thu 22 May 08

Will the police go in and search Royal mail offices and depots for con letters trying to con people out of millions of pound. Surly the Royal mail knows what these letters look like and could stop them dead in there tracks before getting to peoples door mates but they are so desperate in breaking even or making a profit they don’t really care about people being ripped off.

I still say Royal mail alt to be prosecuted for aiding and abetting fraudulent con artists.
So Sussex police don’t just concentrate on rouge trader and door step con artists concentrate on Royal mail delivering fraudulent letters which cost this country millions each year

But then again can you imagine Police swooping down on Royal mail office taking away lorry loads of fraudulent evidence with the queen’s head on most of it. NO will not happen will it. But it does need to happen

Yours faithfully
Mr No Junk Fraudulent Mail

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