'Cruel' opportunist thieves to be targeted (From Gazette & Herald)

'Cruel' opportunist thieves to be targeted

"CRUEL and terrible" opportunist crimes are to be tackled in Ryedale with a variety of initiatives.

Ryedale's community safety co-ordinator, Anna Richards, is to seek funds from the Ryedale Community Investment Fund for a two-year programme.

Safer Ryedale is planning to use live theatre and video to tackle dodgy doorstep dealers.

North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers want legislation to apply curbs to 'cold calling'.

Ryedale Community Police Officer PC Terry Triffitt says recent incidents in the area include 'cold calls' about a range of goods and services from three-piece-suites to gardening.

"These doorstep traders are more than likely to be sizing up your home for a follow-up burglary," he said. Cold calls are when a person arrives on a doorstep to solicit business without previously contacting the houshold.

Last Thursday, three men conned their way into an elderly woman's Kirkbymoorside home and ransacked her bedroom.

They claimed to be removing a fallen tree and asked the woman to turn her water off. Two of the men stayed with the householder and when they left, she discovered the third man had searched her bedroom drawers and gone through two purses, leaving them on the bed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ryedale Witness Line on (01723) 509662.

"Such crimes are cruel and terrible for the victims. We aim to reduce the opportunities not only for vulnerable people such as the elderly and disabled but also for their carers," said Ms Richards.

The multi-facted plan she is working on includes involving organisations which make deliveries to homes such as the WRVS.

"We want to tackle such things as encouraging people to have door chains, and to educate them in safety, as well as giving support to victims," said Ms Richards.

In addition, contact cards are planned to be issued which people can keep alongside their phones listing services and agencies which they can ring if a caller comes and they are suspicious.

"We also want to promote Neighbourhood Watch schemes," said Ms Richards.

Safer Ryedale, the district's community safety partnership, is so concerned that it is currently pulling together a range of projects to deal with this crime called "distraction burglary".

PC Triffitt says one approach to be rolled out later this year involves local theatre groups who will use drama workshops with vulnerable groups, to show them how best to deal with these kinds of callers.

Videos are also to be taken out on the road giving the same advice.

John Leadbeater, senior trading standards officer with North Yorkshire County Council, agrees this is an important area of criminal activity: "We would like to see a ban on all cold calling of house maintenance and property repairs, using new legislation, and we have one simple recommendation: 'Do not buy anything over the doorstep'."

Mr Leadbeater is also concerned that this is a crime often played out on vulnerable elderly victims.

"We have to work on improving the doorstep behaviour of older people in order to give them the skills they need to protect."

Ms Richards said: "Tackling the fear of crime in their homes is crucial for many people, especially those living alone, and if we can introduce measures to fight it, such as door chains and peep-holes in doors, it will be a great asset and improve the quality of life for people in Ryedale."

In the meantime, PC Triffitt is available to give advice and support in Ryedale and he can be contacted at Safer Ryedale on (01653) 600666 ext 317.

Updated: 10:43 Wednesday, July 30, 2003