Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

Gillingham and Shaftesbury Police have launched a simple but effective bogus caller initiative which is designed to help vulnerable older residents.

It involves very little time but can be an important safeguard to our neighbours. Dorset Police has produced an A4 size orange card that the older resident completes with a trusted neighbour. Should the resident receive a visitor who they do not know they give the card to the caller. The card then advises the visitor to go to the neighbour’s address. The neighbour then verifies that the caller is genuine and attends the mature resident’s address to confirm.

Inspector Phil Cheverton, North Dorset Section Commander, said: “Domestic burglaries are low, however among them is a small but important number of domestic burglaries affecting senior members of our communities. They usually consist of two or more offenders during daylight hours claiming to be from one of the utility companies - one talks while the other ransacks the home. These types of crimes are despicable and cause long-term damage to the victims and impact on their daily lives both mentally and physically.”

Inspector Cheverton goes on to say: “All it takes is a small amount of time to initially complete the card and to work with your neighbours to help provide a safer supportive neighbourhood.”