Bogus callers scheme for elderly

Thousands of leaflets and stickers on door security are to be delivered to the elderly and vulnerable to stop them becoming bogus callers' "easy targets".

Residents in Oxfordshire will be sent step-by-step guides on how to avoid being duped by confidence tricksters.

The Home Office's campaign is aimed at raising people's awareness.

The average age of distraction burglary victims is 78 and 77% are women, many of whom live alone, research shows.

Distraction burglary is a particularly nasty crime in that the offenders knowingly target the vulnerable and elderly in communities. Judith Taylor, Thames Valley Police crime reduction manager

Bruce McLaren, manager of the county council's Safer Communities Unit, said: "Crimes which exploit some of the most vulnerable members of our community are traumatic for the victims."

Bogus callers often pose as someone from a utility company or local authority.

As part of the scheme, elderly and vulnerable residents will be visited at home by fire and rescue personnel as the well as police officers.

Judith Taylor, crime reduction manager for Oxford for Thames Valley Police, said: "Distraction burglary is a particularly nasty crime in that the offenders knowingly target the vulnerable and elderly in communities, often resulting in long term health issues.

"These victims are often less able to help the police in terms of descriptions of offenders making detection difficult."

Distractions burglaries in Thames Valley have dropped by 26% - 219 crimes - over the past 12 months, according to the force.