Stay Out Stranger campaign to launch

8:31am Thursday 5th July 2007

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POLICE are sending out an SOS asking the public to be more vigilant in an attempt to defeat distraction burglars and rogue traders.

Wiltshire Police are due to launch the Stay Out Stranger (SOS) Campaign tomorrow to raise awareness of doorstep crimes.

The campaign has been set up after an increasing spate of distraction incidents in Wiltshire, in which victims are often robbed of their life savings and left feeling terrified.

Between March and May this year, 44 distraction burglaries were recorded across the county alone.

The campaign is also targeting rogue traders, who often carry out shoddy work and charge extortionate prices, sometimes taking their elderly victims to the bank to draw out cash.

Last month we reported on the bravery of former Sergeant Major Ernest Bassett, 88, of West Street, Warminster, who reacted quickly to an intruder and slammed his door shut before giving the police a detailed four-page description of the incident which later led to the arrest of two men.

In response to the SOS campaign, Mr Bassett said: "I think it is a good thing. My advice would be to ask for ID straight away. If they haven't got any, don't let them in.

"They say that they don't have any ID or use a fake one, but they have the same old saying that they want to switch something on or check pipes. Once one of them gets inside the other one comes in."

The scheme will also see the promotion of the Bobby Van charity, a free service that visits vulnerable victims of burglaries and distraction burglaries to install security measures and safety devices.

In reference to the Bobby Van charity, Mr Ernest said: "I think it is important. They are going to put a couple of devices in my place.

"I think people who do distraction burglaries are wrong. They wouldn't be standing if I had half the chance."

The Duchess of Cornwall is a patron of the Bobby Van Trust.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "The Bobby Van is a service that is operated by lock fitters, carpenters and crime prevention officers.

"It goes round to houses of people particularly vulnerable to distraction burglaries. They store all manner of security devices including viewfinders for the door to make the homes more secure.

"They visit people following recommendations from a variety of organisations including Age Concern, the Wiltshire Constabulary, Victim Support and social services."

The Bobby Van was established in 1998 and is an independently operated scheme relying entirely on donations.

There are three vans in Wiltshire that cost £220,000 each year to run, helping to secure 1,500 homes.