In the early hours of this morning, Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy joined police teams including investigations, neighbourhoods, and the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team to target and arrest four individuals suspected to be involved in a rogue trader incident in Fareham.

It was reported to police that on approximately 7 occasions between 27 September and 17 October, a woman in her 80s was visited at her home address by men purporting to be tradesmen, who told her she needed roof work doing. 

Minimal work was completed by these men on each visit, and the victim paid £32,800 to the men.

Police have been investigating this as an incident of fraud, and today (Friday 25 October) visited addresses in Titchfield, Fareham and Southampton to make arrests.

Four people were arrested as follows:
 

Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy, District Commander for Policing in Fareham & Gosport, said: “Doorstep crime is a nasty offence type which sees some of the most vulnerable members of our community exploited, manipulated or intimidated into parting with enormous sums of cash. 

“There is no place for it, and I hope today’s activity sends a message that we will take any reports of this type of crime seriously and we will act.

“The community are our eyes and ears, so please keep reporting suspicious activity around scam callers or rogue traders to the police so we can build a bigger picture of who, where and how they are operating.

“It’s so important that as a community we look after each other. Check in on any elderly or vulnerable friends, neighbours or relatives, encourage them to be cautious around cold callers and to make use of the crime prevention advice available on our website about how to identify, and what to do, if you are contacted by a rogue trader.”

For more information on doorstep criminals, please visit the dedicated page on our website: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/police-forces/hampshire-constabulary/areas/campaigns/2018/doorstep-criminals/