CCTV cameras keep watch for tricksters (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CCTV cameras keep watch for tricksters

The Wiltshire Police Bobby Van initiative has helped many vulnerable people feel safer in their own homes. EMMA PEARSON spoke to one elderly widow about the invaluable help she has received.

BOGUS caller William Doran was jailed for four-and-a-half years last week after preying on elderly people in Wiltshire.

The news came as the police announced that they are setting up a task force to catch a new gang of doorstep conmen, known by police as distraction burglars, who have been tricking their way into the homes of elderly people and stealing cash and pension books.

Doran, 32, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of four distraction burglaries and two burglaries with intent, all committed within the Swindon area.

His usual ruse was to con his way into homes by calling to ask his victims to the funeral of one of their elderly neighbours, after claiming to be the grandson of the dead person.

Detective Sergeant Kier Pitchard, who is in charge of the task force looking for the latest gang, said police had received several tip offs from the public and, as a result, had searched a traveller site in the county, which produced more intelligence to follow up.

He said: "We have had no more burglaries since we announced the setting up of the squad last week, so maybe the message is getting through.

"The sentence given to William Doran was quite a heavy one, and it shows people that these types of offence against the elderly and the vulnerable will not be tolerated."

Det Sgt Pitchard said that with the help of the police Bobby Van, CCTV cameras had been installed at the homes of those thought to be vulnerable to bogus callers.

"Non-genuine callers tend to target the elderly and vulnerable people," he said. "I would ask residents to keep an eye out for older neighbours and relatives and to look out for any strangers or suspicious vehicles. If in doubt call the police."

Since its inception five years ago, the Bobby Van has provided security advice and work to more than 4,000 people, the majority of them elderly victims of distraction burglaries.

An independently run charity, the two vans cover the whole of Wiltshire and offer a range of services from fitting new locks, door chains and window locks to security advice, all free of charge.

Vulnerable residents in the Swindon area can also apply to have CCTV fitted to their front doors, so that if someone rings the doorbell, they can see the image of the caller on their TV.

The Bobby Vans are manned by carpenters Rod Law and Alan Weston.

Mr Law said: "The CCTV comes directly through the TV, so the minute the householder hears the doorbell they can just press a button on their remote control, and they will be able to see who it is."

Marie Riley, 84, had a CCTV camera fitted at her home in Rodbourne Cheney last week. She said: "I have glaucoma and so I'm partially sighted, and I've recently had a knee operation that makes it very hard for me to get about, so I feel quite vulnerable, especially as I am living on my own now.

"My husband died two years ago, and I feel very frightened being on my own at night. I think the TV camera will help, because I can see who is at the door. At the moment I just don't open the door to anybody after it gets dark, no matter who they say they are."

The Bobby Van helps about 800 people a year, mostly the elderly, but also disabled and disadvantaged people and those who have been the victims of domestic abuse. Mr Law said: "I was in the police for 30 years, and before that I trained as a carpenter, so when I retired I decided that the Bobby Van would be a good way to combine those two skills and help people."