Leitrim Gardaí advise public on dealing with bogus callers following burglary
Gardaí in Leitrim have issued advice after reports of bogus callers linked to a burglary in Newtowngore, urging residents not to engage and to report suspicious activity.
Leitrim Gardaí have issued advice to residents on what to do if a suspected bogus caller comes to your door.
The information was shared by An Garda Síochána Sligo/Leitrim on their Facebook page, advising those who may be vulnerable. The warning follows reports received last night of a house burglary in Newtowngore on Thursday, April 23, in which a dark-coloured BMW estate car was involved, with its occupants reportedly offering power washing services.
Gardaí have warned that these bogus callers tend to target vulnerable individuals and those who live alone.
“Such callers may offer services such as power washing, painting, selling goods etc. They prefer to target the more vulnerable and people who live alone.
“We advise people not to engage with such callers, Don't open your door to anyone before you are confident that they are known to you or that they give a genuine reason to be there,” the Gardaí advised in their post on Facebook.
They also advised using a chain lock for added security. “These callers can be intimidating and often refuse to take no for an answer.”
People are being urged to contact Gardaí immediately on 999 or 112 if they encounter such a caller, and to provide as much information as possible, including a description of the person, the registration number of the vehicle, and the direction of travel.
“We ask you to be vigilant when out and about and report suspicious people/vehicles to us immediately. Please pass this advice on to those who may need a reminder,” the post continued.
The advice concluded with guidance such as keeping unexpected callers out, remembering that if in doubt, keep them out, not opening the door, using the door chain, looking for identification, and only using the services of people you know and trust.