Health survey not legit
Door-knockers in Hawera claiming to be conducting a health survey may be canvassing homes to burgle. Social media reports claim a person or persons is knocking on doors in the Hawera area and asking personal questions including contact details, home help support and living situations.
The Taranaki District Health Board (TDHB) has confirmed it is not conducting any kind of health survey and wants people to be wary when answering questions.
‘‘TDHB does not carry out door-to-door surveys.
‘‘They are carried out via post or on site at one of our hospitals or community health centres,’’ said Channa Perry, public and older people health portfolio manager.
‘‘We also run some surveys via email or on our website.
‘‘We also have dedicated consumer groups that we engage with to discuss service planning and development.’’
She said anyone representing the TDHB would carry photo identification.
Perry said people were not obliged to participate in surveys, regardless of who is carrying it out.
‘‘In this instance we recommend they shut the door and call the police.
Hawera police senior sergeant Kyle Davy was not aware of any incidents but said that did not mean they were not happening. He said anyone concerned about being approached should gather as much information as possible to help police with inquiries.
‘‘They will generally be displaying some kind of identification so people should look out for it and contact that company to confirm it is legit,’’ he said.
‘‘If they are going to contact us then we would ask that people make a record of times that the person turned up. Record descriptions etc so that we’ve got a starting point if it is suspicious.’’
He said most companies tended to survey using the phone and the internet.
‘‘It certainly is not uncommon in the wider scheme of things for offenders to scope a place out and pose as a legitimate person, so people should be suspicious if someone presents in that way.
‘‘Certainly let us know because we want to know that kind of stuff.’’