Police swoop on the bogus callers
Scrap metal thieves also targeted on roads
Police in Paisley have nabbed bogus callers and scrap metal crooks in a series of road checks.
A team of officers, along with police dogs, stopped a row of white cars and people carriers in Main Road, Ferguslie as part of an ongoing crackdown against conmen.
Following the operation, police chiefs revealed that a “number of offences” were detected.
Paisley Inspector Tracy Harkins told the Paisley Daily Express: “On Thursday night, officers from the Local Alcohol Violence Reduction Team and Local Community Policing Team carried out an operation targeting travelling criminals within the Paisley area.
“The officers were assisted by the dog section and a number of offences were detected.
“Operations of this nature allow us to detect offences, identify criminals and gather valuable intelligence to assist us in the detection of acquisitive crime such as housebreaking and bogus callers.”
Last week, it was reported that three ‘workmen’ tried to dupe an older couple into handing over hundreds of pounds.
The crooks appeared at a home in Tylney Road, in the Ralston area of Paisley, on Sunday afternoon, claiming to work for a painting company which was carrying out legitimate work.
It’s thought the bogus callers – described as a man in his 50s and two younger men – had targeted the property after spotting a work van outside the previous day.
They asked the homeowners, who are both in their 60s, to hand over several hundred pounds for more paint.
However, the quick- thinking couple called the painting firm before handing over any money and were told that they had no workers in the area.
Inspector Harkins added: “In that incident, no money was lost, but victims of bogus callers aren’t always so fortunate.
“I would also ask families in the town to remain vigilant against these types of bogus calls and never hand money over unless they are confident that the work has in fact been carried out by a legitimate contractor.”