Pet threat caller warning
RUNCORN residents have been urged to be vigilant following reports of ‘aggressive’ doorstep sellers involving cold callers threatening to hurt householders’ pets.
Cheshire Constabulary said there have been a slew of cold caller incidents across the county over the last month.
Areas targeted include Runcorn, Northwich, Warrington and Norley.
Incidents have involved cold callers claiming to be ex-offenders trying to turn their lives around and trying to aggressively sell household items, but resorting to spitting on residents’ windows and cars and making threats against their pets when failing to secure a sale.
Eight cold caller incidents were reported in Runcorn on Tuesday, October 15 alone, kicking off the month of incidents.
The latest three reports were made in Lymm, and were over calls made between 2pm and 3pm on Thursday, November 14.
The cold caller on that occasion was described as a white man, estimated to be in his late 20s and around 6ft tall.
He had brown hair, a lazy eye and freckles and was wearing a blue and black ski jacket.
Enquiries in relation to the incidents are ongoing and the force is appealing for anyone with information regarding the man, or any other cold caller operating without a certificate, to get in touch.
Residents are asked to report any incidents of cold callers trying to sell them items without the required door-to-door trade certificate, particularly if the offender acts in an aggressive or threatening manner.
Residents are also urged to not allow themselves to be pressured into buying items from cold callers.
Detective Chief Inspector Justin Hancock, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Force Intelligence Bureau, said: “We work alongside Trading Standards to prevent people from selling items door-todoor without the required licence.
“The public also has a crucial role to play by reporting such cold callers to us on 101”.
He added: “We have had a number of reports of cold callers acting in an aggressive manner over the past month.
“If you are targeted at your home please follow the force’s advice regarding cold callers.”
The force’s advice for residents targeted by cold callers is:
Do not open the door to stranger, use a door chain if one is available when answering the door.
If there is not door chain, ask the caller who they are through the door before opening it.
Do not open the door if they are not expected or not known to the householder.
If the cold caller tried to sell something, ask to see their pedlar’s certificate – failing to have one is breaking the law when selling items door to door.
Report doorstep sellers operating without a pedlar’s certificate to
Trading Standards and also to the police, particularly if the cold caller acts in an aggressive or threatening manner
If the items are not wanted, tell the cold caller and re-enter the house.
Never be pressured into buying something not wanted and never let a cold caller into the house.