Police issue warning over rogue traders

Police have issued a warning about rogue traders after two residents in Bath were targeted by people acting as workmen. Officers received several reports of people claiming to be workmen operating throughout the Bath and North East Somerset area. On February 13, a man approached an elderly resident in The Glebe, Timsbury and asked if he wanted his drive cleared of weeds. According to a police spokesman, the victim paid £300 in cash in advance and the offender returned “a number of times” to demand a further £200 despite very little work being done. In a separate case, a group of men came to work on some trees in Lansdown Place West in Bath on Thursday. The resident was unhappy with the work and contacted the company the men said they were working for. The company however stated they had no record of that address or were aware of the website that was reportedly used to hire the workmen. A force spokesman stated items were also stolen from the home after the workmen were allowed into the property to use the toilet. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We want to remind residents to be wary of any unexpected callers offering goods or services. “Always use tradespeople who have been recommended by a trusted source, and never pay in advance or in cash. “You have the right to have a 14 day cooling off period before any work is started, and don’t let the caller panic you into having any work done by claiming it’s an emergency.” Anyone with any information regarding these incidents should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.