Cops help Christmas shoppers to stay safe
Officers visit Braehead and hand out anti-scammer advice
Police delivered a free Christmas gift to shoppers at intu Braehead as they handed out vital advice to beat scammers.
Community cops held a pop-up event at the Renfrew shopping centre in a bid to reach as many people as possible with their financial harm safety messages
PC Stevie McDonald, from the Retail Crime Unit, along with staff from the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Renfrewshire Adult Protection Committee hosted the event yesterday at the centre’s Chatty Chairs.
They handed out leaflets and offered advice on cruel scams deployed by criminals to dupe people out of cash, either over the phone, online or on their doorsteps.
The Paisley Daily Express’s ongoing Protect Our pensioners campaign which aims to highlight all forms of also crime.
Sergeant Barry McNaught, from Renfrew, Johnstone and the villages community policing team, said: “This was an ideal opportunity, along with partners, to raise awareness of all types of financial and bogus crimes, including online, on the phone, and on the doorstep.
“The stall at intu Braehead gave us a chance to speak to people directly about some of the scams used by criminals and offer advice on how to protect yourself. We had a captive audience there and it was an informal setting so people were able to come up and have a chat if they were worried about crimes of this kind, or if they were worried about a neighbour.
“Through pop-up stalls such as this we hope to reach as many people as possible as we try to raise awareness.
“Par t n e r s f rom RBS and Renfrewshire Adult Protection Committee were also on hand to help provide advice on staying safe.”
He added: “We would like to thank intu Braehead for allowing us to hold the stall and we hope to have further events in the future. The messages tie in perfectly with the Paisley Daily Express’ Protect Our Pensioners campaign.”
Anyone who feels threatened by a cold caller either over the phone or at their door should phone police on 101.