DON'T come knocking on our doors!
That is the message from residents who have signed up to cold calling control zones across North East Lincolnshire.
Yesterday as part of Rogue Trader Day, representatives from Shoreline Housing Partnership, Trading Standards and North East Lincolnshire Council, visited The Limes, Barnoldby Road, Waltham, to raise awareness of "doorstep crime".
So far, there are 97 cold calling control zones across the borough, covering 5,703 homes.
The zones are identified by a sign with the Humberside Police badge, a contact number and a message reading "No uninvited salespeople" on it.
Peter Hydes, 78, has lived at The Limes, a sheltered housing complex, for the past ten years.
He has only once come across a cold caller, but sent them on their way quickly.
He said: "There was a group of three people that came round the houses here trying to get people to switch their energy suppliers.
"They were saying they're cheaper and they would benefit us.
"I asked if they had permission from Shoreline to come knocking on our doors and they said yes.
"When I asked for proof they said it was on their laptop, which they had no access to at that time.
"I started to get suspicious so I told them to go away.
"More people need to be aware of these cold callers especially the elderly and most vulnerable who are targeted more often."
All of Shoreline's 29 sheltered houses across North East Lincolnshire are cold calling control zones.
Pat Hooton, community co-ordinator for Shoreline, said: "We are trying to do our best to deter these rogue traders from visiting."
As part of Operation Rogue Trader, Humberside Police took part in a day of action yesterday, to crack down on those who target elderly and vulnerable people by charging extortionate prices for work to be carried out at their homes. Officers from across the force worked with representatives from local Trading Standards authorities to disrupt those intent on par taking in this type of criminal activity. Detective Inspector Simon Gawthorpe, said: "The people who carry out these types of offences target the elderly and most vulnerable members of our local communities in an attempt to make some money and to steal from them. "They will approach an address and attempt to carry out work, which is either not required or not complete and then charge extortionate prices for it. "It is vital that we catch these offenders before they target more homes. "Along with targeting the offenders, officers will be going out to speak to those members of the local community who might be at risk from these opportunist thieves. "It is important that we offer them support and advice on how to spot these people and what to do if they come to their homes. "I also want to encourage people to report these offences to police, as it is estimated that this sort of crime largely goes unreported. "If we don't know about the offences then we cannot investigate them and it is important we catch these people before they get away with your money."
