THE problem of bogus caller crimes against vulnerable elderly residents in Waltham Forest is part of a growing London-wide epidemic.

Bogus callers targeted more than 56,000 homes in London last year and in a third of all cases (18,264) they managed to steal something, according to an NOP survey published today.

Nearly 32 per cent of those approached by bogus callers did not report the incident to police and 42 per cent thought the incident was too trivial to trouble the authorities.

Twenty-eight per cent of older people are not keeping their doors locked while at home and over half of elderly people are still not aware of doorstep safety awareness campaigns.

Dr Amanda Thornton, specialist psychologist on the impact of bogus caller crime and author of the report, said: "This research clearly demonstrates that taskforces need to sustain and increase their awareness-raising efforts.

"In particular I would recommend targeting specialist campaigns at both our older male population and all adults aged over 80, two pockets of the population significantly less likely to be aware of doorstep safety campaigns than other groups."

Previous research has shown that bogus callers, who pose as utility workers, tradespeople and even police officers are part of a highly organised criminal fraternity intent on gaining fraudulent entry to older people's homes to steal money and valuables.

Ian Hagg, spokesman for the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership, said: "We are urging all older people to follow the lock, stop, chain, check safety advice."

Residents should ensure that doors are locked at all times, even when at home.

They should always put the chain on before opening the door and should ask to see an identification card and ring the company concerned to check the caller is genuine.

If unsure, they can ask the caller to return later, when someone will be with them.

BOGUS caller crimes reported in Waltham Forest in the last month have included the following:

  • A 79-year-old pensioner robbed of £500 at her home in Walthamstow on Monday, February 2. Conmen claimed to be fitting CCTV to protect against burglars in her street.
  • Two men stole £600 and a pension book from a 90-year-old woman living in the St James Street area of Walthamstow on Monday, February 2. One man kept her occupied pretending to be a new next-door neighbour while another ransacked her bedroom.
  • Bogus water company workers stole £270 from a 78-year-old woman in the Walthamstow area on Friday, January 30.
  • A conwoman got money from residents in Etloe Road, Leyton, at 4am on Thursday, January 22, saying she was a neighbour who needed money to get to hospital.
  • Around £600 was stolen from a 78-year-old woman in Millfield Avenue, Walthamstow, on Tuesday, January 13. She was kept distracted by a man claiming to be from Chingford police who said his brother had recently been shot.