Coast & Country is warning people in the area to be aware of bogus callers who prey on vulnerable people.
Police in Redcar recently received reports that two men had been going house to house, claiming to be from Coast & Country and that they have been sent to fix a leak. Coast & Country has also received calls from tenants describing unsolicited visits from an individual claiming to be from a well-known national charity.
Iain Sim, chief executive of Coast & Country, said: “Most callers are genuine, but unfortunately there are a very small number of unscrupulous individuals who target vulnerable people. They can be very plausible and try to trick their way into people’s homes to steal money and valuables while the householder’s attention is elsewhere.
“Coast & Country staff, along with the vast majority of other genuine callers, carry photo ID with them and will always show you it.
“We would advise anyone who is unsure about the validity of a visitor claiming to be from Coast & Country, to never let anyone in their home without checking the callers ID first. If in doubt, please close and lock the door and call our 24 hour contact centre on 01642 771300.”
A Cleveland Police Spokesperson said: “We would like to warn people to be extra careful if their home is approached by unknown people asking to do work at their homes as they could potentially be bogus callers.
“Please ensure that if any unexpected callers knock at your door that you confirm their ID or contact the company they are claiming to be from to validate their visit.
“Anyone with information on the reported incidents is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency 101 number or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”