POLICE have urged vigilance and have given safety advice following a spate of thefts and scams targeting Flintshire's elderly residents.

It comes after an elderly woman in Sychdyn was targeted on February 14 by fraudsters offering to clean her gutters, and a Flintshire man who was scammed out of £15,000 by a telephone fraudster. 

There has also been a number of recent burglaries targeting the elderly, as well as a robbery in Holywell last month.

Older people are often targeted due to a range of factors such as poor health, loneliness and lack of support. Criminals do not care about the impact their actions may have on the people they target and do not show respect to anyone, including older people.

Criminals will enter their homes whether posing as an official or by force if they need to. They want cash and jewellery and will ransack a house to find it or force occupants to give up the code to a safe or other secret place. They will travel to commit their crimes, often stealing high powered vehicles such as Audi’s or Volkswagon’s to escape. The ordeal can be frightening and the impact long lasting.

Please see the tips below from North Wales Police on how to keep yourself or the older people you support safe at home.

What to do:

  • Deposit cash in a safe place, such as in banks and other financial institutions and not in the house. Just keep what is needed for weekly needs.
  • If you see suspicious vehicles parked in the street or persons knocking at doors offering bogus work or trying to locate a lost dog, child or ball, take action. Make a note of the vehicles and descriptions, and anything distinctive about that vehicle or person and report it to the police.
  • Keep an eye on your neighbour, particularly if you see strangers calling at their door. Call the police if you are concerned.
  • If you have security lights or cctv, check they are working and left on.
  • Be confident to talk to the caller through your door or front window. There is no need to unlock your door. Genuine callers will not be offended.
  • Always use a security chain if you have one and get one if you are able.
  • Before answering the front door, make sure the back door is locked.
  • Always ask for identification before letting anyone in to your home. If they don’t have identification, ask them to come back with some. Check their identification and ring the organisation they say they represent. Close the door whilst you check. Legitimate representatives will not mind waiting outside.
  • Contact your service providers and check what security measures they take before sending a representative to your home. This may be passwords or written confirmation of pre-arranged appointments for example. Make a note of the arrangement in place and keep it by the door (keep passwords elsewhere in a safe place).