ADVICE FROM CHESHIRE POLICE

Ring 0845 458 0000 if you have any information for the police.

Police  are reminding residents to make sure they stay security conscious this summer, after a number of thefts from garages and sheds throughout the area.

The majority of shed and garage break-ins at the moment are down to poor security. 

Now we are well into summer and the gardening season, it seems people are forgetting to lock up their sheds and out-buildings 

when they have finished in the garden for the day.

 Taking a few simple security steps can help prevent becoming a victim of this type of crime:

- ensure all tools, ladders, lawn mowers etc. are stored away and not left in the garden;
- always lock up your shed or garage using a good quality lock and hide any valuables from view of windows 

and consider fitting a shed alarm so you will be alerted if anyone attempts to break in.

It is also worth marking any valuable property with your house number and  postcode.

Trading Standards have been alerted to a telephone scam that appears to be in operation again.

(This warning was circulated approx 12 months ago but appears to still be relevant. )

A gentleman received a telephone call from a male claiming to be from British Telecom Accounts Department advising 

that payment of his telephone bill was overdue and the service would be suspended unless payment was made immediately by credit or debit card.  

Do not be fooled when the caller says he can disconnect the line as this is all part of the scam.  

Residents are urged not to disclose bank details to anyone who telephones and asks for them, 

even if they claim to be calling from a bank or a service provider. 

Genuine companies will never cold call and request bank account information from you.  

Please let your bank know if you have been contacted in this way.

You can register your wish not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls at www.tpsonline.org.uk 

or call 0800 398893.  It takes 28 days for the service to become effective.

Trading Standards has received several reports relating to charity collection bags.

Household collections are a popular way for charities to collect donations, but beware some collections are bogus.   Unfortunately some may try to exploit your 

generosity for their own gain, so please always take the time to read the small print.  Know where your donation is going as it may not be where you think.  

If you have any doubts about the organisation asking for donations, you can check by ringing the Charity Commission helpline on 0845 300 0218 or visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk or just simply donate your unwanted clothing to a charity you know and recognise.

You can also call Consumer Direct for further advice on 08454 040506 or visit the watch out section on their website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk  


PS    Trading Standards have  arrested a man who was collecting clothing put out in response to a leaflet purporting to be helping people with Down's Syndrome. 

The information leading to the arrest was provided by a member of the public. The Down's Syndrome Association have made it very clear that 

they are not currently engaged in any such clothing collections and that these leaflets  are utterly bogus.

It has been brought to the attention of Trading Standards that a scam email appearing to come from PayPal is in circulation.

This is a phishing email.  Please do not respond to it in anyway. Never provide any information or click on any link that seems suspicious.  

Remember, when it comes to phishing, you are in control.  

To protect your personal financial information, ignore the requests in the email.  Forward the entire email to spoof@paypal.com  

(do not alter the subject line or forward the message as an attachment).  Then delete the suspicious email from your email account.

Please be aware, the more your email address is broadcast, the more likely it is to receive junk, spam, phishing and other malicious communications.

To stop unwanted sales e-mails you can register with the e-mail Preference Service at www.dma.org.uk

Residents are asked to beware of traders cold-calling over the telephone offering apparently to clear their home computer of an unwanted virus.  

Please do not engage with the caller over the telephone or through your computer as complaints have been made that, following the initial contact,

repeated 'phone calls follow in an attempt to persuade the consumer to sign up to their services.  

To stop unwanted telephone sales calls, you can register with the Telephone Preference Service on 0800 398893 or go on line at www.tpsonline.org.uk  

If you or anyone you know receives a call of this nature, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06

If you have any concerns about cold callers or would like to report an incident, please contact Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000.

For general consumer advice, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Cheshire Constabulary Western Watch Office supports Home Watch Schemes across Chester, Ellesmere Port, Neston and Vale Royal

and is based in the Western Partnership Office, Northwich Police Station.    

E-mail  western.watch@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

Please share this advice with friends, relatives and neighbours and anyone you know who may be vulnerable. 

If you have any information regarding similar incidents or circumstances, please contact the Police on 0845 458 0000.