Warning about rogue traders posing as gardeners and roofers in Oxfordshire
Please be aware that “Nottingham Knockers” were selling door to door in Hethe on Tuesday’s 5 and 12 November 2022. There have also been reports of them in Fringford and other local areas.
“Please warn your neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers to buy on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime. Please keep in mind that if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.”
The seller in Hethe said that he had been in the Army and was now selling door-to-door rather than “go on the dole” as he could not find work. The guy in Fringford said that he had recently been released from prison. “This is not the case and often they are known criminals (probation services do not run such schemes).”
“They may show a card which claims to be a “Pedlars Licence” or work permit. This is not valid and they are breaking the law if they are using anything like this.
“Takings are handed to their employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each sale. Addresses are then sold on. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds. These address lists are purchased by all sorts of people including – tarmacers, tree workers, roofers, dodgy builders, etc., and can be shared quite easily. Once on a list, your address could be sold on and on. Hence the repeat nature of these persistent callers.”
Please be extra vigilant over the next few days.
