An Essex newspaper has launched a crackdown on bogus callers – with a sticker blitz warning con-artists that they can no longer take advantage of the elderly.

The Essex Evening Gazette’s If In Doubt Keep ’em Out campaign is working alongside police, Neighbourhood Watch groups and Help the Aged to stamp out distraction burglary in the county.

Last year, Essex Police dealt with 300 of them, and they warn that for every case reported, up to 20 are not.

The Gazette has created thousands of two-part stickers to be placed both in and outside homes.

The outside part warns callers they will be questioned for identification, the inside part shows a checklist for the homeowner to refer to if they do not know who is at the door.

At the launch, editor Irene Kettle said: “Everyone at the Gazette has been horrified at the number of bogus callers. The Gazette wants to prevent theses particularly cowardly offences happening in the first place.

“If we can raise awareness among the elderly and give them the confidence to say ‘no’ to bogus callers, we will be playing our small part in making Essex a safer place for pensioners.”

At a special conference on bogus callers on April 28, Essex Chief Constable David Stevens said: “These incidents are easily preventable.

“By working together, the threat could be removed to protect society’s most vulnerable people.”

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