This week I want to put out a warning to elderly members of the community and their families about the risk of falling prey to opportunist thieves claiming to be from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme.
The digital switchover takes place in the West Midlands from September 2011 and the Digital Switchover Help Scheme has been created to help eligible older and disabled people switch one of their TV sets to digital.
Police have traditionally received reports about offenders gaining access to homes by posing as ‘water board’ or ‘gas officials’, however, there are now concerns about criminals claiming to be Digital Switchover officials.
We are fortunate across Solihull that this type of burglary is a rare occurrence, however, I have no doubt that some criminals may well take advantage of the opportunities the digital switchover presents.
We would like to advise all householders, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, to be extra vigilant and to take all the usual precautions in making sure that anyone they let in to their homes are legitimate and official.
The majority of people taking advantage of the scheme are asked to pay £40 towards the standard option of help the scheme provides, but they will never be expected to pay on the doorstep.
The following information and advice can help you avoid becoming a victim to bogus digital switchover officials:
- Every eligible person to the scheme will receive a letter from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme in the run up to the switchover.
- You will not receive a visit from any representative from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme unless you have responded to the help scheme letter or contacted the helpline.
- The Digital Switchover Help Scheme will send you a letter to confirm the date they will attend your home. If you therefore receive an unexpected visit from anyone claiming to be a switchover representative, please do not let them in.
- The help scheme offers a password system so you do not need to let anyone in to your home without them telling you the password you agreed.
- All switchover representatives carry identification. Please do not be afraid to ask to see this. If they refuse or claim not to have it, ask them to come back with the correct ID.
- You can verify if the caller at your door is official by telephoning the Digital Switchover Help Scheme on 0800 40 85 900.
- If you are at all suspicious please close your door and call Solihull Police on 0345 113 5000.
If you have any concerns about someone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood please contact Solihull Police on 0345 113 5000.
Finally on a more personal note I leave Solihull Police mid July to help take the Continuous Improvement Project around the force. I have really enjoyed my time at Solihull where I have been a response team inspector looking after 24/7 policing and a neighbourhood inspector with responsibility for policing the Solihull Constituency.
I have extremely fond memories of my time here and have met with many members of the local community over the last few years, tackling issues that mean the most to you. I have also worked with some extremely passionate partnership agencies that really care about the service they offer to the community.
I will certainly maintain this blog until I leave, but after nearly 100 weeks I think the time is right to call it a day as I move onto pastures new. Social media through Twitter, blogs, Facebook etc are now part of the daily communication used by the police and I am pleased to say that this was the first blog in the West Midlands Police aimed at keeping you up to date on what your local police have been doing; I do hope you have found it interesting and useful?
That’s it for this week
Phil
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If you need to report a crime, call 999 in an emergency or 0345 113 5000 for non-emergencies
