Police in Colchester and Tendring are warning people to be vigilant after it emerged a company selling bogus security equipment has been cold-calling residents in southern Essex.
Elderly and vulnerable people are being targeted in particular by the company, which sells fire detection and intruder alarm systems. <br><br>Calvin Heal, crime reduction officer for Tendring, said: “The equipment fitted by this company is often very badly installed and is always greatly over priced – usually costing several thousand pounds. <br><br>"One of the selling points of these systems is that they are described as being ‘monitored’. They may well be ‘monitored’, but the police will not respond to any alarm installed by this kind of company as they are not a recognised business. So what is the point in having one of these alarms?” he added. <br><br>“If you are concerned about your security please contact your local crime reduction officer. Never be pressured into buying anything at the door. If you are considering buying extra lights or an alarm then look in the Yellow Pages and chose a local company,” continued Mr Heal.<br><br>“Also, if you’re looking for a burglar alarm make sure that the company belongs to either NSI or SSAIB which are the inspection organisations recognised by the police.”<br><br>Colin Stiff, crime reduction officer for Colchester, urged residents to make sure any alarm system they purchase does exactly what they want it to do. “The basic system on offer provides a stand alone facility, which is reliant on a response from the general public or deflects the intruder,” he explained.<br><br>“This system can be enhanced by a connection to a response call centre, which will involve a maintenance contract.<br><br>“We at Essex Police currently offer a unique reference number system to any intruder alarm system that is compliant and has been installed by a recognised company.<br><br>“However, prior to any commitment to purchase an alarm system, seek the advice of your local crime reduction officer,” he added.
Separately, Northumbria Police are warning residents in Gateshead to think twice before signing up for "free" burglar alarms.
Officers have recently been contacted by two elderly residents who had been approached by individuals claiming to be from a burglar alarm company and offering a free alarm worth several thousand pounds, even claiming that the give away was government funded and police approved – which was not the case.
What they were actually doing was offering customers the free alarm system, but not advising at the outset that there was a considerable expenses involved in the monitoring and maintenance package – in excess of £3,000 – which had to be taken with the alarm.
Crime Prevention Advisor for Gateshead Area Command, Dawn Lowery, said: "People should seek at least three estimates and should ensure that they clearly state whether maintenance costs are included."
"If you have any doubts you should contact a Crime Prevention Officer and you should never sign anything without seeking advice." She also advised people to only use an alarm company which is a member of either NACOSS (National Approval Council for Security Systems) or SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board).
