THE Garda Siochana are alerting the public to bogus traders, “running rampant in Limerick.”
They are warning against allowing strangers into their homes.
Two men have reportedly been calling to houses of the elderly in the Newcastlewest area and posing as plain clothes Gardai.
The con men have been telling residents that they are there to check their alarms and are asking if money is kept in the house.
The men in question claimed that they were detectives from Cork.
Gardai would like to emphasise that they do not send plain clothes Gardai to the homes of the elderly to check alarms or ask if money is kept in the home.
In another case of bogus trading, a man called to the home of an elderly lady in the Mayorstone area and told her he was there to clean gutter pipes on her house. The lady suffers from dementia and was somewhat confused as to whether she gave the con man the money or if he stole it, but either way she found herself relieved of 250 euro.
The culprit in this case is described as having a black moustache, but no other description was available
Gardai feel that this type of crime will become more common considering the current difficult economic situation. They again appeal to people to be extremely careful about leaving strangers into your home and not to allow anyone to do any work on your property without first checking them out with a neighbour, friend or relative.
Gardai advise taking extra care to make sure front and rear doors are closed so that nobody can walk in without you opening the door and to attach a door chain to the front door if one is not already in place.
If anyone comes across these bogus traders Gardai ask that you contact them straight away before they con another innocent person.
