0:00:02 > 0:00:04There's one issue you've told us really winds you up.
0:00:04 > 0:00:10They are despicable, they're picking on the most vulnerable in society.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13It's a crime that's getting worse and worse!
0:00:13 > 0:00:18They were so charming and convincing that I'm afraid I believed them.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21And it's often the most vulnerable who are targeted.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23I wouldn't wish it on anybody else,
0:00:23 > 0:00:25it's an awful thing to go through.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27What am I talking about?
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Crimes that takes place on our very own doorsteps.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35It might be cold-calling conmen to rip-off rogue traders,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37we're united against them.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40I feel strongly that this type of crime should be stamped out.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43I don't open the door in the evening after a certain time.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45If people think they've been targeted,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48they should ring up Trading Standards and report it.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50But we're here with one aim.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53To stop cold-calling conmen from striking at our homes
0:00:53 > 0:00:55and, indeed, ripping us off!
0:00:55 > 0:00:58We've been out with ground-breaking Police
0:00:58 > 0:01:02and Trading Standards teams all over the country. And with your help,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06we're campaigning to show doorstep con artists the door!
0:01:06 > 0:01:11Today, the incredible footage captured by CCTV cameras which one man used
0:01:11 > 0:01:15to help his brave dad fight back against the crooks.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Plus we expose the hard doorstep sales techniques used to sell this consumer a cleaner -
0:01:25 > 0:01:28wait for it - a cleaner he couldn't even use.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32You don't let people like that get ripped off, not your friends. It's not right.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35SIRENS WAIL And I love this!
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The boys in blue let us in on their latest scheme
0:01:38 > 0:01:41to swoop on rogue traders and doorstep criminals.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46These conmen have no regard whatsoever for their victims.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56Hello, we've been very busy reading your e-mails and letters.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Let's face it, who wants to find a criminal on the doorstep? Nobody.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Now, Dee Sellars and John Blanch were strong on that point,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08and John goes on to say that people shouldn't be afraid to call for help.
0:02:08 > 0:02:14There are lots of hard-working police and Trading Standards officers trying to stop these con men.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19We've been to Essex to see just how tough a stance they've been taking!
0:02:21 > 0:02:26Thurrock, a busy town nestled on the north side of the Dartford Crossing,
0:02:26 > 0:02:31which is used by over 40 million vehicles every year.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34With so many people passing through the area,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38it's not surprising that some locals have been targeted by doorstep criminals,
0:02:38 > 0:02:43as Terry Everett of Thurrock Council Trading Standards knows all too well.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44From my point of view,
0:02:44 > 0:02:50these conmen have no regard whatsoever for their victims.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52All they're interested in
0:02:52 > 0:02:56is taking money, earning a fast buck, and clearing off
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and remaining anonymous.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01In my book, that's not on, and we will do everything
0:03:01 > 0:03:05we can to make sure it doesn't happen in Thurrock.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10One of the ways in which the authorities are fighting back is through Operation Mermaid,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12a huge multi-agency crackdown
0:03:12 > 0:03:15on lawbreakers who think they can escape justice.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Using number plate recognition technology to target
0:03:18 > 0:03:21trade vehicles and other suspect drivers,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25the police will stop and check the details of over 100 vehicles today.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30We do want today to see many of what we've classed rogue trader vehicles,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32to come in. In particular, Transit vans,
0:03:32 > 0:03:36unmarked Transit vans, any vehicles involved in garden clearance...
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Operation Mermaid is run at least twice a week at different locations
0:03:41 > 0:03:44throughout Essex and has proved to be a crucial source of information
0:03:44 > 0:03:49for the police and Trading Standards, as Lucy Magill of Thurrock Council explains.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54I think today will be successful if we manage to prevent
0:03:54 > 0:03:58any rogue traders from operating illegally.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02It may be by giving them advice now that they may not be aware of,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05or making it clear that we know what they're up to in our area.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10While today's operation could provide fresh intelligence on any doorstep criminals
0:04:10 > 0:04:13new to the area, there's one ongoing investigation
0:04:13 > 0:04:16in particular that Terry is hoping for a breakthrough with.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19We've had a recent case
0:04:19 > 0:04:22'where two individuals who have tried to...
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'extract £7,000 from an elderly couple'
0:04:25 > 0:04:29for work that was not warranted at all.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33So who knows what a day like this will bring forth.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37We may well get those individuals or identify those individuals.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Time will tell whether Operation Mermaid throws up any leads
0:04:41 > 0:04:45that could help apprehend these unscrupulous doorstep crooks.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48SIREN WAILS
0:04:48 > 0:04:51I think you'll agree - decisive action there.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55And we'll check up on Operation Mermaid a little later.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Now, have a look at this interesting video.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02'Hello. I'm Bob from Middlesex.'
0:05:02 > 0:05:05My dad had a real problem with a whole bunch of dubious tradesmen,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07conmen, in the local area.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10It devastated him and our family,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14and I can't emphasise enough the effect that it had on him.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18And we'll find out later how Bob tackled those cold callers.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22But first, a story from Lincolnshire about another community
0:05:22 > 0:05:25fighting back against doorstep crime,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28after one local had an unexpected visit.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Take a look at this prize draw raffle ticket.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36It promises so much, doesn't it?
0:05:36 > 0:05:39But now look at the notes scribbled on the counterfoil -
0:05:39 > 0:05:41"Nice house, nice garden",
0:05:41 > 0:05:45or "SOS Single". Now, you don't expect people giving out tickets
0:05:45 > 0:05:50to be making notes about you or the state of your house when they come calling,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54but that's exactly what Elite Systems Ltd of Lincolnshire did,
0:05:54 > 0:05:59in what Trading Standards officer Kirsty Toyne discovered was a devious sales strategy.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01As a Trading Standards officer,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I'd never come across a company operating this way.
0:06:04 > 0:06:11They were writing down details, such as, did the house look nice, the age of the consumer.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14I found that to be totally underhand.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Elite Systems, who are not to be confused with other reputable companies
0:06:18 > 0:06:22of a similar name, worked by collating private information about consumers
0:06:22 > 0:06:24without their consent.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27But they had even more sinister plans in mind
0:06:27 > 0:06:31for their would-be "prize winners", who included 90 year-old widower
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Arthur Bone, who was subjected to an appalling sales attack.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38He just sort of gave me a counterfoil,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and it must have been about this prize offer.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46'And he came back soon after that and told me I hadn't won the prize.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Arthur may not have won the prize,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51but he was offered a free carpet clean.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Elite Systems were official retailers of carpet cleaners
0:06:54 > 0:06:56manufactured by a legitimate company,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00but the manufacturer had absolutely no connection to this con and no idea
0:07:00 > 0:07:04that their product was being sold in such a despicable manner.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08In fact, the sales personnel were working to a routine.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12The script mentioned that the consumer had won the daily draw.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17And it was apparent from our investigation that there was no such thing as a daily draw.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23Anybody who met the criteria got a call offering a free carpet clean.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Arthur received exactly the same offer.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And with the sales reps so well versed in selling this product,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33it meant that he didn't stand a chance.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37He came and demonstrated it. He was a very pleasant man
0:07:37 > 0:07:40and convinced me it was a very good machine. I fell for it.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44But not without putting up a fight.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47If it was apparent that they weren't getting anywhere,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49they were not getting a sale,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51they would telephone the boss at the office
0:07:51 > 0:07:53and put the boss on to the consumer.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58'He got on the phone, didn't he? He said, "We could get it down from
0:07:58 > 0:08:02' "1,300 to 600." I should of guessed then'
0:08:02 > 0:08:04that it was a bit of a trick.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06I said, "Oh, well, that's good."
0:08:06 > 0:08:11He also told me, "Quite a lot of pensioners pay the full price, you know."
0:08:11 > 0:08:14'And I think I wrote a cheque for 600.'
0:08:14 > 0:08:17That is just shocking!
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Like many before him, Arthur had been duped by a hard-selling scam.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26Realising he'd been pressurised into purchasing the cleaner, Arthur took the brave decision
0:08:26 > 0:08:31to confide in someone. He got in touch with his friends, Shona and Vincent Phillips,
0:08:31 > 0:08:36who also clean for him, and know full well that he'd never even be able to use a cleaner
0:08:36 > 0:08:38like the one he'd been sold.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39He was feeling
0:08:39 > 0:08:44very anxious about what he'd done.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48And then realising he was never going to use it.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50That's when we got the phone call.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53I went up, and he was quite distressed about what had happened.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58And he just sat there in his chair and said, "What am I going to do?"
0:08:58 > 0:09:01As with many elderly victims of doorstep crime,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Arthur was initially reluctant to speak out at about what had happened.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07I asked how much he'd paid for it.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09He said, "Shona, I can't tell you."
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I said, "What do you mean, you can't tell me?" He said,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15"Well, this man on the other end of the phone said that
0:09:15 > 0:09:19"I wasn't allowed to tell you because it was a good deal." And I said, "No,
0:09:19 > 0:09:26"you're talking to me now. You've got to tell me how much it is." And he said, "It was £600, Shona."
0:09:26 > 0:09:30I said, "We're not having that. No way can you afford that!"
0:09:30 > 0:09:35Arthur was lucky to have such good friends by his side, but Vincent soon discovered
0:09:35 > 0:09:39that getting Arthur's money back was easier said than done.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44Over a period of just less than a month, I left messages.
0:09:44 > 0:09:50"I'd like to speak to the manager." "He's not in." "He may be coming in, he might not be coming in.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52"We don't know where he is."
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Then this woman started to get really hostile on the end of the phone to me -
0:09:57 > 0:09:59on the verge of abusive, really.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04I said, "Look, I've had enough of this, I'm going to get Trading Standards involved."
0:10:04 > 0:10:08By calling Trading Standards, Vincent and Shona had done
0:10:08 > 0:10:13exactly the right thing and taken their first steps towards fighting back.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18With the evidence from Arthur's experience at the hands of these aggressive salesmen,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22it wasn't long before Trading Standards were mounting a case against Elite Systems.
0:10:22 > 0:10:30The prices we found the cleaners being offered for ranged from £2,500 down to £600.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36It seemed to us that the initial price being offered to the consumer
0:10:36 > 0:10:40would be based on the information that had been noted on the stub of the ticket
0:10:40 > 0:10:43regarding the wealth and the age of the consumer.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47The underhand tactics used by this company to maximise their profits
0:10:47 > 0:10:51were absolutely diabolical, but here comes the good news.
0:10:51 > 0:10:58Trading Standards were able to take Elite Systems to court where they were fined over £17,000.
0:10:58 > 0:11:06Arthur received a full refund, but this was down to the determined efforts of Vincent and Shona
0:11:06 > 0:11:10who persistently fought back against these doorstep criminals.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14You don't let people like that get ripped off, not when they're friends.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16It's not right. It's not ethical.
0:11:16 > 0:11:24Arthur was fortunate to get his money back and has learnt some important lessons from his experience.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Oh, I'll be more on my guard, obviously, if I've got a salesman coming to the door. Yeah.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35If you do have vulnerable friends and family, please look out for them.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39If you think they may have been subjected to a similar scam such as this,
0:11:39 > 0:11:44then please contact Trading Standards or Consumer Direct for further advice.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Still to come, how one man used CCTV to capture video evidence
0:11:52 > 0:11:55of rogue traders systematically defrauding his father.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08When it comes to doorstep crime, it's always best to call for help as quickly as possible.
0:12:08 > 0:12:14That's exactly what's happening in Essex, where an elderly couple have been targeted by rotten con men,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16and Trading Standards are racing to their aid.
0:12:20 > 0:12:26In a car park just to the side of the Dartford Crossing, Operation Mermaid is underway.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28It's a nationwide multi-agency campaign,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30which aims to combat criminal activity -
0:12:30 > 0:12:35like rogue tradesmen - by stopping and searching commercial vehicles.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Trading Standards officer Terry Everett is on the trail of a pair of doorstep criminals
0:12:39 > 0:12:42who recently targeted an elderly couple.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45So exactly what happened?
0:12:45 > 0:12:52When we first went round to the consumers' house, we saw two elderly residents,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56and they were getting very agitated. You could clearly see
0:12:56 > 0:12:59that the whole thing had upset them very badly.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03The couple had been cold-called by a pair of rogues
0:13:03 > 0:13:07who had managed to convince them that their drains needed unblocking
0:13:07 > 0:13:12- TERRY:- They had charged £300 for commencing the work.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16They then left them with this ruse,
0:13:16 > 0:13:22that they were going away to purchase or hire expensive machinery
0:13:22 > 0:13:25which would clear the blockage in the drain
0:13:25 > 0:13:32and they had told the couple that this would be £6,700, making 7,000 overall.
0:13:32 > 0:13:39£7,000 to unblock a drain and pick up a machine?! A likely story!
0:13:39 > 0:13:42The turning point in this case was that both Trading Standards
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and the police had been alerted straightaway,
0:13:45 > 0:13:50so it was a perfect opportunity to catch these rogues red-handed.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Police Community Support Officer Lisa Plastow was also at the scene.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59They agreed to pay the £300,
0:13:59 > 0:14:05they believed what these rogue traders said about how they needed to go away and get this machine.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Unfortunately, they believed everything that the rogue traders had told them.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15We knew the trader was to return that afternoon
0:14:15 > 0:14:19While we were talking and getting a strategy together of how to deal with this,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23the trader telephoned the resident.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25She wasn't sure what to say.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28She's a timid lady. Unfortunately these criminals
0:14:28 > 0:14:32realised that something was up and they put the phone down.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37That was the last anyone heard or saw of these doorstep criminals.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40But Trading Standards and Essex Police aren't letting go.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44It's well into the day at Operation Mermaid,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48and while there's been no sign of them, there's a chance that these rogues could turn up
0:14:48 > 0:14:52as the police continue to stop and search commercial trade vehicles.
0:14:52 > 0:14:58I can't wait to see if Operation Mermaid uncovers those cold-calling rogues.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Now, an email has come in from Trevor Kerry.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04He says he has a notice on his doorbell which says:
0:15:04 > 0:15:05"If you're a caller
0:15:05 > 0:15:07"without an appointment,
0:15:07 > 0:15:09"don't ring the bell or knock."
0:15:09 > 0:15:15Apparently this deters 90% of cold callers, and those who do ring don't usually try a second time!
0:15:15 > 0:15:20That's a really good tip, Trevor - so do keep sharing your stories with us.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Earlier, we saw a video of Bob in Middlesex.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30I've been to find out how he stopped rogue traders targeting his father.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35In the process, I've discovered a whole community making a stand.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41THEY KNOCK THE DOOR
0:15:58 > 0:16:02This extraordinary footage was captured on surveillance cameras
0:16:02 > 0:16:06in the home of 80-year-old Jon Jeffreys. For over eight months,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09rogue traders made his life hell, until his son's intervention
0:16:09 > 0:16:12led to one of the culprits being brought to justice.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Sadly, it's shocking evidence of the doorstep crime
0:16:15 > 0:16:18which Hillingdon Trading Standards are all too aware of.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22They might look at a property, it might be a little bit dilapidated.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25The garden might be overgrown. There might be handrails
0:16:25 > 0:16:32by the front door. All these could be indications that an elderly person lives there.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35What I found really heart-warming
0:16:35 > 0:16:39is that groups of locals are fighting back against these cold-calling con men
0:16:39 > 0:16:43but first I'm going to meet Jon's son, Bob, to get the background details.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49As I understand it, your dad has lost a bit of independence in recent years, so what is that exactly?
0:16:49 > 0:16:52For the past six or seven years, Dad's memory's -
0:16:52 > 0:16:55he's getting old, he's 83, 84 - starting to go,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58his short-term memory. Long-term memory's fine.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03Because of his father's condition, Bob goes round to the house as often as he can,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07and it was on one of these visits, that he noticed something wasn't quite right.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10'I drove round the corner,'
0:17:10 > 0:17:13and saw a very pink roof. I thought, "What has happened there?"
0:17:13 > 0:17:17It had been jet-washed. It doesn't need jet-washing,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19there's no need - it's purely aesthetic.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23I had a chat with Dad and he said, "Oh, yeah, I've had the roof jet-washed."
0:17:23 > 0:17:27I had a look. It had been done very badly. So after that,
0:17:27 > 0:17:32I made sure Dad had my telephone number so if called just to call me.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33PHONE RINGS
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Sure enough, it wasn't long before Bob received a call from Jon.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40But nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to hear.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42'The phone call was Dad phoning up,'
0:17:42 > 0:17:45saying, "I've got someone I need you to talk to.
0:17:45 > 0:17:51I spoke to this guy, very aggressive manner on the phone, "Your dad owes me a shed load of money."
0:17:51 > 0:17:52How much exactly?
0:17:52 > 0:17:54There was a call for £14,000.
0:17:54 > 0:18:00- Fourteen grand?!- One was that he was doing some works and he needed some money as an advance payment.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05- So how much do you reckon had been paid out?- The best part of £5,000.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It transpired that for months,
0:18:08 > 0:18:13criminals and con men had been systematically targeting Jon, but because of his memory loss,
0:18:13 > 0:18:18it was almost impossible to establish exactly what had been going on.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20The police put Bob in touch with Brian Walters,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24a former police officer turned surveillance vigilante, who uses CCTV
0:18:24 > 0:18:28to fight neighbourhood crime through a local community group.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32So how would you describe the scheme and exactly what you do?
0:18:32 > 0:18:35We formed HRAC, Hillingdon Residents against Crime,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38to look at high technology, CCTV in particular,
0:18:38 > 0:18:40to address a crime problem.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42By the very nature of the victims,
0:18:42 > 0:18:46they suffer from all sorts of hearing problems, mental problems...
0:18:46 > 0:18:48And in Jon's case, memory problems.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Yes, indeed. A very bright man but he couldn't remember what had happened half an hour ago.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56So, yes, it's a challenge. You've got to put evidence before the court.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59If he can't remember what the bloke looked like, or what happened half an hour ago,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02it's very difficult to bring a prosecution.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06It's wonderful to be able to meet people like Brian who are working so hard
0:19:06 > 0:19:11to help people in the community. His work is proving to be a tremendous success
0:19:11 > 0:19:16and it's thanks his advice on installing cameras that Bob was able to take real steps
0:19:16 > 0:19:19to stop his dad being ripped off in the future.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23Presumably the cameras are outside now, are they?
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Yeah. The one on here is sound and vision.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28You can see it on the TV screen.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- How many cameras have you put outside?- There's two outside.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- There's four in total. - The whole of the front is covered? - The whole thing.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39With everything set up, it was just a matter of waiting and it didn't take long
0:19:39 > 0:19:44for the greedy, opportunistic thieves to darken Jon's doorway yet again.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47This time it was Steven Ball from Ace Drains -
0:19:47 > 0:19:51not to be confused with reputable companies of a similar name.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Jon had already paid him £300 for work supposedly carried out
0:19:55 > 0:19:58on the drains, but on the 12th July 2010,
0:19:58 > 0:20:03Ball was seeking a second payment and wasn't prepared to take no for an answer.
0:20:04 > 0:20:10So were you quite shocked and surprised about just how pressurising these people can be?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13The camera footage, he was there for 30, 35, 40...
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- 35 minutes I think it is. - So a long time?- A long time just banging away.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32And my dad's holding his ground, saying, "No, no, no. I don't want them.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35"Please go away," and words to that effect. The chap goes
0:20:35 > 0:20:39and comes straight back again. It's just non-stop.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49This is truly despicable behaviour but it's about to get worse.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- How did you feel about the vulnerability of your dad? - Very strong emotions.
0:21:06 > 0:21:12You look at these guys and you think... It's... "You really are the bottom of the pile."
0:21:12 > 0:21:17I completely agree with Bob, and as Trading Standards officer Martin King
0:21:17 > 0:21:22discovered, this doorstep criminal really is the lowest of the low.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25We employed an expert surveyor. He said no work had been done.
0:21:25 > 0:21:31And Mr Ball tried to obtain money from Mr Jeffreys for cleaning and repairing the drains -
0:21:31 > 0:21:34work he'd clearly not done.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Thanks to the footage captured by Brian's cameras,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Steven Ball was given a suspended prison sentence,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42100 hours community service,
0:21:42 > 0:21:47ordered to pay £3,000 in costs and fitted with an electronic tag.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Brian's CCTV technology is clearly making a real difference
0:21:51 > 0:21:55to tackling neighbourhood crime in Hillingdon, and has had a profound effect
0:21:55 > 0:22:01on Jon's life, now that he's escaped the continual harassment of rogue traders banging on his door.
0:22:01 > 0:22:07- So do you like the idea, Jon, of having that television in your sitting room.- Oh, it's a good idea.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11- I often watch that instead of television. - GLORIA LAUGHS
0:22:11 > 0:22:14- I see the cars going by.- You think it's better than television?
0:22:14 > 0:22:20What does that say about all of us? So what is the lesson learned in this case?
0:22:20 > 0:22:25You've got to be aware that there are people in life who will con you if they can,
0:22:25 > 0:22:30and you don't take everything that anybody says to you, unless you know them well,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32you don't take it for granted.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Many thanks to Bob and Jon for that tremendous story
0:22:37 > 0:22:41of a community that's no longer prepared to tolerate doorstep crime.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46Now, Essex Police and Trading Standards are still working hard in Essex
0:22:46 > 0:22:50on Operation Mermaid, speaking to tradesmen passing through the county.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54So let's see whether there's been any joy in rounding up the two con men
0:22:54 > 0:22:57who made life a misery for that elderly couple.
0:22:58 > 0:23:04The Operation's going well. Over 120 vehicles have been stopped and checked,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07but despite all this technology and manpower,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09so far Trading Standards officer Terry Everett
0:23:09 > 0:23:15hasn't been able to track down the two rogues who attempted to take £7,000 from an elderly couple
0:23:15 > 0:23:17just to clean their drains.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20My thoughts on these con men
0:23:20 > 0:23:24are that they have no regard whatsoever for their victims.
0:23:24 > 0:23:31They're just interested in obtaining money and getting as much as they can for doing nothing.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35As for the old couple whose doorstep was darkened by the con men,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38there is support and hope. They receive frequent visits
0:23:38 > 0:23:43from Police Community Support Officer Lisa Plastow.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47like to check up on them as regularly as I can. This enables me
0:23:47 > 0:23:51'to make sure that there's nothing else going on.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55'If they need to give me information. It's just generally to give eye to them'
0:23:55 > 0:23:57and deal with any of their concerns.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02Although Lisa keeps a watchful eye on the elderly couple who were targeted by these rogues,
0:24:02 > 0:24:07she also works hard to prevent crimes like this from happening to others.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11One of my jobs is going to the residential homes.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14There are lots of vulnerable people in there.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18We go round there, we give out leaflets, we speak to the people,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21we give them telephone numbers.
0:24:21 > 0:24:28And just basically we advise them that they don't have to answer the door to cold-callers.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Today, Operation Mermaid has been a roaring success.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Four vehicles were seized because their drivers were not insured,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45a motorist was cautioned for possession of an illegal substance
0:24:45 > 0:24:50and a total of nearly £3,500 was collected in fixed penalty fines.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53The doorstep rogues that Terry was particularly keen to find
0:24:53 > 0:24:56have not, I'm afraid, shown their faces,
0:24:56 > 0:25:03but Trading Standards are continuing to work closely with the police and are determined to fight back.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09We do have descriptions not only of the individuals but also of the vehicles that they've used as well.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14And we know that this is a way of life.
0:25:14 > 0:25:20This is the way they act and they will visit this borough and people within this borough again.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24And, hopefully, next time it will be a different story.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30So here's a message for you two con men driving around this area of Essex.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34You may think you've got away with it, but Trading Standards
0:25:34 > 0:25:37have a description of you and your vans, and, make no mistake,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40they are on your tail and your days are numbered.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43We are working very, very closely with the police
0:25:43 > 0:25:50and we are able, we are giving protection to residents of Thurrock
0:25:50 > 0:25:56and making their lives just that little bit more safe and secure
0:25:56 > 0:26:00and giving them peace of mind that we take these matters seriously
0:26:00 > 0:26:04and that we want to see this crime stamped out.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11Terrific stuff! Now I've just got time to tell you about Evelyn Holden from Leicestershire.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Her Neighbourhood Watch group is fighting back
0:26:14 > 0:26:20against doorstep crime big time. They've set up No Cold Calling Zones,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23the distribute their own fact sheets and even have a telephone hot line
0:26:23 > 0:26:26to alert each other to danger. As Evelyn says in her letter,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30"Whilst these initiatives can't guarantee safety,
0:26:30 > 0:26:34"we hope they at least lessen the likelihood of doorstep crime."
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Thanks, Evelyn. I hope you and your friends keep up the really good work.
0:26:37 > 0:26:43We're here to fight back against doorstep criminals and we'd really love to hear more of your stories
0:26:43 > 0:26:45about how you've stopped them ripping you off.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49You can find the details about how to get in touch with us at:
0:26:51 > 0:26:52Until then, thanks for watching
0:26:52 > 0:26:55and I hope you'll join us again next time.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd