0:00:02 > 0:00:04There's an issue you've told us, and it makes you angry.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08The kind of people who do this to vulnerable, elderly people,
0:00:08 > 0:00:10clearly have no remorse whatsoever.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13It's a serious crime and it's getting worse.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17In her words, they were so feasible.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22Too often, it's our most vulnerable citizens who are targeted.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25These are people that have worked all their lives, now retired.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28They're entitled to enjoy their retirement.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32We're talking about the kind of crime that can strike in our own homes.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Anything from burglaries, to cold calling conmen
0:00:35 > 0:00:39or rip-off rogue traders, and we're determined to beat them.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42I've been caught myself, unfortunately.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46If someone knocks on my door, I literally just say no and slam the door.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I think doorstep crime is becoming much more common.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Well, it's time we stood up to these criminals.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54We're not going to take this any more.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Thanks to award-winning police
0:00:56 > 0:00:59and Trading Standards teams across the UK,
0:00:59 > 0:01:04we've seen at first hand how it's possible to show door-stepping con artists the door.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08And you haven't been shy about telling us what you think.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14On today's programme, the outrageous gardeners in North Yorkshire
0:01:14 > 0:01:19who cut down this man's trees without asking, and then bullied him into paying for it.
0:01:19 > 0:01:25They said, "That will cost you £2,300,"
0:01:25 > 0:01:28for what I guess was about 15 minutes' work.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Plus, how this son came to the aid of his dad
0:01:31 > 0:01:35who was being pressured into paying thousands of pounds
0:01:35 > 0:01:37for roofing repairs he didn't need.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42Once they've got you in their grips, they can then...
0:01:42 > 0:01:45just go on and on multiplying the price.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Best of all, we're out and about with the crack Bristol police team
0:01:49 > 0:01:53working to support victims of doorstep crime.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57The good news is last year we managed to cut the number of distraction burglaries in half.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Hello. I've seen many, many letters from you this week
0:02:07 > 0:02:10about the dangers of doorstep crime.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13For instance, Shane Mousley and Michael Joyce have been in touch.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18They're just two of the many hundreds of local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22protecting their communities. By the way, thanks for getting in touch.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Even with these hard-working local groups,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27there are still areas where criminals can strike.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32We've been following police in Bristol who are helping local people fight back.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36Despite it's beautiful landscape,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41the southwest isn't immune from crime that takes place on the doorstep,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44but over the past two years, Somerset and Avon Police
0:02:44 > 0:02:47have seen a 60% reduction in offences committed
0:02:47 > 0:02:50and, as acting inspector Ash Jones explains,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54it's down to the work of not one, but two dedicated teams.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58In the last couple of years there have been a number of innovations,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00in particular the doorstep crime team,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03which is quite a new partnership
0:03:03 > 0:03:07between the police and Trading Standards, sharing their expertise,
0:03:07 > 0:03:14and it certainly helps us target offenders very quickly and bring them to justice.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16On the prevention and awareness side,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19we have a brand new innovation in Avon and Somerset -
0:03:19 > 0:03:20the Senior Citizen Liaison Team,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23the first of its kind in the United Kingdom,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26the only one of its kind, as far as we're aware, in Europe.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31The Senior Citizen Liaison Team is managed by cops like PC Mike Wedlock,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35who give up their own time to raise awareness of doorstep crime
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and they provide support to those who have experienced it first-hand.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Today I'm coming to see Betty,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43who I helped after she became the victim
0:03:43 > 0:03:45of a bogus water board official who stole some cash.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50I helped Betty to get a number of services instituted to make her less likely to become a victim of crime,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and now I'm coming to see if they're working.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56I noticed that we did very well
0:03:56 > 0:04:00to put the "Don't come knocking at my door" sticker that we gave you into the front.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02- Do you find that's made a difference? - Yes.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Yes, I haven't had anybody since that last chap
0:04:05 > 0:04:10who said he was a policeman, and he wasn't, but I haven't had anybody since then, no.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Even though the Senior Citizen Liaison team is relatively new,
0:04:14 > 0:04:20it's already had a huge impact on doorstep crime in and around Bristol.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Certainly in the last 12 months,
0:04:22 > 0:04:27we've seen a 15% reduction in the number of recorded distraction burglaries within Bristol.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32But I think, in reality, the best reward we get is the look of gratitude
0:04:32 > 0:04:36in the eyes of the victims that we have the opportunity to assist.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41Another person who benefited from the work of the team is 62-year-old Veronica Vines
0:04:41 > 0:04:47after a chance encounter in her street led to a series of events which have changed her life.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I just went through my jewellery box,
0:04:50 > 0:04:54and just tried to fish out anything that might be worth selling.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56I haven't got vast amounts of it,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00but I thought, "I've just got to do something"
0:05:00 > 0:05:04because I didn't want them to keep knocking at my door.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07So why was Veronica so traumatised?
0:05:07 > 0:05:13What shocking doorstep crime made her part with her most precious possessions?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16We'll find out a little later on in the programme,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19but now another viewer video.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I'm David Dulake.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25I had experience of rogue builders earlier in the year,
0:05:25 > 0:05:31and I'm hoping that my experiences will be of benefit to people in the future.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Thanks, David, we'll certainly look into it.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38First, a story which shows just how devious some criminals can be
0:05:38 > 0:05:42when it comes to ripping off unsuspecting home-owners.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Fortunately, the crooks in this outrageous saga got their just desserts.
0:05:49 > 0:05:55In North Yorkshire, there are around 1,800 cases of doorstep crime every year.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59One person with first-hand experience of this is Kevin Wood from Scarborough.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03In November 2010, he was settling down to sleep after his night shift
0:06:03 > 0:06:06with the St John's Ambulance, when there was a knock at the door.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I went to answer it, there was a couple of gentlemen there
0:06:09 > 0:06:14mentioning that they were doing local gardening work
0:06:14 > 0:06:18and would I be interested in them doing any for me?
0:06:19 > 0:06:22I told them that I'd just come off a nightshift,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26I was ready for some sleep, but they were welcome to go in the back garden,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30see what needed doing, and I'd be in touch.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32The pair, who were later identified
0:06:32 > 0:06:36as Frank Lowther and Steinie Wilson, certainly seemed plausible.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42They were fine, chatting, no inclination of what was going to happen
0:06:42 > 0:06:45or what the situation was going to develop into,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47but that's how they probably work, really.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Build up a rapport, get you on their side,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and then wham, it hits you!
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The problem with a lot of these offenders
0:06:55 > 0:06:58and in particular this particular pair
0:06:58 > 0:07:03is that they are very polite and very persuasive, and very professional.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Leaving the pair to make notes in the back garden,
0:07:06 > 0:07:12Kevin settled down for a snooze but was woken by what sounded like a motorbike.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17And then you twigged, that's not a motorbike.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23Looked out and the trees, that had been there for as long as I can remember, had gone!
0:07:23 > 0:07:27They'd just chain-sawed them down.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Without Kevin's permission, these so-called tree-surgeons
0:07:30 > 0:07:33had actually chopped down two mature, healthy trees.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I went out to confront them.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43They'd decided they needed felling because they were badly diseased,
0:07:43 > 0:07:50and then they said, "That will cost you £2,300"
0:07:50 > 0:07:53for what I would guess is about 15 minutes' work.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Absolutely disgusting.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Poor Kevin was faced with an extortionate bill for work he didn't even want done.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01And the pair's mood changed
0:08:01 > 0:08:05when they demanded the £2,300 was paid immediately.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09From being nice lovey-dovey Mr Nice Guy
0:08:09 > 0:08:15to someone you wouldn't wish to meet on a dark night on a dark corner in a dark alleyway,
0:08:15 > 0:08:22it's just so instantaneously, you're thinking, woof! Scary!
0:08:22 > 0:08:28They said, to make sure, that they would escort me down to the bank to withdraw it,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32which business people do not do.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37At the bank, Kevin told the pair he could only withdraw £750,
0:08:37 > 0:08:42which they accepted before informing him they'd soon be back for the rest.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47As the door-stepping deceivers drove away, Kevin quite rightly called the police.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50A short time later, a couple of officers actually came round
0:08:50 > 0:08:54to the house, took more details, more statements.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59You thought that was it, but then reality kicks in.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03It freaks you out, it freaked me out.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04With the conmen gone for now,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Kevin had time to reflect on the day's events
0:09:07 > 0:09:12and the loss of two much-loved trees which had been planted by his late parents.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15It's something that still affects him today.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Looking at the photograph now, standing where we are,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21the total transformation that occurred.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27That two people can just destroy, they destroy your life as well.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32It's like everything, you don't know how much you're going to miss it until it's gone.
0:09:32 > 0:09:33Well, true to their word,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36the door-stepping rogues returned to the house days later
0:09:36 > 0:09:40to hassle poor Kevin for the rest of the £2,300.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Sensibly, he didn't answer the door,
0:09:43 > 0:09:48but when Kevin drove to the police station to report the pair again, they followed him.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Sure enough, as he left the station,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Lowther and Wilson accosted Kevin and demanded the cash.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58My heart just went through the floor.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01It was them there in person and they weren't happy.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02"I'd messed them around,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06"they'd been back and forth at their own expense, blah blah blah,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10"chasing me for the money that I owed them."
0:10:10 > 0:10:14The conmen insisted that Kevin drive with them in convoy to the bank,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18only this time he was able to call the police on the way.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23This was the moment the tables turned on the rogue traders.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Police had already contacted Yorkshire Trading Standards
0:10:27 > 0:10:30after the first complaint, and, with Kevin's help,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34the team, led by Ruth Andrews, were ready to spring into action.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37They denied the facts we'd been given were what happened
0:10:37 > 0:10:41but ultimately we decided there was sufficient evidence to charge them
0:10:41 > 0:10:45with aggressive practices offences under the consumer protection regulations.
0:10:45 > 0:10:51Luckily, Ruth and the Trading Standards team had some invaluable evidence to go on.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54In this particular case, we were able to obtain some CCTV footage
0:10:54 > 0:10:57from cameras in the public car park
0:10:57 > 0:11:01and that meant we could be confident in what he'd told us had happened,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03and gather evidence to show their involvement,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and it was their vehicle that had followed him from the car park.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10Frank Lowther and Steinie Wilson pleaded guilty
0:11:10 > 0:11:12to engaging in aggressive trading practices
0:11:12 > 0:11:17and they were sentenced to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22They also were each ordered to pay Kevin £375 in compensation.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Ultimately, the whole aim of these prosecution cases
0:11:25 > 0:11:29is to not only send a message to these offenders but also to anybody else
0:11:29 > 0:11:35that thinks this is a good way to behave because it isn't acceptable and it won't be tolerated.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Don't give up. Stand up to them.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42I've done it, you can do it, just have faith in the system,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44the police, the Trading Standards,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47the Crown Prosecution, they're there to help you.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Still to come,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55how a son leapt to the rescue when his dad was forced
0:11:55 > 0:11:58to spend nearly three and a half thousand pounds
0:11:58 > 0:12:02having his roof-repaired, and all he wanted was a gutter replacement.
0:12:02 > 0:12:08They tried to convince me by handing me these two pieces of wood.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Now, earlier, we heard about those two teams in Bristol
0:12:15 > 0:12:17run by Somerset and Avon Police.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20In particular, the Senior Citizens Liaison team,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23which supports people who have suffered doorstep crime.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26People like Veronica Vines.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Bristol is tackling the doorstep crime problem head-on.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Today PC Mike Wedlock from the Senior Citizens Liaison Team
0:12:35 > 0:12:39is out and about, checking up on victims and raising awareness
0:12:39 > 0:12:41to stamp out doorstep crime in the area.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Over the past two years, the team have helped many people,
0:12:45 > 0:12:49including 62-year-old Veronica who was approached by two rogue gardeners
0:12:49 > 0:12:53as she returned home one afternoon in the autumn of 2010.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58These two young gentleman were distributing leaflets
0:12:58 > 0:13:01and asked me if I'd be interested in a quote.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06I said, well, no because there was no way I'd be able to afford anything.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09As acting Inspector Ash Jones explains,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13these men were nothing more than opportunistic cold callers.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17The two men who targeted Veronica, Thomas Sykes and James Ward,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19were basically going door to door in the area,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23looking for vulnerable people to offer gardening services for.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Even though these services weren't requested,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29and in most cases weren't required by the residents.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32But these rogues weren't giving up easily
0:13:32 > 0:13:36and they were soon knocking on Veronica's front door.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I answered it and it was the two of them on the doorstep,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44and they immediately said, "Oh, we've come to give you a quote."
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I said, "Well I've already told you there's no way I'd be able
0:13:47 > 0:13:51"to afford anything to be done at the moment."
0:13:51 > 0:13:52But they were insistent.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56One of them hopped over the back gate and he went and had a look,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59and said, "Well, that would be £600
0:13:59 > 0:14:02"and that would be to clear your rubbish away,
0:14:02 > 0:14:04"cut your hedges and cut the grass."
0:14:04 > 0:14:09But unfortunately that wasn't the last Veronica would see of these doorstep criminals,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13because, despite clearly stating she did NOT require their services,
0:14:13 > 0:14:18the following day Veronica got home to find Thomas Sykes and James Ward
0:14:18 > 0:14:21carrying out the work regardless, and now they were seeking payment.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26I said, "I've already told you I haven't got any money."
0:14:26 > 0:14:28"Well, I'll call back tomorrow."
0:14:28 > 0:14:31I said, "You shouldn't be here in the first place."
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Veronica now wishes the police had become involved sooner,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37because, in trying to deal with the rogues herself,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41she soon discovered she was caught in their trap.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43She gave them her telephone number.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46This gave them an opportunity to badger her
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and harass her to try and get more money out of her.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53The simple message here is never give your telephone number
0:14:53 > 0:14:56to anybody in these circumstances.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Veronica was now receiving numerous phone calls every day
0:14:59 > 0:15:05from Sykes and Ward pressing her for payment so she took decisive action.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08I just went through my jewellery box,
0:15:08 > 0:15:14and found a few items I could sell, including my wedding ring.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19I raised £150 on it.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23I was gutted. That's the best word I can use.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25I was gutted.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31When I got back, as sure as eggs is eggs,
0:15:31 > 0:15:37they were knocking on the door, and so I just handed it over to them.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42Naively, Veronica thought this would put an end to their relentless badgering
0:15:42 > 0:15:44but sadly it wasn't to be.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47They eventually went away again,
0:15:47 > 0:15:52but then I got another half a dozen phone calls that evening as well.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55"Well, when can we come and get some more money?"
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Isn't that simply disgraceful?
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Avon and Somerset Police have been a great comfort to Veronica since then,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07and we'll find out how a little later.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12But first I'd like to share an email from Geoff Owen in Leicestershire with you,
0:16:12 > 0:16:13warning us about a scam.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16In his town they have a great local window cleaner,
0:16:16 > 0:16:21who comes by every six weeks and then sends his lads to collect the payment.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25But a local crook started going round, claiming to work for the window cleaner,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27and you guessed it, he collected the money.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32It just goes to show that it's always important to ask for some form of ID
0:16:32 > 0:16:35before doing any kind of business on the doorstep.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39By the way, thanks Geoff for that, and do keep sending in the emails.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Earlier we saw that video of David in South London,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47who had such a tough time with rogue roofers.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52Well, I went to meet him to find out how he fought back with the help of his son.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00The snow in the harsh winter of 2010 caused a lot of damage,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03as David Dulake knows all too well.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Heavy snow made his guttering fall down.
0:17:07 > 0:17:12And, unfortunately, that was the cue for a group of opportunist rogues
0:17:12 > 0:17:14to come knocking at his icy front door.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18David, perhaps you would just explain what you were doing
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- the day the, as we now know, the rogue trader came to call? - Yes, certainly.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26I went to the door, and lo and behold, this chap was standing there,
0:17:26 > 0:17:31and said that he had seen the gutter hanging down the side of the house,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35and would I be interested in him replacing it for me?
0:17:35 > 0:17:40He showed me a leaflet that detailed it is a family business,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44quoted a price of £960.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49With a price agreed, the roofers returned the following day.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53But before long they were pushing for more work.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57He said, "While we're doing the back and side guttering,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00"would you like the front guttering done as well?"
0:18:00 > 0:18:04So I said, "I suppose I might as well while you're doing the job."
0:18:04 > 0:18:08He then quoted another £960.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12So that's now £1,920.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16But these devious door-to-door roofers weren't done yet
0:18:16 > 0:18:20and had one of the oldest tricks in the book ready to play on poor David.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25They started the work and a few minutes later, I suppose,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28they came down and showed me a piece of rotten wood,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32and purporting to be one of the rotten rafters.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37I said to him, "Well, I had a new roof put on a couple of years ago.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41"It's a bit funny the rafters having been rotted." Anyway, I agreed.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45And how much was he going to charge for that?
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Stand by... £1,500!
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Unbelievable.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Combined with the £1,920 for the two guttering jobs,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58the total is now at a staggering £3,420.
0:18:59 > 0:19:04David still has the pieces of wood that the gang used to try and deceive him.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05Pretty rotten!
0:19:05 > 0:19:10And did you accept that this might be part of your roof?
0:19:10 > 0:19:11I didn't really accept it, no.
0:19:11 > 0:19:17These conmen were as rotten as the wood they claimed to have found on David's roof,
0:19:17 > 0:19:22but a chance visit by David's son Simon was about to turn the tables.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24I wasn't sure what was going on,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28but at that point I thought, "I'm just going to hang back and gauge
0:19:28 > 0:19:31"what's going on as best I can do,"
0:19:31 > 0:19:37and I thought, "I know that the Trading Standards office is about five minute walk away from here,"
0:19:37 > 0:19:42so I had in my mind that what I need is the company name
0:19:42 > 0:19:47so I can actually go up to them and say, "Have you heard of them?"
0:19:47 > 0:19:51At this point, Simon did worry about his dad's state of health
0:19:51 > 0:19:53and of course his finances,
0:19:53 > 0:19:58but at the same time didn't want to delve too deeply into his dad's private financial affairs,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02so, being suspicious, he decided to take matters into his own hands
0:20:02 > 0:20:07and he went to the Trading Standards office, probably the best decision he could have made.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11One of the gang members was known to us
0:20:11 > 0:20:14from previous occasions where he was carrying out a similar type of scam,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and on that occasion we did in fact prosecute him.
0:20:17 > 0:20:23But back at home, David had no idea that this company were in fact known conmen,
0:20:23 > 0:20:29and had not only paid them, but incredibly had offered them even more work.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33When they first came here, quoted, erm...
0:20:33 > 0:20:37that I'd like the back porch replaced, that had also come down with the snow,
0:20:37 > 0:20:43so I invited them back the following day to replace the porch.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Even though you were suspicious of the previous work?
0:20:45 > 0:20:50- That's right.- Why do you think you did that?- I don't know, really!
0:20:50 > 0:20:55I think I was a bit of a muggins in some respects to invite them back,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57but there again that was a good thing.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It certainly was a good thing
0:20:59 > 0:21:01because, when Trading Standards officer Rob Vale
0:21:01 > 0:21:06discovered that known rogues were ripping off another helpless victim on his patch,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08he just couldn't wait to get involved.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11We knew they were going to come back the next day to finish the job
0:21:11 > 0:21:16and be paid, and in cases like this it's important to be there when they do so we can confront them.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21They said, "Well, if you'd like to keep the builders talking,
0:21:21 > 0:21:25"we'll go and sit in the car until the police arrive."
0:21:25 > 0:21:30And how are you feeling at that point about the whole issue, really?
0:21:30 > 0:21:31Just mixed feelings.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33I was so happy they had contacted the police
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and the police were on their way,
0:21:36 > 0:21:41and lo and behold the police arrived and interviewed them in the garage.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44After inspecting the gang's handiwork,
0:21:44 > 0:21:49Trading Standards officers discovered that the original joists were absolutely fine.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50To make matters worse,
0:21:50 > 0:21:55the guttering wasn't even attached to the drainpipe, making it completely useless.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59But here comes the good part.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02One of the gang members tried to take responsibility for himself
0:22:02 > 0:22:06and said the other two weren't involved, but we knew they were involved
0:22:06 > 0:22:10and we wanted to send out a message that, if you do work for somebody
0:22:10 > 0:22:14who's fraudulent and you know it, then you'll be prosecuted.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18All three men were convicted under the Fraud Act.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Two of them received suspended prison terms,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23were very lucky in my view not to go to prison,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and all three were ordered to carry out community service.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30For me, the highlight was the fact that the court ordered them
0:22:30 > 0:22:33to pay back compensation to the victim,
0:22:33 > 0:22:37and I understand that he's starting to get some money back now.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39It shows that crime doesn't pay.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Although the compensation has been a comfort to David,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45it's a triumph which is bittersweet.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47When you look back on the whole episode,
0:22:47 > 0:22:51what do you think about it? Do you think you were silly?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Do you feel embarrassed by it? How do you feel?
0:22:54 > 0:22:57A bit silly, a bit embarrassed.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00I'm sincerely grateful that they've been caught
0:23:00 > 0:23:07and they're not going to inflict, hopefully, any more suffering on other people.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09What advice would you give to others?
0:23:09 > 0:23:12I know you're anxious this doesn't happen to anybody else.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15You've just got to be aware of them right from the start
0:23:15 > 0:23:19because, once they've got you in their grips,
0:23:19 > 0:23:24they can then just go on and on multiplying the price.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27David, I'm very sorry that you had to go through that.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31On the other hand, it's a great warning to the rest of us.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Our thanks to David and Simon for sharing that story.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Of course, the very moment you suspect that a loved one is being targeted in that way,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44one of the best methods of fighting back
0:23:44 > 0:23:48is to raise the alarm and contact your local Trading Standards.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52Now, the people of Bristol are lucky enough to have two police teams
0:23:52 > 0:23:54working on their behalf to tackle doorstep crime.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58Let's see how they're spreading the message and catch up with Veronica.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Over the past two years, Somerset and Avon Police
0:24:04 > 0:24:10have seen a 60% reduction in doorstep crime thanks to two ground breaking teams.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15Today PC Mike Wedlock from the Senior Citizen Liaison Team is doing his rounds.
0:24:15 > 0:24:21Having satisfied himself that Betty is safe after her own experience of doorstep crime,
0:24:21 > 0:24:26Mike's now off to give a talk, which will hopefully prevent others from a similar fate.
0:24:26 > 0:24:27My name's PC Mike Wedlock,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29I'm the local police officer
0:24:29 > 0:24:33and, as many of you know, I also work on part of something
0:24:33 > 0:24:39called the Senior Citizen Liaison Team, which is a team that looks to combat doorstep crime.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Talks like these are helping prevent residents in Somerset and Avon
0:24:43 > 0:24:45from falling victim to doorstep crime,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47just as poor Veronica Vines did.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50She sold precious jewellery to pay off her tormentors,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54but it's the help she's received from Mike's team that was the turning point
0:24:54 > 0:24:58because, when Veronica's friends alerted the police about what was going on,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01they set a trap for the two rogues.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Both men were brought to justice,
0:25:03 > 0:25:07and they were eventually sentenced to community-based sentences.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10With support from the team,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13thankfully, Veronica has recovered from her ordeal.
0:25:13 > 0:25:19Senior Citizens Liaison Team call round to see me
0:25:19 > 0:25:23on a regular basis, and I'm so glad they were there.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Tough as the experience has been,
0:25:26 > 0:25:29it's taught Veronica some very valuable lessons.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33I certainly wouldn't repeat that process again.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38I'd just tell people to be very wary, very wary indeed.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40If you're not sure, ring the police.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Veronica's case is one of many success stories for the team,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and Ash Jones has got high hopes for the future.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52It's no longer a type of offending which is just dealt with by typical officers,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56now there are officers who are specialists
0:25:56 > 0:26:00in dealing with this type of crime and in dealing with these type of victims.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03And, when that's the case, we can only improve.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09What crack teams in Bristol, so well done, everybody.
0:26:09 > 0:26:15Now, before we go, Seamus Joyce from south-west London has sent me photographs of his front door.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17He'd come back from a holiday with his family last year
0:26:17 > 0:26:21to find that somebody had tried to break it down,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24so good for him - he's replaced it with something more substantial.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Seamus also says he's keeping an eye out for both his elderly neighbours,
0:26:28 > 0:26:33who can call his mobile number for help if they ever feel threatened.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I should imagine that's a very comforting arrangement.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Thanks, Seamus. Good one!
0:26:37 > 0:26:41We're here to fight back against doorstep criminals
0:26:41 > 0:26:45and we'd love to hear more about how you've stopped them ripping you off.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47You can always find the details
0:26:47 > 0:26:49about how to reach us at:
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Thanks for watching and I hope you'll join us again next time.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd