“Aggressive” cold-callers warning from police

CHESHIRE Police are urging people to be vigilant following a series of cold caller incidents in the county.
Over the past month the force has received reports of people knocking on residents’ doors in Warrington, Runcorn, Northwich and Norley and attempting to sell household items in an aggressive manner.
Cold callers claiming to be ex-offenders trying to turn their lives around have resorted to swearing and even spitting on residents’ windows and cars and making threats against their pets when failing to secure a sale.
Eight cold caller incidents were reported in Runcorn in one day.
The three latest incidents occurred in Lymm, Warrington, between around 2pm and 3pm on Thursday.. The cold caller on that occasion is described as a man, estimated to be in his late 20s and around 6ft tall. He had brown hair, a lazy eye and freckles and was wearing a blue and black ski jacket.
Enquiries in relation to the incidents are ongoing and police are appealing for anyone with information regarding the man, or any other cold caller operating without a pedlar’s certificate, to get in touch.
Residents are asked to report any incidents of cold callers trying to sell them items without the required door-to-door trade certificate, particularly if the offender acts in an aggressive or threatening manner.
Detective Chief Inspector Justin Hancock said: “We work alongside Trading Standards to prevent people from selling items door-to-door without the required licence.
“The public also has a crucial role to play by reporting such cold callers to us on 101, or via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries.”