The Borough Commander has asked me to warn residents about a scam which has recently come to light, where you get called by someone falsely claiming to be a police officer stating that you are entitled to a free or reduced-price burglar alarm. The caller then arranges for an appointment for somebody to come to the house to fit the alarm in a bid to gain access to your home.

He has also asked me to repeat general advice not to answer the door to cold callers; to check the I.D. of all callers before letting them into your home, calling the organisation they claim to be from to verify their identity - even if they claim to be police; or to ask them to make an appointment to come back when a friend or relative is available to be with you - a genuine caller will understand.