High pressure selling of burglar alarms – Police warning

Police are warning members of the public regarding Home Security Companies that utilise high-pressure sales techniques, who are currently phoning householders in the region to arrange to call at their homes under the auspices of providing Security advice.

Police have received a number of complaints from residents that after making an appointment to visit householders, sales people attend at their homes with the offer of a free burglar alarm and then attempt to sell a high priced burglar alarm monitoring service using highly persistent tactics to secure a sale.

It is concerning that during the call the salesperson employs scaremongering tactics to achieve the sale. They will claim that the alarms they sell have a direct link to the police – which is not the case. They also state that the particular area the householder lives in has unusually high crime rates, which is also false. Dumfries and Galloway has one of the lowest crime rates in the United Kingdom and rates have generally been falling for years. Furthermore, if the householder tries to call back the sales person’s number, it is proving virtually impossible to contact them.

Another technique these companies utilise is to purport to be starting a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, which they use as a means to get householders to agree to being visited at home by a sales person who will then attempt to sell a high priced burglar alarm monitoring service. Remember genuine Neighbourhood Watch schemes are run by the police, not by private companies.

Police are aware of the activities of these companies in the region and are working closely with Trading Standards to gather evidence to ascertain if offences are being committed.

Crime Reduction Officer Constable Derek Hughes said: “Dumfries and Galloway is a very safe area in which to live, crime figures for the region show that crime is decreasing. If you receive a phone call or a cold call at your home telling you otherwise then this is a scaremongering technique in order to make you feel frightened.”

“The police would in no way work with one security company above any others or recommend products from one security company.”

“We are pleased that members of public are contacting us to raise concerns and would urge residents to contact us if they feel they are being pressurised or intimidated by companies utilising high pressure sales techniques.”

“If you receive such a call do not be misled by scaremongering techniques and high pressure sales pitch. If possible record the call, if not, then you can still help by taking down as much detail about them as possible. Their name, the company they claim to work for, their telephone number and what they said to you. After you have this information do not agree to anything, do not provide any personal or banking details and terminate the call. Contact police on 0845 600 5701 and report the call.”

Sandra Harkness of Trading Standards said “If you are dealing with a sales person who attends at your home then you don’t have to buy anything there and then. It should also be remembered that you can change your mind in the seven-day cooling off period.”

Contact police on 0845 600 5701 and report the information to police.

If you are considering security measures for your home, contact police and ask to speak to your Crime Reduction Officer who will give free, impartial advice on the best measures that are relevant for your own property.