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Police need you to help tackle doorstep crime
Residents are being called on to join the fight against distraction burglars and rogue traders.
Northamptonshire Police is urging organisations across the county which come into contact with vulnerable and elderly people to sign up to the Doorstep crime Action Network (DAN).
The call-up comes as police expect to see a seasonal spike in this type of crime towards the end of March and beginning of April.
A special hotline has been set up so people can report anything suspicious as soon as they see it.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Smith said: "Anyone can be a member of DAN and all they need to do is keep an eye out for doorstep crime and inform us on the dedicated DAN hotline.
"It's really a network of people who are prepared to keep an eye open and look after vulnerable members of the community and have the number so they can put a call in if they see anything suspicious in their area.
"It's not a major commitment on anybody's time, it's an awareness of what can be done, making people aware we are interested in this."
The initiative was launched in September and is a joint programme with the police and county council's trading standards department.
Det Chief Supt Smith is keen for groups and residents to sign up.
He said: "Both locally and nationally we know there is a predicted rise due to occur at the end of March into April, which is why we are particularly raising peoples' attention."
He said DAN was part of the force's Operation Guardian.
Organisations which have already signed up include Kettering Council, Wellingborough Council, East Northamptonshire Council, Mind, Age Concern, Victim Support, Wellingborough Homes, Rockingham Forest Housing Association, Wollaston Parish Council and Earls Barton Parish Council.
A spokesman for Wollaston Parish Council said: "The parish council signed up because anything the police can offer is going to be of help.
It's important to raise awareness of this type of crime."
On Thursday 60 vehicles were stopped by police officers as they took part in the latest Operation Rogue Trader day of activity. The day of action took place on the A6 at the Rushden and Diamonds Football Club car park.
Inspector Andy Hall from the Operations Tactical Unit, said: "The day was very significant for us and had real impact – 60 vehicles were stopped, and of those 18 were of interest to trading standards for being involved in trading illegally. We prevented 17 cars with potentially dangerous mechanical defects from proceeding on their journey. We also received intelligence opportunities linking rogue traders to distraction burglars."
To call the DAN hotline call 0345 2307702.
Groups can find out more about the scheme at a conference at the
force's headquarters in Northampton on Thursday.
To sign up to attend the conference, or to get information about signing up to the scheme, call Enzina Small on 03000 111 222 extension 8348.
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Weather for Kettering
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
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