Motorhome owners warned to be vigilant

We’re warning owners of motorhomes in the county to be vigilant after reports of people acting suspiciously around the vehicles.

Officers are aware of a number of cold calls being made to homes in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean from two men claiming to be working for a company in the Midlands, trying to identify caravans for purchase.

We are reminding people to be vigilant and to keep an eye on elderly family and neighbours.

Anyone who calls at your door should have some form of identification. You are well within your rights to ask for this and make a note of their details.

Never give out banking or personal details to anyone you’re unsure about. If you can’t be certain if a visitor is genuinely who they say they are, ask them to come back at a later date. This gives you time to verify their identity and perhaps also arrange for a relative or friend to be there.

Remember, it’s ok to tell visitors you’re not interested or ask them to leave if you aren’t comfortable. Legitimate visitors will understand.

Finally, if you suspect fraud, please report it to us. The methods fraudsters use can be extremely clever - there’s no shame in having been caught out. You can report fraud here: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ro/report/fo/fraud/