A CRACKDOWN on rogue traders has begun after a series of suspicious incidents in the Thornbury area, including a man impersonating a police officer.

Officers have responded to calls for action after homes were targeted in a string of apparently unrelated events, and have reminded the public to be vigilant.

In one incident, on June 28, a man visited a home in Badger Road in the new Thornbury Fields development, claiming to be from Avon and Somerset Police following up a request to check security in the property.

After briefly displaying a badge but not giving a name, he was invited into the building where he began inspecting the locks and hinges on the front door and shed, before leaving on foot.

The man is described as 5ft 6ins, between 50 and 55, and wearing a blue jacket, black trousers and a shirt and tie.

Both police and the developer, Bloor Homes, know nothing about the individual or any requests to check the property. No other residents have reported similar visits.

On Wednesday, July 13, two women were reported to police as driving suspiciously around the Morton area, passing houses slowly and looking into gardens.

The women, said to have Irish accents, were also calling out to residents from the vehicle to offer to do odd jobs including mowing lawns.

Earlier on the same day, two women fitting the same description stole £800 of clothing from Countrywide farming store in Old Gloucester Road.

There were also reports of a van driving around Tytherington and stopping outside gardens over the weekend of July 9 and 10.

Officers said the vehicle had the same registration as one connected to a string of crimes in Cheshire in recent months.

In response to the reports, Thornbury police and a representative from South Gloucestershire Council’s trading standards team carried out a high-visibility patrol last weekend.

Thornbury beat manager PC Sean White said: “There have been a spate of rogue traders in operation around South Gloucestershire in recent weeks.

“We have advised local residents to call 101 if they see anything out of the ordinary, or are approached by anyone they believe not to be genuine.

“If traders are appearing on your doorstep, always ask for identification and proof of who they say they are. Contact the organisation the traders say they are from if necessary.”

For further advice on dealing with rogue traders, visit southglos.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/consumer-advice/general-consumer-advice.