Police are reminding residents to be cautious when dealing with cold callers after an incident in Cockfield near Bury St Edmunds.

During the day on Monday 20th March, a man called at a home in Windsor Green stating that he was from an energy company and was there to check the solar panels & needed access to the roof space.

The man had no identification and no equipment with him and was not allowed access to the home.

Residents are urged to always ask for identification from any unexpected callers and do not let them in to your home until you have confirmed that they are genuine.

Councils & utility companies will generally contact householders by telephone or letter if they plan to carry out repairs rather than make unsolicited calls.

Other ways to stay safe are –

• Always use a chain & viewer on your door to see who is calling. Only open the door if you feel comfortable & always keep the chain on.
• Ensure that doors are kept locked when you are in the house.
• If anyone calls claiming to be from a utility company such as the water board, gas, electricity or the council, do not let them in. Ring the company using the telephone number on one of your bills.
• If you have a back/side gate, ensure that it is locked with a padlock. A slide bolt is not sufficient on its own.
• If in doubt, do not let the caller in and report anything suspicious to police on 101. If a crime is in progress or in an emergency always use 999.

Further safety advice can be found on the Suffolk Police webpage www.suffolk.police.uk or contact you local Safer neighbourhood Team on 101.