POLICE are advising the public always to ask for ID if somebody calls at their door claiming to be collecting for charity.
It follows an incident at Five Acres in Portadown, when three youths were found in possession of a suspected fake sponsorship sheet for a major charity.
Police were alerted after a call from a concerned resident and the three youths have been spoken to, each in the company of an appropriate adult.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
A PSNI spokesperson – on the back of this incident – said: “Police are reminding the public to be vigilant. Chances are, if a criminal targets one house in a neighbourhood, they may try another neighbour or someone a few doors up.
“You know who lives on your street so, if you see someone acting suspiciously, note down any important details, such as a description or a car registration, and contact police on 0845 600 8000.
“We will follow up on your call and there is every possibility your information could prevent a crime.”
If anyone is not entirely satisfied that a caller is who they are claiming to be, there is a free ‘Quick Check’ number available.
A trained operator will contact the company or organisation the caller claims to represent to ensure they are genuine. If they are not – or if the operator thinks there is anything suspicious – they will contact police immediately.
The Quick Check number is 0800 013 2290.
