Woman (67) ‘forced’ to hand over money

The woman who has lived in the house for 25 years was putting her dog into the kitchen, when someone knocked at her door.

She described how she was met by a tall man who she described as foreign, standing in her hallway.

He opened a suitcase full of jumpers which he was trying to sell to the woman. He persuaded the woman, who has suffered from mouth cancer, to purchase a jumper which he told her was worth £59.99 but she could have it for £30.

“I felt really threatened,” she said. “I did not want the jumper; I did not need the jumper, but handed him over money just to get rid of him. Really I could have bought the same one for £5. I felt threatened and was afraid that had I not handed over £30 what would this man do to me. He had got into my house without me letting him in.”

“I just ended up paying £30 just to get rid of him.”

Later on when she told her carer she told her to get rid of the jumper as it brought back too many memories.

“I just did not want it in my house,” she said. “He told me that he would not be in this direction again and thank goodness.”

Since the incident she makes sure that the door to her house is locked at all times.

“I just want my story to act as a warning to others,” she said.

PSNI Lisburn Area Commander Chief Inspector John Wilson said: “Householders can take sensible steps to protect their home and their belongings. We would remind the public that if they are concerned about bogus callers at their home they can use a special free phone service – Quick Check 0800 013 22 90 - to help them check if a visitor is genuine. Criminals sometimes use a tactic where they pretend to be from a company, to trick their way into a house.

“It must be stressed that this happens rarely however once inside, they will search for things to steal, usually cash or jewellery and then make their escape without alerting the householder. Quick Check personnel who answer your call are trained to help determine if a caller is genuine.”