FROME NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: Leigh-on-Mendip East

Local Contact: Joan Pattison, Church Cottage  (Tel 812570)                              

THIS week's annual Children In Need fund-raising marathon provides an opportunity
for timely reminders about falling prey to bogus callers.

On Sunday November 15, a man was arrested in Yeovil after going door-to-door 
with a six-year-old girl claiming to be collecting for Children In Need.  He showed 
people a list of other apparent donors in an attempt to encourage people to donate.  
One would-be victim noticed the name of an elderly neighbour on the list and, 
suspecting these details had been falsely entered, alerted police.

Police would urge people to be wary of people knocking on their door cold-calling, 
simply asking for donations.  Very few genuine worthy causes rely simply on door-to-door 
collections to raise funds, and people should beware of parting with cash on the doorstep if 
they have any doubts about the validity of the collector.

People are urged to report any suspicious charity collectors to local police, or their local NHW group.

If you have information about any crime, phone the police on 0845 456 7000 or you can call 
anonymously to the independent charity CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111.