Police are urging people to be vigilant after an elderly local resident was talked into giving rogue traders £40,000 - to poorly fix a roof.

A number of men from Crewe visited the elderly man's address in Sandbach throughout March and April.

The men took the roof tiles off and poorly replaced them - at a cost of approximately £40,000.

A number of men from Crewe visited the elderly man's address in Sandbach throughout March and April (Getty).

The man then had to pay another company to fix it.

PC Daniel Challinor, of Crewe local policing unit, said: "Unfortunately incidents such as this are common, with rogue traders targeting vulnerable people and trying to get as much money from them as possible.

"Rogue traders often appear to be highly professional.

"They can have printed leaflets and vehicles branded with their company name, making people think they are legitimate.

"They often use highly pressurised selling techniques to convince victims to use their services and charge exorbitant prices for work of a poor standard, or work that is never carried out.

The Crewe men took the roof tiles off and poorly replaced them - at a cost of approximately £40,000 (Cheshire Constabulary).

"Enquiries in relation to the case in Sandbach are ongoing, in a bid to identify who took the victim's money and have it returned to him.

"At this stage we believe the men are from the Crewe area and are likely to have visited a number of other residents."

"I would like anyone who thinks they may have been approached by these men to get in touch with officers.

Call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or provide the details via the website HERE quoting IML 1256132.

PC Challinor added: "I also want to take this opportunity to urge people living in Sandbach or anywhere else in Cheshire to be vigilant.

"Contact the police if they believe that a rogue trader is taking advantage of them or someone they know."

Cheshire Constabulary say enquiries in relation to the case in Sandbach are ongoing. Police would like the money returned to the man (Cheshire Constabulary).

"I want to encourage people to look out for any elderly or vulnerable neighbours by checking on their welfare and reporting any suspicious activity to the police."

You can also provide the details to the trading standards department at your local council.

Follow Cheshire Constabulary's advice on how to avoid falling victim to a rogue trader:

• Professional looking leaflets or advertisements are not indications of traders being reputable with all the relevant documentation – check whether traders are members of the Local Authority Assured Trader Scheme or the Government's TrustMark scheme
• If you feel that improvement or maintenance work needs carrying out at your property, discuss this with a relative or a friend who can help you find a reputable trader
• Get quotes from a number of traders before agreeing to have work done, to ensure that you are not overcharged
• Ask for quotes in writing
• It is wise to get quotes from around four different traders to check that the prices quoted are fair
• Do not let anyone pressure you into having work done
• Never agree to have work done unless you have seen examples of the trader's work
• Do not pay cash up front and never go to the bank or to a cashpoint with a trader
• Do not be fooled by someone who says that they are just working up the street or that they have done work for your neighbour – ask for specific examples and then follow up to check if what they have said is true
• If someone calls at your home trying to sell you something, do not let them in and ask for ID

READ MORE: Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove welcomes Crewe Town Deal Progress.

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