A CRACKDOWN on con men led to more than 200 offences being discovered in Suffolk in just 24 hours, police said today.Suffolk Constabulary, trading standards officers, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and other agencies carried out a joint operation.

A CRACKDOWN on con men led to more than 200 offences being discovered in Suffolk in just 24 hours, police said today.

Suffolk Constabulary, trading standards officers, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and other agencies carried out a joint operation.

The action was taken in support of National Rogue Trader Week.

Five people were arrested during the operation, codenamed Hassle, which targeted those preying on the vulnerable and elderly.

More than 50 victims of rogue traders and distraction burglaries were also visited and spoken to during the operation.

Other households were visited and advice was given to the occupants on crime prevention and the threat of doorstep crime.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) intercept teams were also involved throughout last week with 199 vehicles being stopped in Suffolk.

A total of 198 police offences, 23 trading standard offences and 25 DWP offences were uncovered on the day of action.

Inspector Ben Cook said: “Operation Hassle aimed to show our commitment to cracking down on those who prey on the vulnerable and elderly through doorstep crime.

“We want everyone to know we will continue to work with our partners to tackle anyone who believes that cold calling or deceiving people is an easy way to make profit.”

Suffolk police have already been working with trading standards officers to set up 'No Cold Calling Zones'. The first was launched in Maryon Road and Grassmere Close in Ipswich on April 8.

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