Man due in court over stolen €20k

The most vulnerable in society have been asked to be vigilant of people calling to the door, the Cork Independent has learned, after a man in his 40s was arrested in relation to the theft of over €20,000.

In March 2016, the injured party in this incident gave over €20,000 to the suspect to carry out building work. Only minimal work was completed at a house in East Cork and the money was not returned to the owner.

In April 2018 a complaint was made to An Garda Síochána in Midleton, and following an investigation, a man in his 40s was arrested on 17 June 2019.

He was brought to Midleton Garda Station and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He has since been charged and is due to appear before the courts at a later date.

Speaking after the information came to light yesterday, a garda spokesman told the newspaper: “The most vulnerable people need to be careful and vigilant when people call to the door offering to sell items or carry out work on their house. We’d also ask neighbours to look out for each other, especially if they are older.”

Meanwhile, Crime Prevention Officer John Kelly gave this advice: “If someone calls to your door offering you professional trade services or selling goods and you are worried they are not bona fide, tell the caller that you never employ deal with people who ‘cold call’ to your door.

“Ask for a brochure or documentation, so you can carry out checks and verify their credibility. This should include a contact number and a VAT registered number. Be careful of documentation that only displays mobile contact numbers or incomplete addresses. Always seek comparable estimates for services. Never engage a person who insists on a cash payment as it is untraceable.”