POLICE in York want the public to help them bring to book a team selling electrical goods out of the back of a van without a licence.
Officers have received "numerous" complaints about the high-pressure salesmen who have been seen in several shop car parks around the city's ring road.
They are flogging expensive electrical gadgets at knockdown prices, but police warn that customers may be disappointed by what they get for their money.
Several shop staff and a council officer who approached the gang to ask them to move on told police that they received aggressive verbal abuse.
A joint operation between York Police and council licensing officers confirmed that the team are selling goods without a licence. They are not thought to be based in the city.
Council bosses are now determined to gather more evidence of their activities so that they can be stopped permanently.
PC Richard Gatecliffe, of York Police, said: "We have had numerous complaints over the past few weeks. These people are high pressure sellers. They are selling items including power tools, digital cameras and video cameras at car parks on the outskirts of the city including Askham Bar, Clifton Moor and Monks Cross.
"Because of the volume of trading that is taking place, we will be looking at it carefully in the weeks up until Christmas.
"The message is that these people are unlicensed and that suggests they have no desire to be accountable for the quality of goods they are selling. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Robin Rawson, City of York Council licensing manager, said: "These people are illegally street trading. All the other traders you see in the city centre have the correct permits.
"These people are trading without consent, we are monitoring them and we are working to stop them as soon as possible.
"If we can find out where they have come from and if members of the public are willing to help us by giving statements about their activities, then that will help."
Anyone who has been approached by the team is asked to phone York Police on 0845 60 60 24 7 or the York Council licensing team on 01904 613161.
Updated: 08:43 Monday, November 22, 2004
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