Bogus callers who target rural communities should find it harder to carry out their scams thanks to a new initiative being promoted by the privatised utilities and the police.

While there is no major problem with conmen in North Yorkshire, a steady trickle of incidents have been reported in recent months.

The usual tactics used by the bogus callers is to pose as an official from one of the privatised utilities, try to gain entry, then look for items to steal once inside.

They also often work in pairs, one distracting the householder while the other carries out the theft.

Thieves even made a beeline for North Yorkshire during the flooding crisis, trying to convince householders they were builders or insurance assessors while looking for goods to steal.

Now though, the region's residents can find out everything they need to protect themselves in Callers at the Door, a Yorkshire Electricity-sponsored booklet which includes advice on how to deal with callers. It has been supported by all the main utilities, and details the uniforms their staff wear and the identification they carry.

Yorkshire Electricity Community Affairs Officer Kevin Rodgers said producing the booklet was a proactive step against the bogus caller.

He said: "This is our way of helping householders to protect themselves. We know that bogus callers are out there, unfortunately, so we are trying to play our part to make sure they are sent away.

"We have liaised with the other utilities, volunteer groups and the police to produce the booklet, which we hope will find its way into lots of homes, and more importantly, into people's actions when they answer the door."

Householders can take a number of simple steps to protect themselves.

"If you have a door chain, always use it. If you can see the caller before they open the door, through a viewer perhaps, then have a look," said Mr Rodgers.

"Think whether you know them - do you recognise their uniform or vehicle. If you have opened the door, don't take the chain off until you have seen and are happy with their identification, which any genuine official will be perfectly happy to show."

Sergeant Paul Warner, of Malton Police, said it was not a major problem in the area but that these people are around and often prey on vulnerable or elderly people and can be very convincing.

"I would fully recommend that anybody who has concerns gets a copy of this booklet and follows it's guidelines.

"The overriding advice is if you are not 100 per cent certain don't open the door. Ring either the company they claim to be from, or the police."

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, February 06, 2001