Two arrested and three vehicles seized in ongoing joint fraud investigation

Dear resident, 

Our Central Fraud Unit have arrested two men and seized three vehicles as part of a joint operation with Reading Council’s Trading Standards Department targeting bogus tradespeople.

It was reported that two men had been targeting residents between Sunday 29 June and Wednesday 2 July in Tilehurst by cold-calling houses and pressuring people into agreeing to work that didn't need doing.

This resulted in a vulnerable victim being pressured into making a payment of £12,000 for moss to be removed from their roof. The men went on to remove roof tiles, claiming that further work was required, as well as pressuring the victim to agree to having their loft insulated.

A 22-year-old man and 54-year-old man from Woking, Surrey, have been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation as part of an ongoing investigation.
 

We are urging residents to remain vigilant and do not hesitate in reporting any suspicious activity immediately.

For more information and advice around bogus tradespeople, please visit our website.