Sheffield residents warned of door-to-door beggars pretending to be homeless

Community support officers from the Sheffield South West neighbourhood team have delivered letters to houses on Montgomery Road, Nether Edge and nearby streets after receiving reports of people knocking on doors to ask for money.

Houses of elderly and vulnerable people were targeted on Oak Dale Road, as well as Montgomery Road and other areas, police said.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “These people are not homeless, they have somewhere to live. If they are successful at one address, they are more likely to return to this address, or pass this on to other people doing the same.”

The letter offers ‘practical advice’ on how to deal with beggars and contact details for police. It urges people not to give money to anyone on their doorstep, even if they might have a convincing story. Instead, they should support local charities who help vulnerable people, police said.

It states: “If you live next door to someone who is elderly, or could be seen as vulnerable, make contact with them.

“Keep social distancing in mind, but maybe pop a note through their door or speak to them from a safe distance about being cautious about doorstep callers.”

The letter also said officers are ”carrying out enquiries in the area to identify those responsible”.