Two Arrested After Elderly Paddock Wood Resident Targeted by Rogue Traders

Two men have been arrested after an elderly resident in Paddock Wood was allegedly targeted by rogue traders who carried out unnecessary work at her home before repeatedly asking for more money.

Kent Police say the men carried out a series of jobs at a property in Willow Lane throughout July and August, repeatedly asking for further payment and suggesting additional work without properly finishing what they'd already started.

Officers launched an investigation, and on Wednesday 19 August a 35-year-old and a 49-year-old, both from the local area, were arrested on suspicion of fraud, theft and criminal damage; the younger man was further arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs. Both have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Police say further reports of similar suspicious activity have since come in from the wider Staplehurst and Paddock Wood area, and are appealing for anyone who believes they may have been targeted to come forward.

Kent Police is using the case to repeat its standard advice on doorstep fraud: don't engage with cold callers or unsolicited tradespeople offering work on your home or garden, be wary of anyone asking for cash up front or telling you to withdraw money from the bank, and stick to traders registered with a recognised scheme such as Kent County Council's Trading Standards Checked list. The force also suggests getting quotes from at least three traders in writing, checking they're actually from the company they claim to be, and treating any pressure to agree to work on the spot as a red flag.

Anyone who believes they've been a victim of similar activity is urged to report it - by calling 999 if a crime is in progress, 101 for anything else, or via the force's online reporting tool. Source: Kent Police