POLICE are warning residents that cold callers could be gathering information to carry out a future crime.

The sellers of household products may say that they are on a ‘rehabilitation course’ arranged by probation services or other organisations trying to find people work.

But Thames Valley Police officers in Bicester say this is not the case and often they are known criminals. Probation services do not run such schemes.

The sellers may show a card which claims to be a Pedlars Licence or work permit but this is not valid and they are breaking the law if they are using anything like this.

According to the police, addresses that are deemed ‘vulnerable’ properties are placed on a list and could be broken into at a later date.

A spokesman said: “If they are in your area, please call the police immediately on 101 with a description of them.”