OFFICERS are urging homeowners who suspect they are being conned by workmen to call them immediately.

Police - who are cracking down on fraudsters -want any residents with concerns to get in touch before considering handing over cash.

It comes after a couple, aged in their seventies, were forced to hand over thousands of pounds to a gang of men posing as tree surgeons after they answered a leaflet posted through their door in Bedford Road, Laindon.

After the pair were told to pay hundreds of pounds more than they expected, the woman went to the bank to withdraw cash while the builders waited in the car park.

The fraud was the latest in a spate of incidents where tree surgeon tricksters targeted elderly couples in the Basildon borough.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin, who works from Basildon police station, said: “All of the incidents are under investigation.

“The better way of tackling these type of crimes is to not let it happen in the first place.

“You should tread with a lot of caution if you are answering a card posted through your door and the people turn up at your address.

“I don’t know of a reputable company that will take people to a bank to withdraw money.

“Be careful agreeing for work to be done at your property when you have not made the arrangement yourself.

“You don’t know the people or the quality of the work that will be carried out.

“We want to know if this happens again. Get in touch if they try to take large sums of money from you after you already agreed a price - that is the time to let us know. You don’t have to pay that amount.

“If there is an attempt to take money in this way then call the police instead of being scared and going to the bank.”

In August, up to six men arrived at a couple’s home in Great Gregorie, Laindon, to cut trees in their back garden.

While the victims were distracted, one of the men went upstairs and took a five-figure sum of cash and jewellery.

A month earlier, six men posing as tree surgeons conned Diane Turnbull, 78, and her husband David, 79, who also live in Great Gregorie, out of £3,600,

Anyone with information about the fraudsters can call Essex Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.