HIGH pressure sales techniques, extortionate prices and poor quality workmanship await those who agree to free security checks from suspicious firms cold-calling at the door or over the phone, warn police.

The be wary' message was emphasised again this week by Kendal police after reports that firms had been calling the elderly at home, including an 85-year-old woman in Sedbergh at the weekend.

And there was a further warning to householders after reports of men calling at a house in Kendal claiming to be from the water board, although they did not gain access.

Crime prevention officer with Kendal police Terry Belshaw explained that the firms were ringing people at home offering "free security checks" and then arranging to call back at a later date.

He said: "We know the tactics they seem to be using and that is to gently frighten the individual. They will ring up and say they are in your area tomorrow and doing free security checks. I am told, by people that have received these type of calls, that these firms have said There have been quite a lot of burglaries in your area. Unless you consider having a security system you will be the next victim'."

"If the victims says yes, okay I'll have a free survey' the firm will turn up at the appointed time and place and will get into the house but they don't like to leave until they have got a signature to do the work on their form."

Mr Belshaw said he knew of cases where a salesman stayed in an elderly woman's home for five hours and she only signed because she wanted to use the bathroom.

In many cases, people were charged thousands of pounds for work that could have cost a couple of hundred, he added.

Customers were rarely told of their consumers' rights either, such as a seven-day "cooling off period" during which they could decide whether or not for the work should go ahead.

Regularly, firms were arranging for the work to be done immediately, said Mr Belshaw.

"It is also fictitious what they are telling people," said Mr Belshaw. "Not only do we live in a beautiful area but one of the lowest crime areas in the country. The prospect of an individual being a victim of crime, particularly serious crime, around here is minimum.

"The easiest preventative measure for people is their front door. If you don't let them through your front door you don't become the victim of crime.

"You don't have to make your house like Fort Knox. Lock your doors and windows and don't let people into your home without checking. If you are not convinced, tell them to make an appointment in writing."

He added that not every firm that contacted people over the phone or turned up at the door was not legitimate.

"But, unfortunately, the ones that aren't legitimate are using this technique to get into people's homes," he said.