Residents in Rushmoor are being advised to be on their guard against a company offering free alarm systems.

Officers have received calls from members of the public after they have been contacted by people claiming to be from an organisation called Crime Research UK.

The caller states they are working in cooperation with the police and are offering free burglar alarm systems to elderly residents.

The company is closely associated with SAS Security and both have been subject to investigations by Trading Standards due to complaints of residents being misled.

Rushmoor crime prevention officer, Graeme Barbour, said: “The police are not working in cooperation with any company in this way and we are concerned that people’s trust in the police is being misused to try and sell a product and that people are making decisions they might have not normally have made.

“Please do not agree to anything that is offered over the phone and always make independent enquiries before accepting a product in this way.

“If you think a caller is not genuine, you should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.”