Police in Bad Homburg and Oberursel have issued a warning after a number of phone calls were reported to them.

The callers used a trick in the phone system to show the number “110” on the display of the receiver’s phone.  The police advise that they do not use this number when calling someone.

The callers target the elderly, and ask them about valuables and cash that they have at home.  They then tell them that they have received information that they are about to be burgled, and are going to send someone round to take their valuables to the police station for safe keeping.  Obviously if they did hand them over to whoever turned up they would not see them again.

The real police will not ask questions about valuables in the home, and will not asked where they are hidden.  They do not take cash or valuables for safe keeping.

Anyone who receives such calls is advised to put the phone down and inform the local police.  (Oberursel: 06171 62400, Bad Homburg: 06172 1200).