A VULNERABLE young man was held prisoner in his home by a drug dealer - who used the property to house drugs and weapons including axes - in a case of so-called ‘cuckooing’.
Police have warned for people to be vigilant in spotting signs of suspected ‘mate crime’ after a number of recent incidents of vulnerable people being taken advantage of.
Mate crime occurs when criminals target vulnerable people, befriending them with a view to exploiting them for criminal activity.
Those targeted may be deceived or threatened, or it may be such a gradual process that they do not know something is wrong until it is too late.
In some circumstances, mate crime can lead to ‘cuckooing’ - where the home of a victim is taken over, often for use as a base for criminal activity.
Community safety team leader Mark Miller told the Chronicle of one such example which occurred in the area covered by the Kendray neighbourhood policing team.
“We got a call from the man’s support worker, who he had raised concerns with that somebody had moved into his property and was refusing to leave,” said Mark.
“The perpetrator had taken over the property and was using it to sell drugs, and people were coming and going as they pleased.
“Some the man knew, and some he didn’t. He had absolutely no control over what was going on.
“We don’t know if they knew each other, the man may have got to know him through somebody else.
“It took some guts for him to come forward.”
The perpetrator had gained access to the property, of which the man was the sole occupant, and forced him to live in the lounge while he took over the bedroom.
He had been ‘threatened to keep his mouth shut’ by the people who used his property.
The tenant was identified as being under 30 years old, but Mark said it ‘could happen to anybody, regardless of age’.
Police removed the trespasser within 24 hours of the initial call, and when officers searched the property they seized drugs and a number of weapons - including a large knife, a steel bar which had a hook attached to it, and a number of axes.
“We arranged it so the tenant wouldn’t be there when we entered the property,” Mark said.
“We advised him to remove himself from social media, he changed his telephone number and has been moved to another property. He is now being given support.”
Because the tenant came forward, police were able to access the property without a warrant - but often victims are scared to speak out for fear of reprisals.
This means police rely on other people to give evidence.
Mark said: “All we can do, whenever we get that report, is to encourage people to come forward.
“We don’t find anything out until somebody puts their hand up, but any intelligence that comes in we will investigate.
“Every case relies on the intelligence supporting any action we do take.
“It’s quite a hidden crime. But you don’t know what the victim’s circumstances are. They might not dare come forward.
“They have got to engage with us and the support offered, and accept that support.”
Earlier this year, a 68-year-old man identified as being highly vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation fell victim to ‘cuckooing’ by a criminal gang - however, police were only alerted to the problem after the man confided in a PCSO.
Mark stressed the need for people to stay vigilant for changes to their neighbours’ behaviour and any unusual visitors.
“If people are concerned about their neighbours, if there are people coming and going who aren’t anything to do with the family or who are acting strangely, then contact police,” he said. “It needs investigating.”
