LETTERS are going out to newsagents and small businesses in East Lancashire to warn them against a gang of confidence tricksters.
Lancashire Police last week warned against the gang -- described as east-European -- which has been targeting mainly Asian newsagents. Police believe the five men and two women are from outside East Lancashire and could be operating as part of a country-wide group.
They distract the shopkeeper while one of the gang slips into the private dwelling to steal cash and valuables.
Newsagents in Blackburn have fallen victim, leading to calls of vigilance from the National Federation of Retail Newsagents.
North West area manager Alan Aspinall said letters had been sent to some newsagents to warn them.
He said: "People need to be aware of this gang and not get taken in. It's not just newsagents, but small businesses as well and we hope that an appeal in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph will reach a lot of traders."
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