Wellington Police are urging householders to be cautious before paying cash to people turning up at properties and offering cheap asphalting work.
Police have become aware that a group of four young men, recent arrivals from England, have been door knocking throughout Wellington offering to asphalt driveways in a cash deal.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thornton, Wellington Police crime control unit, said the group pays cash to hire vehicles, specialist equipment and material from legitimate operators, then uses their own labour - often young overseas travellers - to do the job.
The work quality is variable and some customers are unhappy they've paid out $5000 to $20,000 for a cash job, only to have to pay more money to a reputable firm to complete or redo the job.
Police believe the young men are working illegally in New Zealand, and are making their way through the country undertaking these cash jobs. They were in Auckland earlier this year, have targeted households in Wellington suburbs including Johnsonville and Khandallah, as well as Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Kapiti.
Detective Senior Sergeant Thornton said police understand the group intends trying their luck in Christchurch and elsewhere in the South Island.
"We've heard from several people that one or two of these young guys turns up at someone's door, indicates that they've got half a truckload of hotmix left over from a job and offers to seal the householder's driveway for a good price.
"They're well presented and the sales pitch is almost that the customer would be helping the seller out by using the leftover asphalt. The deal is all done in cash, either notes or cash cheques made out for several thousand dollars.
"There's no doubt that asphalting work has been done as agreed with buyers but some are feeling a bit ripped off," Detective Senior Sergeant Thornton said. "This is more of a consumer and civil issue than a police one but we would however like to speak with these young men to find out more about their operations and intentions."
He said the group uses a range of business cards and flyers with multiple identities to help authenticate their operations. Contact details include in many cases non existent addresses.
"Our advice to anyone contemplating buying services or products, especially cash offers at the door, is to check first that you're dealing with a reputable and legitimate business before handing over your money," Detective Senior Sergeant Thornton said.
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Released by Kaye Calder
Wellington Police District communications manager
tel 04 496 3464