The rogue traders

As such, North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards team must be applauded for taking the fight to these morally bankrupt individuals and introducing both state-of-the-art technology and new methods to prepare and educate the public.

The authority believes that these cheats will travel from across

Britain to target elderly residents in the region who are facing significant repairs to their properties following the harshest winter for generations.

It comes on the back of notorious cases such as Selby builder Darryl Glynn, jailed last week for four-and-a-half years for conning customers out of nearly 55,000.

To strike back, the council will use advanced computer software to pinpoint hot-spots for doorstep crime so their resources can be deployed to the right areas.

The officers will also analyse the tactics employed by known offenders so they can approach potential victims to warn them not to succumb to the high-pressure selling techniques.

To stop this crime wave, however, the council also needs the support of the public – only 14 per cent of all cases in North Yorkshire are reported and experts believe there could be as many as 1,700 cases in the county every year.

As such, the public should not be afraid to blow the whistle on cowboy outfits. The more information the officers have at their disposal, the greater the likelihood that these confidence tricksters will be brought to justice.