Police are urging people to think twice before using doorstep antiques dealers.

Households in Witham have been receiving flyers from antiques dealers offering to value goods or asking if people have items for sale.

Geoff Butler, crime prevention officer with Braintree police, is advising people who have antiques or bric-a-brac they want valued or sold to go to a sales room.

Mr Butler said: "We urge people if they have antique items they may be interested in having valued or offering for sale that they do it through reputable sales rooms."

The flyers said dealers would be back in the area the next day, and although there have been no complaints, the police do not think it is good practice to deal with people on the door.

Mr Butler said there was a danger people could be talked into parting with antiques without having thought about their value.

Published Friday, March 8, 2002