Man arrested on suspicion of diesel theft
Police have arrested a man aged in his 50s on suspicion of theft of diesel and fraud by false representation.
This latest arrest follows a recent Day of Action on Wednesday, 19th August - which focused on cold-callers and rogue traders across the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District.
A range of specialist police units - including Air Support Unit, Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Local Policing Teams, ANPR Interceptors, Roads Policing, and specialist detectives - were part of the co-ordinated and targeted operation, which also saw colleagues in An Garda Síochána carry out similar activity in the Republic of Ireland, specifically aimed at disrupting travelling criminals.
The arrest in Newry today, Monday 24th August, relates to a report of an alleged rogue trader who targeted a farm or possibly other properties in the wider Banbridge/ Newry area in July 2026. He remains in police custody at this time. A further arrest relating to the wider operation was made of a man in his 50s on suspicion of intimidating a witness.
There have been three arrests so far relating to this crackdown. A 31-year-old man appeared in court today with a number of offences, including fraud by false representation, obtaining property by deception, engaging in aggressive commercial practice and possessing articles used in fraud.
The officer in charge of orchestrating Wednesday’s Day of Action, Banbridge Neighbourhood Inspector Quinn, welcomed today’s arrests, which he said sent a clear message that rogue traders, fraudsters and those involved in similar crimes were a policing priority in the community and that they would be dealt with accordingly.
“We hope that the Day of Action operation, and this subsequent arrest, will deter those unscrupulous individuals who aim to target the vulnerable and take advantage by overcharging for poor quality work - or work that is never completed at all,” he said.
“We will continue to engage with the local community to offer advice on the potential risks of those who may come cold-calling around our doors.”
Further information about fraud and bogus callers is available on the Police Service of Northern Ireland website here: https://www.psni.police.uk/bogus-callers and here: https://www.psni.police.uk/safety-and-support/keeping-safe/scams-and-fraud