A STOCKBRIDGE resident has been praised for following cold-calling guidelines after she helped to solve a policing mystery.

The woman originally contacted the police after receiving an unplanned visit from a staff member of a major utility company.

The man claimed she needed to change her appointment on request from the police.

The Stockbridge resident became suspicious and rang the authority, who began to investigate the complaint.

It was later revealed that the utility company had transposed two digits of a job number, which related to an area in Southampton.

A PCSO was involved with this job and had requested a change of appointment due to a possible fraud in the area.

The Stockbridge resident's call to the police, and her precise log of events, helped officers solve the mystery quickly.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary have now publicly praised the resident's quick thinking actions.

A spokesperson said: “Well done to a Stockbridge resident who recently followed all the right guidelines when she became suspicious about a personal caller at her home address.

“Our resident carefully logged all the details of whom she spoke to, which proved invaluable to our solving the mystery.

“Please take a leaf of of our local residents book and challenge any callers if you are suspicious about their motives.

“Always ask to see ID and thoroughly look at it.

“Please also remember that normally Police do not ask for changes to appointments to take meter readings.”