KENT Police are warning people to think twice when buying seemingly cheap goods from unlicensed traders.

In recent weeks there have been a spate of incidents where goods have been being sold from the backs of vans and trucks to shoppers.

There is no specific indication that many of these goods have been stolen.

But police stress that these kinds of purchases are not covered by any kind of consumer protection, with many expensive electrical items coming without guarantees or the assurance of a refund if the product is faulty.

One woman recently purchased a flat-screen television only to find that it was merely a "But shell with no wires or anything inside.

The matter is being investigated but due to the nature of the sale and the manner in which the trader sold the product, it might be the case that the sale was not illegal.

John Grant, crime reduction officer for Mid Kent, said: “Buying something off the back of a lorry is often a phrase associated with stolen goods. However, in many cases the items being sold are not stolen.

"But these traders are taking advantage of consumers, offering cheap deals with little recourse if things go wrong. We advise people not to buy any expensive items from these kinds of traders.

"It might seem cheaper, but in the long run you might end up having to replace damaged or faulty items in the absence of a guarantee. Of course, in the event that the goods purchased are stolen, this could lead to the buyer being implicated in a police investigation”.