Elderly couple conned out of £3,000 by bogus workman
AN ELDERLY couple were defrauded of £3,000 by a bogus worker whop conned thrm into handing over cash.
At around 9am on Wednesday a man approached two elderly residents at their home on Underwood Road, Plympton and persuaded them to part with the cash after explaining emergency building work was to be completed on neighbouring property.
-
The suspect told the residents that a humidifier would need to be placed into their address to rectify a severe damp problem and that a cash only payment would be accepted.
The victims handed the cash over and the man left and did not return with the equipment as promised.
Police are advising other residents in the area to be vigilant when approached from cold-callers offering to undertake work.
The suspect is described as a white male, 30 years old, of chubby build, 5’7 tall, clean shaven, with a light Irish accent, wearing a blue T-shirt, blue faded jeans, white trainers and driving a white Ford Transit van.
Anyone with any information is asked to please call 08452 777 444 quoting EP/10/769 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
5 Comments
by Steve, Plymouth
Saturday, July 31 2010, 6:44AM
“How many people keep £3000 in cash at home?!
Was this guy lucky or did he know something?
This elderly couple do seem to be particularly naive,though of course the crime is completely heinous”
by Mick, Barbican
Saturday, July 31 2010, 1:52AM
“My elderly mother lived on an old folks bungalow estate in the midlands and scarcely a week went by without con artists ripping somebody off, including schoolkids begging money for phoney 'school sponsorship projects'.
I was staying overnight once, watching her telly gone midnight when half a brick came sailing through the window scaring her cat, followed by a hand grabbing a cheap tin ornament off her windowsill.
I ran out but they'd done a runner, We called the police but the crime went unsolved.
The moral?- keep stuff off your windowsills”
by Don't they ever listen, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 6:55PM
“Sorry but this is hi lighted and publicised ALL the time yet still these people fall for it every time, I'm beginning to run out of sympathy”
by Mick, Barbican
Friday, July 30 2010, 4:30PM
“Don't the police ever visit gipsy sites to follow up crimes like this, or are they no-go areas?”
by Lady, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 3:57PM
“"with a light Irish accent"... seems our lovely travelling inhabitants are out earning a living. Completely heartless.
My thoughts are with this poor couple.”