Bogus callers steal from elderly women
Police have issued a warning after bogus callers in Crawley and Hove stole money from the homes of two elderly residents.
At around 5.25pm on Tuesday a man called at a house in Gossops Drive, Crawley, also claiming to be from the water board and that a pipe had burst.
The resident at the property, a woman in her 80s, let the man into the property and again after he had left she discovered that money had been stolen. She then called police.
The man is described as white, around 5ft 10ins’, of skinny build, clean shaven, wearing a navy blue v-neck sweater and dark blue trousers.
At around 4.25pm on Tuesday a man called at a house in Downland Drive, Hove, claiming to be from the water board. He said that a pipe had burst further down the street and he needed to come in to turn off the water.
The elderly resident, also a woman in her 80s, allowed the man into the property and she stayed with him while he went into the kitchen.
When he left about 20 minutes later the woman released that money had been stolen from the property and called police.
The man is described as white, around 5ft 5ins, slim build with short, dark hair, clean shaven and in his late 20s or early 30s.
Police are considering whether these two incidents are linked.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “We believe that on both occasions the caller was distracting the resident while an accomplice let themselves into the property through the front door which may have been left ajar and then searched for money.
“I would advise everyone not to keep large amounts of cash in your house and not let anyone into your property if they are not expected.
“Always check someone’s ID and keep the security chain on while you are doing so. If you are in doubt, don’t let them in and phone the company they claim to be from using a phone number from a telephone directory. If you are suspicious then call police on 101.”
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1007 of 14/2 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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