Police have appealed for witnesses after a vulnerable 89-year-old man was targeted by bogus callers in Paignton last week
The incident happened around 11am on Wednesday 16 August 2017 at a house in Colley End Park in Paignton after the victim returned home from shopping.
DC Dixie Dean said: “Two unknown men called at the door of the victim ten minutes after he had returned home from being out shopping.
“The men advised that they believed he had a roof leak as they had been working at a neighbouring property when they spotted the leak and that a roof tile may have slipped onto the victim’s roof blocking the gutter causing the water to back up into his bathroom.
“One of the men took the victim up to his bathroom and left him there whilst they went out into his back garden in order to look up at his roof. After about ten minutes the victim realised that the two men had not made their way into his back garden and made his way downstairs to his front lounge and noticed that £500 cash had been taken from his wallet on the coffee table.
“The two men are described as white, in their mid-20s with short dark hair. One man was of a larger build with a tanned complexion. The other man was wearing a white top which had some wording in bold letters on the reverse with the word ‘Valley’ on it.
“No vehicles were seen and the victim’s neighbours had not had any builders working for them. We believe the suspects specifically targeted the victim after spotting him walking home and followed him either on foot or in a vehicle.
“I would urge the public, especially vulnerable people who reside alone, to be vigilant of callers at their door, particularly bogus builders.”
Anyone who has information that may assist our enquiries they are asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by telephone on 101, quoting CR/069038/17.
Alternatively information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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