Man made charity claim to rob OAP
An angry pensioner has spoken out after a conman who claimed he was raising money for a children’s charity stole cash after tricking his way into her home.
The 81-year-old woman, who does not wish to be named, said the man was selling cleaning products.
She told the ‘Tiser he took £20 from her purse before fleeing from her home in Ilkeston while she was making a cup of tea the trickster had asked for.
The elderly woman said: “I should have known, all I had time to do was put the kettle on.
“I was in the kitchen when he said he had to go and give someone else some change. I checked and £20 was missing from my purse.”
The grandmother-of-five said she phoned the police straight away and tried not to touch anything so officers could get the crook’s fingerprints.
“It shook me up but I am angry at myself for being so silly,” said the victim. “ I don’t normally buy things at the door but I gave in because he said it was for a children’s charity.”
She described the man as 5ft 8ins tall and aged between 35 and 40.
It follows on from a series of other thefts, although police are not linking them.
On January 29 a conman wearing dark clothing gained entry to the home of a Cotmanhay Road couple in their eighties by claiming to be selling cleaning products.
He snatched the husband’s wallet from his hands as he was buying some items and fled.
Three other incidents involving suspicious doorstep sellers were reported to police in January.
During one on Godfrey Drive, Kirk Hallam, on January 28, a man claiming to be selling mobility aids made off with cash while the elderly householder was making him a drink.
Another couple were targeted on Shirebrook Close on January 29.
Police are warning residents to put the door chain on before opening up and ask for identification.
If you are suspicious of a caller contact the police on 101.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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