A Dundee pensioner is the latest victim of a distraction theft and his ward councillor says it is hard to find words to describe the criminal responsible.
The bogus callers tricked their way into the home of a 69-year-old man in Fleming Gardens North on Tuesday afternoon. A man turned up at the pensioner’s door about 4.30pm and asked to be allowed in under the pretence of checking the water supply.
The householder stayed in the kitchen with the caller as he apparently checked the taps, but was then aware of a second man in his house.
Both suspects left together and it was soon after that the householder realised that a three-figure sum of cash was gone, and he called the police.
The first suspect is described as being between 25 to 35, about five feet seven inches tall, of medium build, with short brown hair and clean shaven.
At the time he wore a dark coloured baseball cap, a purple round neck jumper, blue jeans and dark gloves.
The other man was about the same age, with short brown hair. He was clean shaven, slim and about five feet eight inches tall.
He wore a baseball cap, a cream v-neck jumper with a dark T-shirt underneath and blue jeans.
Around the same time a similar incident took place in Perth, although the bogus visitor did not get into the house and no money or property was reported missing.
The 90-year-old resident of Strathmore Street answered her door to an unexpected caller at about 4pm on Tuesday, the man saying he needed to carry out plumbing work in her house.
When she refused he then suggested that a colleague could do the work.
The woman was still suspicious so she refused all his requests for access and later reported the incident to police.
Officers want to identify the man. He is described as being 50 to 60, five feet nine inches tall with short greying hair and an English accent.
At the time he wore a light coloured long-sleeved top and light coloured trousers.
Reacting to the Dundee theft, Coldside councillor Jimmy Black said: “Those who prey on vulnerable people are utterly despicable.”
Mr Black, who is Dundee’s housing convener, said both incidents are worrying and he was particularly disturbed by the more serious one in his ward.
”The people who do these things are desperate,” he said. ”They have no morals and many of them trick their way into the homes of vulnerable people for drugs or for money to get drugs.
”Fleming Gardens is a well-established scheme where a lot of elderly people live. There is a sheltered housing lounge there and many of the homes have security entry. It is a quiet and peaceful place where people feel safe or do so until things like this happen.
”I would urge householders in Fleming Gardens and elsewhere not to let unannounced callers into their homes for any reason. The public utilities don’t send people round the doors unannounced.
”Also any bona fide callers carry identity cards, so householders should get the callers’ numbers and phone their offices to check that they are genuine and not let them in until they know they are genuine.”
Anyone who knows the identities of the men in either incident or who can assist enquiries should call Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222.