Fake cop con artist tricks Kimberworth pensioner

The bogus official claimed he was a plain clothes detective carrying out home security checks in Wentworth.

Hours later an 85-year-old woman was duped out of cash by a bogus water company official at Kimberworth.

South Yorkshire Police have not ruled out a link between the two incidents last Wednesday (6).

Det Chief Insp Dave Stopford said: “We’re not ruling it out. We don’t have a tremendous amount of these but here we had two in one day within a few miles of each other.

“It’s not unheard of for these people to say they are from the police but the most common one is saying they are workmen from the water board.

“Nowadays, very few legitimate companies will cold call. Ask for and check their identification. If you are not satisfied then don’t let them into your home.

“These people prey on the vulnerable and elderly so even if you turn someone away, please call the police before they are able to identify a victim further down the road.

“We would rather come out and find that the caller is genuine than risk someone losing their valuable or sentimental possessions to these criminals.”

The force launched Operation Lockdown in October in a bid to clamp down on burglary and vehicle crime.