Bogus officials steal £6,000 after targeting elderly Rotherham women

MEN posing as bogus officials targeted three elderly women within hours of each other — stealing £6,000 from one pensioner.

A fake council officer is reported to have visited a 72-year-old woman in Thrybergh on Monday (June 10) between noon and 2.30pm, and told the woman she needed a machine installing in her bedroom, which would cost her £40.

When the woman said she didn’t have any money in the house and her son and carers would be there shortly, he left without any explanation, a spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said.

The man is described as being white, between 30 and 40-years-old, average height, stocky build and clean shaven. He is believed to have been wearing a navy cap and a khaki-coloured work jacket.

Police said a second incident happened a short while later, at around 3.20pm in Herringthorpe.

A man in a white van offered to do some gardening for a 75-year-old woman, said the spokeswoman.

She let the man into her living room and she went upstairs to get some money but after the suspect followed her, she challenged him and told him to leave. Nothing is believed to have been stolen.

The man is described as being young, white and wearing beige clothing.

Ten minutes later, a 75-year-old woman in East Dene reported that a man approached her and said he had been sent to check her drains, claiming neighbours had raised some concerns about them.

“As a second suspect distracted the woman, this man is believed to have stolen £6,000 from a bedroom upstairs,” said the spokeswoman.

Both men are described as being white. One was in his mid-30s, around 5ft 6in, with dark brown hair and was wearing dark clothing. The other was in his mid 50s, around 5ft 4in, of large build and was wearing light clothing and a flat cap.

Det Inspector Andy Knowles said: “Whilst there are differences in these incidents, we are treating them as linked and would ask residents to report any similar incidents to us.

“I’d like to ask residents to be vigilant and be mindful of anyone offering to do work who does not seem genuine.

“If you have elderly friends of relatives who you think could be vulnerable to incidents like this, please talk to them and ask them to call us to report anything suspicious.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting incident number 542 of June 10.