Hunt for bogus caller who stole £800 from East Dene OAP

The man pinched the cash, along with a small jar of coins, from a house in The Lanes after asking to use the toilet.

A police spokeswoman said the thief had called between 3pm and 4.30pm on September 3, telling the elderly resident he was selling calendars on behalf of a charity. 

“He asked to use the toilet and the victim then offered the man a cup of coffee,” she said.

“When she returned from making it, he was gone. 

“The following day, the woman’s daughter discovered £800 cash and a small jar containing coins were missing.”

The man officers are keen to speak to is described as white, in his late twenties or early thirties, around 5’8’’ tall and of medium build with short dark coloured hair.

He was wearing a jacket and jeans and spoke with a Yorkshire accent. 

The victim said he sounded nervous and was “slow to choose his words” during their conversation.

Anyone with information about the incident should call 101 quoting incident number 241 of September 4.