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Fresh appeal for conman targeting elderly Wallasey householders



DETECTIVES have issued a fresh e-fit picture of a man they want to speak to in relation to a series of distraction burglaries against elderly homeowners in Wallasey.

At least six distraction burglaries took place within 24 hours on Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17, all involving a man posing as a gas or electricity meter-reader.

After tricking his way inside people's homes, he distracted them by asking for a drink of water or to see a copy of their latest bill to see if he could get them a discounted rate, then helped himself to purses and searched handbags for money.

Another tactic he used was asking to use someone's bathroom then, once upstairs, searching other rooms for things to steal.

On one occasion, a man called at the home of a 76-year-old woman in Rake Lane armed with a lap top computer and asking to read the meter. Once inside he asked to see a copy of her latest bill and while the woman was out of the room, he stole her purse and left.

Earlier that afternoon, Saturday, July 17, at around 1pm, an 86-year-old woman living in Glencoe Road was visited by a similar-looking man who pretended to read the gas meter before asking for a glass of water. While she was in the kitchen the offender stole her purse and when she returned he politely left the scene.

Other burglaries took place in the same period at the homes of elderly people living in Wallasey Village, Mosslands Drive, Cromer Drive and Dinmore Road.

The new e-fit has been put together following further information about the offender's description by one of the burglary victims.

He is described as a white man, aged in his early to mid 20s, between 5ft 7ins and 5ft 10ins tall of slim build with short dark hair. On each occasion the offender was wearing a jacket or full suit and in some of the incidents the offender was carrying a suitcase, clip board or lap top computer.

Detective Inspector Mark Tivendale, said: "Due to the similarities in each of these distraction burglaries we believe we are dealing with the same offender. He has been very clever in going to great lengths to appear as official as possible."

"A genuine person from a utilities company will always have ID which they should be more than happy for you to inspect while they wait outside. They will also not mind homeowners calling the utilities company to check they have an employee of that name or that the visit is logged. People should also never leave a visitor alone while in their homes."

Call Birkenhead CID on 0151 777 2264 or Merseyside Police's non-emergency number, 0151 777 709 6010. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THE GLOBE

Mill Lane, Wallasey

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