Criminals posing as utility firm workers preying on the elderly

Several crimes have occurred in the south Leeds area in the past few days where men working in pairs visit homes and ask people for details, including their phone number, while claiming to have done work on drains and asking for cash.

One of the men then walks away and when the resident questions whether any work has been carried out, they receive a phone call from a caller claiming to be the man's employer, who explains if they do not hand over cash they will be taken to court.

Some residents have agreed to hand over cash on the doorstep, but sometimes the offenders have taken victims to their nearest bank and once even travelled with their victim on a bus to the bank.

Similar incidents have been reported in other areas across the county.

Det Insp Jim Dunkerley, of City and Holbeck CID, said: "These are extremely serious incidents where criminals have preyed on elderly people to con them out of large amounts of money."

In a separate appeal yesterday detectives also released e-fits of two men they want to talk to in connection with nine burglaries targeting the elderly and vulnerable in the Huddersfield and Holmfirth areas in the last month.

Pretending to be water workers, the men have asked to check the taps and look into cupboards and drawers in the kitchen of the homes. They have then stolen cash.

On Tuesday, November 9, three elderly victims were burgled in the Netheroyd Hill, Newsome and Meltham areas.

These follow similar crimes in Oakes, Moldgreen, Meltham, Rawthorpe, Birkby and Paddock.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 6060606.