Tricksters prey on elderly residents

An 88-year-old man was in bed at his home in Whitehead Close, Beverley, last Thursday when a man knocked on his front door.

The pensioner shouted for the man to come in.

The man – described as in his 30s, stocky and wearing a multi-coloured lumberjack shirt – came into the bedroom claiming he was delivering raffle winnings, but needed some change. The pensioner told him where he kept his money. When the man left he got up and discovered his wallet and the cash in it had gone.

An 87-year-old woman in Duesbury Close, also in Beverley, fell victim to a woman the previous day who knocked on the door claiming to be selling items on behalf of a charity for deaf people. The victim allowed her to use the toilet, but the next morning discovered her handbag and purse were missing.

The conwoman is described as aged about 28, 5ft 8in and stocky. She had shoulder-length mousey hair and was wearing a big multi-coloured jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on the non- emergency number 101.