Warning issued over bogus callers

Simon Bristow

POLICE are warning elderly residents in Hull and Willerby to be on their guard following a spate of incidents involving bogus callers.

On Monday, a man claiming to work for the water board called at an address in The Greenway, Gipsyville, and asked to be shown in.

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The elderly woman asked him for identification but he said he would show her later.

The man asked the woman to open the cupboard under the sink then stole money from her purse while she was distracted.

Half an hour later three men also claiming to be from the water board stole keys from a house in Saltash Road after tricking their way in but refusing to show identification.

Two similar incidents took place yesterday. At 11am a man with a southern accent was seen trying to gain entry to a property in Main Street, Willerby, and when challenged said he had come to check a gas leak.

He was denied entry and drove off in a car.

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At 12.20pm an 89-year-old man in Compass Road, Hull, answered the door to a man who said there had been a gas explosion in the area and he needed to check the water.

The caller was allowed in and stayed in the kitchen with the occupant for some time.

After he had left the man discovered cash was missing from an upstairs room.

The victim believes a second person entered the house while he was kept talking in the kitchen.

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The suspect in this incident is white, in his 30s, clean shaven, has short black hair and a thin build. He spoke with a London accent.

Police say callers who cannot confirm their identity or who appear suspicious should not be allowed in. Anyone with information about any of these offences can call 0845 6060222.

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