Pot-bellied conman targets Hove pensioner for a second time

A pot-bellied conman tried to steal money from a pensioner for a second time in a month.

He had called at the home of the 85-year-old pensioner in Cranmer Avenue, Hove, just over a fortnight earlier and stolen £1,400.

On Monday (1 July) the same doorstep conman returned with an accomplice.

The bogus caller said that he was working in a neighbouring garden but had dropped his hedgetrimmer into the victim’s property.

The tubby conman persuaded the pensioner to go into the garden with him and while they were outside a second intruder went into the home.

The pensioner challenged the men. They denied having been at the house two weeks earlier and left empty-handed. One of the men left on foot. The other left in a small car.

The first time the conman turned up at the pensioner’s home, he told him that his roof needed repairing.

When the pensioner said he lived in managed accommodation, the offender called an accomplice. He posed as a member of staff at the management company over the phone and told the victim to pay £1,400 for the work.

The accomplice told the pensioner that the money would be refunded.

The work was due to be carried out the next day but no one turned up.

Sussex Police said that the incident could be linked to a report of builders being paid £6,000 by a resident in Old Shoreham Road, Hove. The resident said that the work was unsatisfactory.

The bogus builder was described as a fat white man with a pot belly after he first called at the pensioner’s home. He was said to be about 40 years old, about 5ft 5in tall and to have had short light brown hair.

He was wearing a grey golfing-style cap, a large loose black jumper, grey loose-fitting trousers and grey trainers.

On the second visit he was described as short and fat and had dyed his hair black.

Sussex Police issued an e-fit after the bogus caller first turned up in Cranmer Avenue.

Detective Sergeant Liam Tinkl said: “We believe the men returned to the pensioner’s home because they saw him as an easy target.

“The victim has been left very upset and is worried that other people could be conned.

“We need to speak to anyone who may have seen the men or who recognises the description so that we can catch them before they prey on any more vulnerable people.

“We would also urge people to beware of cold callers. Do not allow them into your property and do not enter into any financial agreement with them unless you are completely satisfied that they are genuine.

“If in doubt, keep them out and call us via 999 if they are still present.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.