Police warn about suspected doorstep conman in Hove

Police are trying to trace a suspected bogus caller who is believed to have approached at least two elderly women in Hove and another in Bognor.

Sussex Police released efits of the suspect and appealed to anyone recognising the man to contact the detectives.

He was in a white Transit van when he approached one of the women in Hove on Monday 26 September near her home in Brittany Road and managed to gain her address.

He called at the woman’s home on Wednesday 2 October and tried to talk to her but she was suspicious because the man appeared to be wearing a false beard.

He claimed to live in her road but inquiries have since established that this was not the case.

Police produced an efit which bore a strong resemblance to an image produced after a suspected doorstep conman knocked on a woman’s door in West Avenue, Bognor.

He called shortly before noon on Sunday 18 September and told her that he was from the water board and he asked to check her stopcock.

When the woman asked to see proof of his identity, he said that he would fetch it from his van then left and didn’t return.

The man was described as being in his fifties, having a stocky or muscular build, piercing eyes and a distinctive, elaborately patterned red and green tattoo all up his right arm.

The suspect is believed to have approached another woman in Hove on Wednesday 2 October as she got off a bus in New Church Road.

He claimed to have carried out work at her address, which he hadn’t, and he asked her to remind him of her address, which she did.

When the woman returned home the same afternoon, the man knocked on her door and asked her for cash for the work which he claimed to have carried out.

He then asked to use the bathroom and stole an envelope containing several hundred pounds.

The suspect was described as being in his thirties or forties, tall and with a local accent. He was wearing a flat cap.

Officers believe that this incident may be linked to the other two due to the nature of the offence, time and location.

Detective Constable Jessica Terrill said: “The woman in Bognor did exactly the right thing by refusing to let him into the house before she saw some valid identification.

“Our advice is quite simple: If you are not sure, don’t open your door.

“If someone calls at your address for a genuine reason then they will be happy to show you identification and they will wait or come back while you make inquiries.

“If you do not recognise someone, do not give your details to them on the street. Instead ask for a business card or number and tell them you will get back to them.

“Never hand over cash to someone who comes to your door. Always ask for an invoice to be sent to you.

“If they insist on coming inside and you feel uneasy call police on 999.”

Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to call Sussex Police on 101, email contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk or contact the independent charity Crimsestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.