An 87-year-old Carshalton woman has become the latest victim of the ‘water leak’ tricksters after she allowed a doorstep caller inside her home in Winchcombe Road, on Friday, 9 October at around 11:00hrs.
The male caller told her that the drains are not working properly and this was causing toilets to flood.
The male caller told her that the drains are not working properly and this was causing toilets to flood.
The caller took the woman into her garden for around 10 minutes leaving her property unprotected. When she returned inside, she found about £100 cash had been stolen along with her bank cards.
The suspect is described as a white man, aged mid 30s, 6ft tall with fair hair and wearing a blue T-shirt with a logo on it.
Police in Sutton have received six reports in the last couple of weeks of residents being approached unexpectedly on their doorstep about water leaks or drainage problems. One resident in Lynwood Drive, Worcester Park, withdrew £4,800 to repair her flooded toilet which had been blocked deliberately following one such call.
If you have any information, Contact Police on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police advise residents not to allow any unknown and unexpected callers inside your home. If you are suspicious of anyone calling at your door, shut the door keeping them outside, and call police on 999. We would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.
Residents who want improvement work carried out on their homes are advised to check out any companies and obtain references from previous customers - before agreeing to any work. Most reputable companies will be happy to supply such information.
Sutton Council has a Safer Sutton Trader Scheme which seeks to help residents avoid bogus builders and unscrupulous traders. To find an approved trader please visit the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme website at:
www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts
or call 020 8770 5070 for details.
For advice on rogue traders contact Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or visit:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/consumer_service
The suspect is described as a white man, aged mid 30s, 6ft tall with fair hair and wearing a blue T-shirt with a logo on it.
Police in Sutton have received six reports in the last couple of weeks of residents being approached unexpectedly on their doorstep about water leaks or drainage problems. One resident in Lynwood Drive, Worcester Park, withdrew £4,800 to repair her flooded toilet which had been blocked deliberately following one such call.
If you have any information, Contact Police on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police advise residents not to allow any unknown and unexpected callers inside your home. If you are suspicious of anyone calling at your door, shut the door keeping them outside, and call police on 999. We would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.
Residents who want improvement work carried out on their homes are advised to check out any companies and obtain references from previous customers - before agreeing to any work. Most reputable companies will be happy to supply such information.
Sutton Council has a Safer Sutton Trader Scheme which seeks to help residents avoid bogus builders and unscrupulous traders. To find an approved trader please visit the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme website at:
www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts
or call 020 8770 5070 for details.
For advice on rogue traders contact Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or visit:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/consumer_service