Police are warning householders to be aware of a suspected bogus tradesman targeting homes on the Isle of Wight.
Officers
and Isle of Wight Council Trading Standards are investigating a report
of a vulnerable man, aged in his 80s, who was visited at his home in
Fairlee Road, Newport by a stranger at 1.00pm.
The man offered
to clean the pensioner’s driveway and guttering. When the pensioner
said he was not interested, the man persisted and said he would carry
out some cleaning so a decision on payment could be made later.
Later
the same afternoon, the man returned to the pensioner’s front door and
claimed he was owed £450 for the driveway cleaning. The pensioner went
to his bedroom for money, and was followed by the man, who later
claimed he was owed an extra £450 for cleaning the guttering.
It’s believed the man left the address sometime between 2.40pm and 4.00pm last Thursday (June 18).
The suspect is described as:
● Male
● White
● Aged between 25 and 35
● 5 ft 8 to 5 ft 10 ins tall
● Short fair hair
● Spoke with a southern accent
He was wearing a red polo top featuring three words; the third word was ‘Coverings’.
The suspect was seen using a white Toyota Hilux van, which had ladders and a compressor on the back.
The van also had green writing on one of its sides.
Anyone
with information, or who is approached by a tradesman matching the
description above, is asked to phone Newport Police Station on 101 or
0845 045 45 45, or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800
555 111.
Isle of Wight Council Senior Fair Trading Officer
Julie Woodhouse said: “Stop and check who is at the door and see if you
know them. If it’s a stranger, put your door chain on and always ask
for identification. If you can check it, make sure it’s a landline you
ring and not a mobile. If you need further help, ring Trading Standards
on (01983) 821000 .”