Bogus workmen con thousands from pensioner

Published 4 Dec 2009 12:32 0 Comments

POLICE are hunting bogus workmen who swindled £4300 from an eighty-eight year old widower.

James Sharpe, of Tweedsmuir, Biggar answered his door to the three crooks at 9am on Monday November 30.

The unscrupulous thieves then offered to clean his roof, paint his chimney and fix various windows.

But only two hours later they persuaded the retired shepherd to hand over a cheque for £4000, plus cash totalling £300, to buy supplies.

The suspects then made off to cash the cheque in a white van with Roof Clean emblazoned on it.

James, who lives alone after his wife Moira died three years ago, said: "I thought the work would take them two days to finish but they were back in to me just two hours later.

"The boss guy did most of the talking while another one of them helped me write out the cheque.

"I should never have entertained them, I've only myself to blame really.

"They've made off with almost all of my savings."

A police spokesman said: "These men have preyed on a vulnerable individual, conning him out of a considerable sum of money in the process.

"Anyone who has information that can help us locate these individuals is asked to contact police immediately.

"We are urging people to remain vigilant for bogus workers who may look to take advantage of vulnerable members of our community and report any suspicious activity to the police."

Tweeddale MP David Mundell, who last year teamed up with local police in an anti-crime campaign to help senior citizens, said: "Those who perpetrated this type of crime are the lowest of the low. It is disgraceful to target the elderly in this manner and my sympathies go to this gentlemen.

"Unfortunately this type of crime tends to increase at this time of year with dark nights but I would encourage everyone to be a good neighbour and look out for any elderly or vulnerable people who live close by."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 04 Dec 09

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