Police hunt bogus charity collector

Police are hunting for a bogus charity collector who stole money from an elderly blind woman in her Plymouth home.

The 79-year-old woman was visited at home in Leigham by a man claiming to be selling items on behalf of a charity for dyslexia.

He invited himself in and remained at her home for around 45 minutes, insisting that she buy household products which she did not need. She eventually gave in and handed over her purse for goods worth no more than £25.

However the thief took all of the banknotes from her purse – totalling £150 – before making off from the property.

Police are investigating the theft which happened on Wednesday 27 September; the man turned up at the property around 1.15pm.

Enquiries show that a man was seen going door-to-door in the Leigham area during the morning in question and appeared to be trying to sell items from a bag.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have been approached by the man or seen him operating in the area to come forward. He is described as being well-spoken with a south east accent.

PC Ian Bell, from Plymouth Local Investigation Team, said: “This is an appalling crime; stealing from an elderly blind woman has to be the lowest of the low. We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this man going door-to-door in the Leigham area on that day or since to come forward and contact police before this man steals from any other vulnerable victim.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by phone on 101, quoting crime reference CR/084068/17.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555111 or by www.crimestoppers-uk.org