Con-man foiled by plucky pensioner

A CON-MAN was foiled when his intended 92-year-old victim asked him for identification.

The woman was sitting in the living room of her home in Sheriff Street, Milnrow, at 12.30pm on Saturday when a man knocked on the window.

She unlocked her door and he told her he was working on the back of the house and needed her to turn on her taps.

She went to her kitchen and the man asked her to open the back door. She asked to see his identification and he said he would go and get it, but left and didn’t return.

The offender is described as white, aged about 18, 5ft 5in tall with a slim build. He had short dark hair, was clean-shaven and spoke with a local accent. He was smartly dressed, wearing a plain dark jumper.

Det Con Janie Cruttwell, of Rochdale CID, said: “Thankfully, this woman had the sense to ask the offender for his ID.

“This goes to show that you should always ask for identification. A genuine worker will only be too happy to show their ID.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Rochdale CID on 0161-856 4646 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.