Scooter scam warning

TRICKSTER . . . CCTV footage of the suspect

Conman caught on camera
A CALLOUS thief tricked a vulnerable pensioner into giving him more than £1,600 for a mobility scooter which never existed.

The conman pretended he was selling the 87-year-old woman a scooter and twice fooled her into going to a bank to withdraw the cash, which he then pocketed.

He first called at the pensioner’s home in Castleton, Rochdale, on April 14 and persuaded her to buy a mobility scooter from him.

The thief took her on two separate occasions to the Santander bank in Yorkshire Street, Rochdale town centre, to withdraw the money and promised the scooter would be delivered.

When it failed to arrive, the woman told her carer who called police.

CCTV stills of the thief entering the bank both times have been released and police are appealing to anyone who recognises him to come forward.

He spoke with a Lancashire accent and has a distinctive mark or tattoo on his neck.

Detective Constable Charlotte Humphreys, of Rochdale CID, said: “This callous thief came up with a well-orchestrated and devious plan to con a vulnerable pensioner out of quite a large sum of money.

“He should be thoroughly ashamed of himself and I’m sure people reading this will be utterly appalled.

“We need to catch this man because clearly he has no scruples and we do not want anyone else to fall victim to his scheme.

“I am therefore appealing to anyone who recognises this man to come forward.

“His crimes cannot go unpunished and we do not want anyone else to be conned.”

Det Con Humphreys also urged people to be on their guard when answering the door to cold callers.

Anybody with information is asked to call Rochdale CID on 0161-856 8745 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.