Dangermen on your doorstep

WANTED . . . the E-fit of the man involved in the Huddersfield Road burglary

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RESIDENTS are being warned not to let strangers into their homes after conmen targeted three elderly women by pretending to be legitimate callers.

The latest incident was at 10am on Sunday when a man claiming to be from the water board barged into a house in Broadgate, Dobcross.

He pushed the 84-year-old woman to one side and started to run the taps in the kitchen, before swiping her bag from the lounge.

The conman, who was white, knocked the woman off balance as he dashed out.

It was the third in a spate of attacks, two being on the same day. At about 6.20pm on Tuesday, October 11, a man, described as being of mixed race and 6ft tall, knocked at a door in Huddersfield Road, Diggle.

After claiming to be leaving an item for a neighbour, he burst past the 65-year-old woman, grabbed her handbag containing cash and escaped through the back door.

Only 20 minutes later a man called at a house in Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield, and gave the same explanation to an 83-year-old woman.

After she refused the item, she let him in when he asked to use the phone, after which he stole her handbag containing cash and ran off towards Mossley.

The offender was described as Asian, aged between 25-30 and 5ft 8in tall.

PC Mark Clough, from the Saddleworth and Lees neighbourhood policing team, said: “It is unclear whether any of these incidents are linked, but clearly the offenders are comfortable with stealing from elderly residents.

“These types of offences are appalling and there is a team of dedicated officers working to catch them.

“There are also extra officers in and around the area to reassure residents, but what we need is information about the culprits so we can get them locked up.”

Two E-fit images created from descriptions of the incidents on October 11 have now been released.

People are being urged to be on their guard to keep doors locked, open the door with a chain on and check identification.

PC Clough added: “If you are in any doubt call the company that the caller claims to be from because genuine callers won’t mind you doing this.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 0161-856 9080 or call the independent charity Crime stoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.