Conman takes pensioner's savings

Bogus callers prey on older people living on their own

Police are hunting a conman who tricked a war veteran out of more than £1,300.

The man told the 92-year-old that he had carried out work on his house in Brighton Road, Reading and wanted a cash payment.

The offender then drove the elderly man to a bank and made him withdraw £1,200 before taking the victim home.

Once back at Brighton Road, the man who was in his 40s, said he needed more cash to cover the VAT and took the man's £70 pension and £40 cash he kept in his home for emergencies.

Neighbours warned

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "This was a cruel and cowardly deception on a vulnerable old man who was lied to and threatened and had his money taken.

"I would like to urge anyone who receives a call of a similar nature not to let the person into their home, but to close the door and call police on 999 immediately."

Police have carried out a leaflet campaign in the area warning people about such incidents.

The offender was white and of stocky build.

He had short brown hair and stubble on his face and spoke with a London accent.