Police warning over conmen

Two bogus caller thefts netted more than £5,000

Police are warning elderly people in Lincolnshire to be on their guard against bogus callers selling raffle tickets.

Officers say it is the latest method used by conmen to trick their way into homes.

This follows incidents where a total of £5,000 was taken from two victims, including a 93-year-old woman.

Elderly people are being advised to always ask for identification.

Three men

Police say a man called at the home of a 90-year-old woman in Stamford.

He asked for her name and address for a raffle to help a local maternity wing.

No money was taken in this instance but the police say there have been similar incidents where raffle tickets have been used as an excuse to get into people's homes to steal cash or property.

In Sudbrooke, near Lincoln, £30 was stolen from a woman householder on Wednesday after three men bluffed their way in on the pretext of selling raffle tickets.

Withdrew money

In a separate incident, a 93-year-old Lincolnshire woman was visited by a man who claimed he was from a building company.

He told her she had paid too much for recent work and he could refund the difference if she gave him £2,000 in advance.

Meanwhile, a 59-year-old man was persuaded to withdraw £3,000 to give to a bogus caller.

Lincolnshire police say the same person could be responsible for these two large hauls and he knew exactly who to target.