BOGUS GARDENERS ‘WERE PAID £300 FOR 10 MINUTES’ WORK’
Police warning after man in 80s duped
POLICE have issued a warning after an elderly man paid out £300 to three men – for ‘just 10 minutes’ of gardening work.
Staffordshire Police say two middle-aged men started to work at a property in Carlton Avenue, Chell on Friday.
A third, believed to be a teenager, knocked on the pensioner’s door asking if he wanted his hedges and trees trimmed.
The resident, a man in his 80s, agreed to pay £300 – but the trio asked for another £100 to trim a further tree which he declined.
They visited the property at around noon and carried out between five to 10 minutes of work before leaving.
Now police have released an image of a van the force says the men were driving.
It is a white Peugeot van with an image of a man standing next to a house on the side with the words ‘POLE SERVE’.
Ladders were on the roof and the van also had a logo on its bonnet.
A spokesman said: “An image of the van is being circulated in case people saw it in the Chell area on Friday.
“The number plates are expected to be false so aren’t being identified as a line of inquiry.
“Residents are now being encouraged to contact police every time they have suspicions about any caller at their door.
“Even if someone claims to be an official – and that includes police officers and council representatives – people must get their ID checked out. Advice was given to the homeowner regarding bogus callers.”
Anyone with any information should message Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.