Hagley pensioners are conman victims
A conman has been preying on 'kind-hearted' pensioners in a village near Stourbridge, taking cash from them after claiming he needed it to visit his sick wife, police said today.
Police said the victims – two elderly couples and a woman living in Hagley – were left feeling 'distressed and upset' after realising the man who called at their homes had tricked them into giving him money.
An arrest has now been made but police are still appealing for information to help their investigation. A 43-year-old man was arrested on Monday afternoon in the Comberton area of Kidderminster.
He was originally held on suspicion of carrying out a distraction burglary at Worcester Road, Hagley, on July 14.
A woman's purse was stolen, with cash in it, after a man called at the Worcester Road address and was let in by the elderly householder when he said he needed money to travel to see his wife in hospital. The suspect is now also being questioned about allegations of fraud by false representations following two other incidents.
Hagley Parish Council chairman Steve Colella said it was 'disgusting' anyone would prey on the elderly. "It is terrible when people of any age are conned out of money but to target the elderly and vulnerable is very low indeed," he said.
"These days we hear so much about defending outselves from cyber crime but this shows we still have to be vigilant against crimes such as this."
