Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for witnesses and information after three incidents in which a man charged pensioners over the odds for repairs to roofs or guttering in Bath.
The most recent was on Tuesday 3rd October (5217225559) in Leighton Road, Upper Weston.
Officers were called just after 11am when it was reported that a man had offered to carry out work on a broken roof tile at the home of a woman in her eighties. He persuaded her to pay cash up front and left without doing any work.
On the afternoon of Friday 29th September a 91-year-old woman paid over the odds after a man called at her home in Entry Hill Park, Combe Down (5217223316), and said she had a broken tile. No receipt was given for the cash.
At about 1.30pm on Monday 2nd October a man overcharged 74-year-old man for cleaning the gutters at his home in Ringswell Gardens, Lambridge (5217228166).
There was a similar incident at about 2pm on Monday 2 October (5217225877) in Odd Down, when a man unsuccessfully tried to talk another elderly woman into having work done on her roof. She told him she would need to speak to her family and he left.
Police have given the householders crime prevention advice and arranged for visit from their Bobby Van carpenter to improve their home security as well as carrying out house-to-house enquiries.
Officers have arrested a man on suspicion of fraud and he has been released under investigation.
Anyone with any information which could help police enquiries is asked to get in touch through www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact, or by calling 101, quoting the relevant reference number.
Alternatively ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask your name or trace your call.
If you or someone you know is the victim of a crime and the offenders are still in the area call 999. If you’ve had a caller you’re suspicious of then tell police by calling 101 straight away.
