Bogus workmen alert by police

POLICE are warning residents to be on their guard against bogus workmen following two incidents.

Elderly residents in Porthill were targeted in both incidents, which took place on Thursday.

At around 1pm a man knocked on the door of an 86-year-old woman and demanded £450 in cash for mending her chimney. After she refused the man left empty-handed

Police believe that the same man called at the home of a 94-year-old woman in the same area at around 2pm.

On this occasion he claimed to have already fixed the woman's neighbour's chimney and asked for £350 in advance for the same work on her house.

While the lady handed over the cash he also helped himself to a further substantial amount of money from the woman's handbag, before fleeing the property.

The man is described as white, in his thirties, 5ft 3in to 5ft 5in tall with short dark hair and a stocky build. He was wearing a dark coloured three-quarter length coat and dark trousers.

Neil Hulme, commander of Newcastle neighbourhood policing unit, said: "This is a despicable crime. We would urge residents not to let workmen they do not know or not expecting into their homes and remember the Stop, Chain, Check system."

Anyone who may have seen the man is asked to contact North Staffordshire CID on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.