Walsall Police have issued an alert today via the excellent WMNow service to say that the bogus gardener distraction burglar is operating again.

The latest incident took place in Hednesford Road, Brownhills West but it’s worth flagging up with elderly friend and relatives throughout the area..

West Midlands Police said said:

A bogus caller crime has been reported in Brownhills.  

The offender, described as a white man, aged around 35 years, 6′ tall and having a local accent, arrived in a white van at around noon yesterday (Thursday 28 February).  

He approached his elderly victim, a resident of Hednesford Road, enquiring if she required any gardening work done.  He was allowed into the house where he stole a purse containing cash and a bank card, leaving by the front door.

If you were around the area yesterday and saw anything suspicious please contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am to midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 20WS/50360T/19.

Please remind your elderly neighbours to be on their guard, and not to allow unexpected visitors into their homes.

If you’re not already receiving WMNow updates, you can sign up for the service here – it really is most useful.

Please tell your relatives and neighbours about these ratbags, and impress upon them how important it is not to buy from, or accept services at the door, no matter how plausible the people offering them. Genuine companies will always contact you by other means.

Explain that no official body will turn up unannounced demanding money for services like gardening, drain cleaning, tree pruning etc., and that if they are at all unsure of any caller, to close the door and contact the police.

Scumbags engaged in the robbing of OAPs are lower than a snake’s knees.