Police Hunt Taxi Fare Trickster
13th September 2008
Residents across Bedfordshire have been warned about an Asian man who knocks on doors and usually asks for around £30.
Has a con artist come knocking at your door begging for money to pay for a taxi ride?
The appeal to residents across Bedfordshire comes from police who are investigating several offences this summer, but suspect there may have been more.
DS Rob Clough, of Dunstable CID, said police are connecting cases stretching back to July where a man has knocked on doors asking money for a taxi or food, making claims he was either locked out of his sister's house or that his car had broken down.
He has asked for sums of around £30, which he has promised to pay back later that evening or the next day, but has never been seen again.
In each case the offender is described as being of Asian appearance, aged in his early 30s, about 5ft 7ins tall, slim and with short cropped brown hair. His arm may have been in a coloured cast.
He said: "We are extremely keen to apprehend this man, particularly as some of the people he has targeted have been elderly. In one of three cases in Luton he pushed past a woman in her 80s and got into her lounge, but left empty-handed when she said she had visitors coming."
"It's possible he has approached other people who have not given him any money, and not thought it important enough to telephone police. If that is the case we would ask them to contact us as soon as possible."
"It the meantime we would urge householders to remain alert and remind them of the importance of using a spy-hole and door-chain. If they have any suspicions about a caller, please telephone the police as soon as possible."
Anyone with information can contact DS Clough, in confidence, on 01582 473369 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Source; bedfordtoday.co.uk
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