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Conmen dupe blind pensioner
A pensioner who is almost blind was fleeced out of her £2,000 savings by two thieves who conned their way into her Wigan home.
Posing as water company officials, the two men convinced the 81-year-old there was a problem with supplies in the Barnsley Street area of Gidlow and they needed to run off water from her taps.
She let the pair into the back yard and one followed her through the rear door into the kitchen, where he pretended to work on the stopcock and taps for around 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, his accomplice returned to the front of the property, found the front door open and let himself in to search the house.
The man in the kitchen made his excuses and left, after which the frail victim heard a noise in one of the front rooms. She did not confront the intruder who quickly left.
Police condemned the thieves, who struck at around 2pm on Thursday, and appealed for information.
Although the woman is blind in one eye and has lost much of the vision from the other, she has supplied officers with descriptions.
The first man was white, in his 20s, about 6ft tall and slim, with short, red-blond hair. He spoke with a North West accent.
His accomplice who searched the house was white, aged about 40, 5ft 4ins tall, thick set with a fresh complexion and wearing a distinctive hat with the earflaps down.
It is not known if they had a vehicle, or in which direction they left.
PC Danny Ritchie of Wigan Police said: "This was a nasty and cruel crime against a vulnerable member of the public.
"We urge anyone who recognises the descriptions or saw any suspicious behaviour in the Barnsley Street area to get in touch."
Anyone with information should call 0161 856 7255 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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