Elderly couple, both 95, fall victim to bogus council official who targeted their home

The pair, who are both 95, had returned home from a shopping trip at 2.30pm on Saturday when a main claiming to be a council employee arrived.

He claimed there were issues with the property, which is on Hanover Street in Leigh.

The man, who wore a high-vis jacket and bottoms, was at the house for 20 to 30 minutes before leaving.

A short time later, the elderly couple discovered £600 had been taken from their upstairs bedroom, along with a sentimental gold Omega watch with a broken strap.

Police are now searching for the man, who was described as being white, 5ft 8ins tall and with short, dark hair. They believe he may not have been working alone.

PC Devin Owens said: "As you’ll see from the brief circumstances, this is a despicable act on two 95-year old-victims in their own home. I am appealing for any information that may lead to identifying the person or persons involved.

"In this current climate this is the last thing our victims need and they have been left visibly shaken by this ordeal. They have been subjected to the worse kind of invasion in their own home by two blatant despicable thieves.

"I believe the offender has been working with an accomplice in this instance and while one distracts the victims another is able to commit the act."

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the man in the area between 2.15pm and 3pm on Saturday to call them on 101, quoting incident 1480 of May 23.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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