Elderly Sheffield man, 87, hands over £1,500 to bogus workmen who asked to ‘repair his roof’

The warning comes after two incidents in the city over recent days.

On Tuesday, January 14 a group of men called at the home of an 87-year-old man in High Greave, Ecclesfield, and asked if the OAP wanted his guttering cleaning for £20.

They then offered to ‘repair’ his roof for £2,000.

The victim withdraw some cash from his post office account and handed over £1,500.

The men said they would return the next day for the remaining £500 but did not call back and no work was ever carried out.

They wore blue uniforms and arrived in a white van.

On Thursday, January 16, a 67-year-old Firth Park man went to his local post office to withdraw £1,000.

When concerned staff asked him about the withdrawal, he said it was to pay for work to his driveway.

Police officers were informed and called at his home but the builders had gone and had left no contact details.

They were described as having Irish accents.

Sergeant Scott Sarson said: “While there are differences in these incidents, we are treating them as potentially linked and would urge residents to report any similar incidents to us.

“Please be vigilant and never agree to any work by doorstep traders who turn up uninvited. If you have elderly friends or relatives who you think could be vulnerable to incidents like this, please talk to them and ask them to call us to report anything suspicious.”