A trickster who conned a 77-year-old woman out of £200 by pretending to be a plumber is being sought by police.


The man called at the pensioner's house in West Street, Carshalton, and told her a gas leak in the area meant he had to check all the nearby flats at around 1.30pm on Thursday, November 29.

The woman let the caller inside and closed the door. She followed him around as he put his hand on all her radiators.

He said she needed a new boiler and it would cost £200. She gave him the money in £20 notes and he said he would come back later - but he never did.

The suspect is 40 to 50-years-old, about 5ft 10in tall, had short brown hair and wore glasses. he was wearing a fluorescent jacket with red letters on the back, blue jeans and white Nike trainers with a blue tick on them.

If you saw this man or anyone else acting in a suspect way in the area at the time call Sutton's burglary and robbery investigation team on 020 8649 0777 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police advise not to allow any unknown or unexpected callers into your house. If you are suspicious of any callers, call police on 999.