Police release e-fit after distraction offences

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THIS is the man police want to trace in connection with two distraction offences targeting pensioners.

Both incidents happened on Tuesday, April 3, between 4.45pm and 5pm in Fladbury Close, with the man calling at one home claiming to work for the water board and at another saying he was fitting kitchens and needed to check taps and the property's water pressure.

He was allowed in and started checking radiators but both householders then became suspicious, partly because he was wearing black woolly gloves, and told him to leave. Nothing was taken at either property.

He is white, around 5ft 3in with a round, chubby face and short brown hair, wearing a blue hooded top. It is possible he was with a second man who was white, stocky and shorter with short dark hair. Both are thought to have boarded a number 57 or 58 bus in Studley Road shortly afterwards, heading in the direction of Redditch town centre.

Detective constable Dean Mowbray said: "We would like people to have a good look at this image and tell us if they know or think they who it is.

"Although thankfully nothing was stolen during these incidents because the householders became suspicious it is disgusting to think people can prey on the elderly and vulnerable in this way.

"People should not let strangers into their homes, irrespective of the reason they give for calling, until they have checked their identity and are satisfied they are who they say they are."

Anyone with any information should call Redditch CID on 0300 333 3000, quoting incident number 219-N-030412, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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