A heartless thief has taken advantage of 90-year-old Wigan man’s kindness and ‘extremely poor’ eyesight to con his way into his home and steal his wallet.
The wily wallet snatcher approached the elderly man’s home on Gathurst Road, Orrell, and asked for a busket of water for a radiator at 6pm on Tuesday February 9.
The generous and unsuspecting older gentleman allowed the man into the house and led him into the kitchen where he filled a bucket of water for him.
He gave it to the man and followed him along the hallway to the front door but on the way out, the offender snatched a wallet containing cash from the hallway table.
PC Steven Shaw said: “It appears this man, who can only be described as a 6ft tall slim man with a northern accent due to the victim’s extremely poor eyesight, has got into the house under the guise of needing a bucket of water and taken the man’s wallet on the way out.”
The victim did not realise the wallet had been stolen until the next day but did not initially report it to the police.
GMP are now warning Wigan residents to be on high alert and urge anyone with any information about this incident or the suspect to come forward.
PC Shaw added: “We would ask residents to remain vigilant and only let people into the house who they are expecting or who can provide identification.
“If anyone sees any suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhood I would urge them to call police.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
NOTE: Main picture is modelled. Image courtesy of Karolina Graboswka, with thanks.
