Bogus caller in Hastings - police warning (From The Argus)

Bogus caller in Hastings - police warning

2:00pm Sunday 15th July 2012 in News

Police are reminding people in Hastings to be on the alert against bogus callers.

The warning comes after an incident at a house in Old London Road, Hastings, at 7.45pm on Saturday.

A woman called, claiming to be the granddaughter of someone that the resident once knew as a near neighbour.

Although the elderly resident had never heard of him, she agreed to the woman's request to come in to charge her mobile phone.

Once this had been done the visitor said she needed £87 to pay for repairs to her car at a nearby garage.

The resident gave her £50 but at this point next door neighbours intervened and suggested that the money should not have been handed over on trust.

The visitor then handed the £50 back and disappeared.

The visitor is described as white, in her 40's or 50's, 5'5", of slim build, and with dyed rusty brown shoulder hair with grey roots.

She wore light blue jeans, a pink vest top, and was carrying a large yellow bag.

Detective Inspector Rob Morland said; "This is an unusual and at present isolated incident, and we are looking into the circumstances, but it is evident that the visitor's intentions were not innocent.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101.