Bogus callers steal cash from Brighton woman

A Brighton woman in her eighties has lost £140 after letting a young woman into her home in Queen’s Park Road.

The caller knocked on her door shortly before 4.30pm yesterday.

She told the victim, 85, that she wanted to write a note to someone at an address opposite.

While the younger woman was writing the note, the elderly woman heard a noise upstairs.

Although she did not see anyone, she later found that £140 had been taken from a bedroom.

Sussex Police officers believe that that the conwoman is working with a man after a similar theft by bogus callers in Worthing shortly after 3pm in Broadwater Road yesterday.

A woman of a similar description and a man stole £50 from an 88-year-old woman using the same method.

The suspect is described as being of mixed race, in her early twenties, 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall and with frizzy shoulder length hair.

She was wearing a long black jacket, black jeans and black boots which were laced up above the ankles.

She did not have a discernible accent.

There is currently no description of the man involved.

Detective Inspector Steve Warner, from Brighton CID, said: “Clearly these two heartless thefts are linked and we are keen to hear from anyone else who has recently been approached in this way but who has not yet told police.

“We would also like to hear from anyone who saw this woman in those two areas yesterday, perhaps with a man, and from anyone who has any other information that would assist us.”

Witnesses are asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.