A group of chancers pretending to be roofing contractors carried out a shocking theft on an elderly couple in Salford.
Four white men with Salford accents approached the home of an elderly man, 79, and his 75-year-old wife in Weaste on Thursday morning, telling the couple that they needed their guttering and fascia boarding changing.
By co-incidence the woman had already arranged for a firm to come round to carry out repair work and she thought the men were genuine.
All were wearing white T-shirts with the words ‘Roofing Contractor’ written on them.
Almost exactly a year ago in May 2015, one elderly man in Patricroft was robbed of £1,700 of his life savings by thieves wearing similar clothing and with similar descriptions.
Read: Fake builders leave elderly man peniless and distraught
More: Patricroft builders firm step up to help man cheated of life-savings
Police in Salford have not yet explicitly linked the two cases.
Just 24 hours earlier the thieves were caught on CCTV on the same street as the elderly couple.
They’d approached a neighbour, saying he needed his roof repairing, but the man immediately turned them down and they swiftly left after his suspicions were raised.
He was lucky to catch the registration number of the car, which is believed to be a 2006 Toyota estate: FD55 XLB
One of the men is described as being small and fat, around 35-45 years old.
The second was a younger man in his 20s, while a third was much older, possibly in his 60s, with a very scruffy appearance and a constant hacking cough.
There is no description available yet of the fourth man, who is understood to be have been following the van in the silver car.
Locals have told of seeing the men in the Weaste and Pendleton areas before.
Read: Salford scam victims speak out after losing thousands to con artists
It was around 9.30am on Thursday 2 June when the conmen knocked on the couple’s door.
The family have said that the victims have been left extremely shaken and upset by the theft and requested that they remain anonymous.
The couple’s daughter in law said: “My mother in law rang me at home asking for insurance papers.
“I was a little taken aback and asked her why, she told me the men were asking for £4,200 up front.
“I asked her, ‘What for, a gold roof?
I said, ‘Don’t give them any money until the work is done,’ but she is very trusting.
“She walked over to her bank and asked to get out the full amount but they would only give her £2,000.
The woman’s husband, who has a long-term chronic illness, stayed at home with the builders until she returned.
“She told us that the men watched when she returned home and put the cash in a bag by the stairs.
“They asked her to open the side alleygate so they could get the van through, then while she was outside asked her husband to go and fetch her to ask a question.
“As soon as his back was turned they had pinched the money and driven off.”
Police are investigating but told SalfordOnline.com that no arrests had yet been made.
Local councillor Paul Wilson, who represents Weaste and Seedley, said: “I’m shocked and appalled to hear about this theft.
“The people of Weaste and Salford won’t stand for this.
“I would urge anyone with any information to contact police immediately.”
If you have seen these men or have any information you can pass to police, please contact your local officers on Facebook or call 101.
Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
