Police have launched an appeal for information after a conman tricked his way into a pensioner’s home last month.

On Wednesday 8 November the crook knocked on a property in Carters Lane, Halesowen and stated he was there to collect VAT for some repairs recently carried out at the property.

The 82-year-old homeowner let him inside, as he did indeed owe a company some cash for fixing his roof earlier in November. But the would-be conman was forced to leave the house empty-handed after his intended victim questioned the amount quoted.

Home CCTV installed at the property caught the suspect on camera, and the tech-savvy pensioner handed the footage over to police at once. Detective Constable Sean Lowe has released some of the images and is appealing to trace the man pictured, before he can strike again. He said:

“The attempt to defraud this individual had some level of planning behind it and had the homeowner been more vulnerable the person responsible may well have been successful in stealing hundreds of pounds.

“Thankfully that is not the case, but I’m concerned that this individual may seek to target other more vulnerable members of the community.”

If you recognise the person pictured, or have any information which you believe could assist the investigation please contact DC Sean Lowe via email, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote 20DY/247607J/17.