Peterborough pensioner has £2,600 stolen in distraction burglary
A pensioner from Peterborough had £2,600 stolen from him by a distraction burglar pretending to be a gardener.
Cambridgeshire Police said that the victim, a man aged in his 80s living in Bretton, let him inside the house on Friday, October 23, to look at the garden and when he returned the gave a £150 quote but the victim only had £130 in cash at the time.
He went upstairs to get the remaining money followed by the 'gardener' who was watching the victim and gave him £20.
The 'gardener' then left the house, saying he was going to get more tools but the victim quickly realised £2,600 was missing.
An investigation is ongoing.
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “Distraction burglars often pretend to be officials or tradespeople to trick their way into your home. “Always request identification and verify it with the relevant organisation before allowing anyone inside.
“If you’re uncertain, it’s best not to open the door. Report anything suspicious to us straight away by calling 101.”