AN elderly woman from Crowthorne has been conned out of money by a man posing as a tree surgeon.
At around midday on Wednesday, December 7, the 89-year-old woman was at home in Pinewood Avenue when a man claiming to be a tree surgeon visited her property. The man told her a tree in her back garden needed to be cut down as it was at risk of falling.
The victim paid the man a total of £500, but when the man left at 4.45pm she realised that the work hadn’t been carried out.
Investigating officer, PC Mark Hunt of the response team based Bracknell police station, said: “The offender has targeted a vulnerable elderly woman and taken a significant amount of cash from her without carrying out any of the work he promised.
“The offender is white, in his mid twenties, between about 5ft 2ins and 5ft 3ins, slim, with short light brown collar length hair that was wavy at the front and clean shaven. He was wearing a pair of light brown trousers, a faded orange round neck long sleeved t-shirt with a brown and green logo on the left breast and black trainers that had a criss-cross on top.
“Although no vehicles were seen at the time of the offence, the following day a man matching the description of the offender was seen getting into the driver’s seat of a white panel van, possibly a Ford Transit, with black roof bars on. This van was displaying a number plate starting EJ08.
“If anyone recognises the description of the offender or vehicle, or has any other information about this offence please call police on 101.
“If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”
