Conmen steal cash at home of Ellesmere OAP

An elderly Shropshire man was targeted by distraction burglars who stole cash from his home. It happened in Oswestry Road, Ellesmere, at 5pm on Thursday.

A man knocked at the door and claimed there was a problem with the water pressure and he needed to come inside and check.

He told the victim to turn on and run the tap, before leaving a few minutes later. While he was distracted, a second thief entered the house and stole some cash.

The theft follows another in Shrewsbury on Wednesday when a man in his 90s suffered a suspected heart attack after three men conned their way into his home and stole cash. Police said it was too early to say if the incidents were linked.

The man who knocked on the door in Ellesmere was white, in his late 30s or early 40s, of medium to heavy build and between about 5ft 5in and 5ft 7in tall. He had an oval face and was clean shaven, speaking with a local accent.

He wore a fawn-coloured tweed working jacket, a fawn flat cap and work shoes.