Vulnerable Plymouth family were targeted by conmen

TWO conmen barged their way into a flat and snatched cash from an elderly couple and their daughter who has learning difficulties.

Lead investigator Detective Constable Paul Fry described all three victims as "extremely vulnerable" and believes the crooks specifically targeted the family.

The 70-year-old woman told police she answered the door to two men who claimed to be from the water board at around 9.30am on Wednesday. When she asked if she could see their documentation and identity cards they ignored her and barged their way in, claiming they were looking for damp.

They then began to search through drawers and cupboards in the small flat, under the fearful gaze of the woman, her 76-year-old husband and 46-year-old daughter.

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They then claimed they had found damp and demanded cash to remove it. The elderly woman went to a pot where she kept around £300. She gave the men £100 and passed the remaining £200 to her daughter for safe keeping.

However, one of the men immediately snatched the cash out the hands of the daughter and the pair walked out.

Det Con Fry said: "All three victims are extremely vulnerable people. They were seen as an easy target and I would urge anyone who saw these men in the area or who has information about them to contact us immediately."

Both men were white, aged between 20 and 30 years and around 6ft tall. One suspect had short cut dark hair and wore blue jeans, a beige V-neck sleeveless jumper or tank-top over a blue long-sleeve collared shirt. The second man had short cut grey hair and wore blue jeans, a black round-necked T-shirt. Both wore black and orange coloured fabric gloves.

If you can assist police contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference EC/12/9470.