Police are urging the public to be on their guard after a bogus charity collector stole money from an elderly householder.
Yesterday afternoon, a man claiming to be collecting money for a deaf children’s charity managed to trick his way into a house on North Tyneside.
When inside, he distracted the elderly occupant and stole an amount of cash before leaving.
The man is described as being in his 40s, around 5ft 11ins tall and was wearing dark clothing, a wooly hat and was on a bike.
Officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the Burradon area.
People are being urged to be vigilant and on the look-out for bogus callers and con-men.
Anyone with any concerns is asked to report suspicious callers to police straight away.
Northumbria Police has the following advice: Do not let anyone in your home unless you have checked their identification. Genuine callers will not mind waiting while their identification is checked.
Genuine callers will also not mind being asked to come back at a different time so their identification can be checked or while arrangements are made for a relative or friend to be present when they return.
Anyone with any information or who may have received a similar call is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 886 17/01/15.