Elderly robbed in spate of bogus calls

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a break-in and two bogus caller incidents in which hundreds of pounds were stolen.

In the first, an 88-year-old woman in Bryson Road, Fountainbridge, heard a noise in her hall.

When she went to investigate, she saw three men walking out of the door. A three-figure sum of money was missing. There are no descriptions of the men available.

Less than two hours later, at 4.45pm on Tuesday, a man claiming to be from the “water board” called at the home of an 88-year-old man on Caledonian Crescent, in Dalry, and said he was there to fix a leak from a neighbouring property.

The pensioner let him in and was aware of another man standing in the hallway.

After they left around 30 minutes later, it emerged a four-figure sum of money had been taken.

The first suspect is described as white, in his early 30s, of medium build, with short dark hair. He spoke with a European accent and was wearing a short duffle-style jacket and dark trousers.

There is no description of the other man.

A bogus workman stole a four-figure sum of money from the home of a 63-year-old man in The Vennel, Linlithgow, on Wednesday.

The man called at around noon and claimed to be a plumber working on a neighbouring property.

He then asked for access to the resident’s kitchen to shut off the water supply and was allowed inside.

The suspect is described as white, in his 30s, 5ft 10in, of average build, with broad shoulders and short dark hair.

He was wearing a black knee-length jacket, black shoes and spoke with a local accent.