Elderly man targeted in suspected charity scam

An elderly man in his 90s was targeted in a suspected theft near a town centre on December 18, prompting a police appeal for witnesses and information.

At around 12pm, the man was returning to his vehicle close to Specsavers when he was approached by a woman claiming to be collecting donations for a charity supporting deaf people. As the man reached for his wallet to make a contribution, the woman allegedly attempted to steal it.

Although the victim managed to keep hold of his wallet, the suspect fled the scene with a significant amount of his cash.

The woman is described as being aged between her 30s and 40s, approximately 5ft 6in tall, with dark hair. She was wearing a long dark coat with the hood up and was carrying a clipboard at the time of the incident.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, recognises the description, or has relevant CCTV footage from the area to come forward. Officers are also asking members of the public who may have experienced similar incidents, or believe they have been targeted in a comparable way, to report it to police.

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