A CONMAN who uses a young girl as a decoy has struck across Huddersfield.
The Examiner revealed on Monday that the man had stolen from homes in Oakes and Cowlersley – but another victim has contacted us to say he has also been to her Beaumont Park home.
And police have confirmed that the same thief is thought to have been responsible for a crime spree across Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Calderdale over the last 10 days or so.
The man usually targets the homes of elderly people and knocks on the door, with the girl aged between two and four in a pushchair.
He asks to do gardening work and if that is turned down, usually asks for a drink of water for the youngster.
Once inside the house he sneaks off to steal cash from other rooms while the victim is busy with the child.
The thief is white, aged about 30, 5ft 10ins and slim with dark hair. He wore a light blue jacket, dark blue jeans and black shoes.
The young child is usually dressed in pink and has mousy, curly hair.
Det Con Russ Conlon (pictured), of Kirklees CID intelligence unit, said: “This man has become a priority for us. If he calls at your door, do not let him in under any circumstances.
“Close the door on him and phone us on 999 immediately with a description of him, what he’s wearing and which direction he’s going. Also, if possible, see if he’s driving a vehicle.’’
On Sunday the trickster targeted an elderly woman at her home on Imperial Road in Marsh at 11.30am.
After his offer of gardening work was refused, he asked if the child could have a drink of water.
While the kind-hearted victim was tending to the child in the kitchen, the man sneaked off and stole a Burberry-style purse with cash inside it from the dining-room.
At 3.45pm on Sunday the man and child called at the home of an elderly man on Cowlersley Lane in Cowlersley and used the same trick to con his way in.
He asked to use the toilet and took the child upstairs. The old man later discovered his wallet had been emptied.
The victim who contacted the Examiner is an 85-year-old woman.
She said the man had called at her home three times stretching back to July – and on one occasion he was alone.
The first two times he did work on a drainpipe and around a chimney breast.
He later hassled her for more money after she had paid for the work. The last time when he turned up alone he stole just over £20 from a mantelpiece.
Call CID on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with information.
