A PROLIFIC criminal known as The Watchman has struck in Huddersfield.
The fat conman has targeted homes all over the north of England for 10 years - and always uses the same trick.
He called at the home of an 86-year-old woman on Grand Cross Road in Dalton shortly after noon on Tuesday.
He always targets elderly people and if a woman answers the door he asks if her husband is in.
If the victim says she is a widow, the man claims to have bought watches from her husband and asks if she has any more for sale.
He always asks for wind-up watches and usually has some with him. Once in the house he asks to change money .
In the most recent theft in Huddersfield he asked to swap two £20 notes for four tenners.
The victim took a wallet out of a cupboard and exchanged the money.
The man asked to go to the toilet, but then sneaked back into the room when the victim was in another one and stole the wallet containing cash.
He told the victim he was going to give some money to a woman down the road and urged her to put the kettle on as he would be back soon.
But he never returned.
Pc Allison Cook, of Huddersfield CID, said: "This man always uses the same story to trick his way in - and as he weighs 18 to 20 stones he certainly stands out.
"We would appeal for anyone who has seen him or been approached by him to contact us.
"If he is travelling around, where does he stay? Does he use a car? If so, has anyone seen it?"
The man is white, in his late 40s or early 50s, 6ft tall, stocky and heavily-built.
He wore a black jacket and black trousers.
Anyone with information should phone Pc Peter Warwick on 01484 436664.
