TWO men posed as builders and stole from a vulnerable elderly Winsford man on Tuesday.

Between 8am and 9.45am on Tuesday, September 4, two men called at a property in Siddorn Street, Winsford, claiming to be builders.

They told the resident, a vulnerable man in his nineties, that his roof was leaking and in need of repair. They then quoted him £4,000 to complete work which was not required.

The victim let the two men into his property and one of the men then took him upstairs to his bedroom and proceeded to take over £200 from him.

PC Georgie Walne said: “The offenders for this particular type of crime deliberately target the most vulnerable members of the community.

“Descriptions of the two males involved are very limited but the first suspect is described as a white man, middle aged with a large build and wearing dark clothing.

“The second suspect is again described as white man; he was younger with a medium build and blonde hair.”

Despite having a limited description of the suspects, officers have released a CCTV image of a vehicle they believe to be connected to the incident.

PC Walne added: “As part of the investigation we’re particularly keen to identify a silver Peugeot estate, with a set of ladders on the roof, which is believed to be the vehicle the two men have left in.”

“If you saw the men in the area around that time, or recognise the description of them and think you may know who they are, please call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 174540, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“We are also keen to hear from anyone who thinks they may have CCTV or dashcam footage of the men.

“To submit dashcam footage go online at cheshire.police.uk/advice-and-support/roads-and-vehicle-safety/submit-dashcam-footage .”

Residents are advised to be wary of anyone who calls at their home unexpectedly and to never let strangers inside.

PC Walne said: “Whenever a cold caller comes to your address you should always make sure you ask for identification.

“Check the ID is genuine by calling the company they claim to be from. Use telephone numbers listed in your local directory, online or provided independently by your service provider. Do not use any numbers given by the caller − they may be bogus.

“It is also wise to telephone a neighbour or friend nearby to ask them to come to your property to check out the caller before you open the door to them.

“If you have any doubts about the caller being genuine, don’t let them in and ask them to come back later when you are not alone.

“If you do let them into your home ensure that you close the door behind them − distraction burglars often work in teams and while you are distracted another person may sneak in through an open door. Stay with them at all times while they are in your property so that you can see what they are doing.

“Any suspicious activity should be reported to Cheshire Police on 101.”