PENSIONER ROBBED

Inspector David Anderson hit out at a heartless trio who took 100 from the pensioner by using a ruse that her chimney pot was damaged.

And one of the gang even became a real 'fiddler' on the roof by climbing onto the top of the house to point out a 'defect'.

The smooth-talking gang, who reportedly had southern accents, then persuaded the elderly woman to hand over cash for them to go and get the materials needed for the 'repair' job.

It is understood they asked for 500 but the woman only had 100. The gang took the money and said they were away to get the materials but they never returned.

Inspector Anderson said three men called at the home of a pensioner in the Shandon Park area off the Garryduff Road, emerging from a Transit-sized grey van with ladders on the roof last Friday morning.

He said the men pointed out that the woman's chimney pot required some attention and offered to 'fix' it for her. The inspector added that one of the men then took a roof ladder from the van and climbed up to investigate the 'damage'.

The gang told the woman they would need approximately 500 to buy materials in order to repair the chimney pot efficiently and believing that the bogus workmen had good intentions, she offered all that was readily available to her at that moment in time - 100.

The trio told the woman that they would see what they could do with the 100 and after accepting the cash, they made off and never returned.

Police are appealing for anyone to contact them who may have seen the grey van parked at Shandon Park in Ballymoney last Friday morning and are interested to know if they had called at the property of anyone else in the area.

The man who went on to the roof was wearing a boiler suit and cap and the other pair were wearing jeans and sweaters, All are said to have been in their 20s or 30s and spoke with Southern accents.

Police are warning everyone, especially the elderly and vulnerable, that when people come to their doors to make sure they know who it is that is calling before answering.

"We can not emphasise this enough", stresses Inspector Anderson, "Always ask for ID and references".

He added: "It is also vital that when people offer to do work for you to seek a second opinion from anyone who they have done work for before, and never make payment before the work is done.

"Do not agree to pay for any services being offered by a cold caller either over the phone or on your doorstep, If people are uncomfortable with a caller they should hang up the phone or politely close the door."

Anyone with information about the Shandon Park incident can contact police on 08456008000 or phone the Crimestoppers charity confidential number on 0800555111.