Bogus tradesmen are once again preying on elderly people in York and the city's police officers are warning that crooks need to be kept on the doorstep.

Every year conmen posing as everything from building contractors to water board officials attempt to con people into parting with their cash or are granted access to homes under false pretences and pocket what they can.

In the latest incident a 94-year-old woman living in the South Bank area of York answered her door to a youth, who claimed to be a roofer and said he had carried out work on her house.

After being refused payment the man left but the woman contacted the police to warn others of the risk.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York police, said the woman had acted wisely in keeping hold of her cash but admitted some bogus callers could be difficult to get rid of.

"Fortunately this lady had the presence of mind to refuse to pay for work that she had not agreed to have done and had no way of checking," he said.

"We would always advise people to check identification and ring the police if they are in any doubt at all.

"The lady was able to give us a description of this alleged roofer and we would ask people living in York to beware of similar attempts to get them to shell out.

"The youth in this incident is white and is his early 20s with short hair.

"He was wearing a light-coloured jumper, dark trousers and a baseball cap."

In a second incident a 74-year-old woman living in Kitchener Street, in the Groves, allowed a man into her home after he called at her home offering to do work on the roof.

The incident was not reported until after her home help had called around to see her.

Police say nothing appears to have been stolen but say fake workmen will often use any excuse to get into a house so they can steal property while the owner's back is turned.

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