Conmen charge pensioner £700 for 30 minutes of gardening
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The men tried to charge £700 for the work and made the pensioner get a taxi to the nearest cash machine.
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Hide AdWhen they returned the following day for the remaining £400, police were waiting for them at the Westbourne property and the ‘spooked’ pair ran off.
The man’s son, Jonathan Jones, said: “I just happened to go over and when dad said he had been charged £700 for tidying what is a tiny garden I was so angry and frustrated.
“It’s lucky he could only withdraw £300 to give them.”
Mr Jones phoned the police, who agreed to wait for the men when they returned the next day on May 4.
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Hide AdThe amount the bogus gardeners tried to charge equated to just over £23 a minute for their services.
Mr Jones is joining Sussex Police in warning others to beware ‘cold callers’ offering gardening services.
Inspector Kris Ottery said: “If you want work done on your house or garden, it is always best to seek out a known, reputable tradesperson and not be pressurised by anyone who just happens to knock on your door.
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Hide Ad“Don’t be fooled by any claim that they make that they have seen anything damaged or dangerous that needs urgent attention. You can always get a qualified person to look at it and they won’t undertake work that doesn’t need doing.”
Thankfully the man’s bank has refunded the £300 and CCTV has been installed.
Anyone with information about the men, who are thought to have been driving a silver pick-up truck, is asked to report online to https://sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal/ or call 101 quoting serial 1232 of 03/05.
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