By Lars Niven, Dave Lord and Stefan Morkis

POLICE FORCES in Fife and Tayside are hunting callous thieves who have targeted the elderly by pretending to be water officials or policemen and stolen thousands of pounds.

The bogus officials have struck in Rosyth, Milnathort, Bridge of Earn, Coupar Angus and Dundee in recent days.

The incidents include:

* Two men who conned their way into a 94-year-old’s home in Fife and stole more than £1000.

* An 82-year-old Perth woman who had a three figure sum of money and a quantity of jewellery taken by two men claiming to be from a water company.

* Hundreds of pounds taken from two elderly women in Dundee by conmen who claimed to be investigating water leaks in order to gain entry into their victims’ homes on Monday.

* An apparent attempt to dupe a 96-year-old Coupar Angus woman by a man with a foreign accent who claimed he wanted to repair some pipes.

* An elderly couple in Bridge of Earn targeted by a man who claimed to be from the water board.

The Fife incident happened in the Fairykirk Road area of Rosyth between 5 and 7 pm on Monday.

The pair, who claimed to be police officers, turned up at the man’s home and showed him false identity papers.

They were let in and while one kept the old man occupied, the other searched the house and stole the money.

One is described as between 25 and 30 years old and was wearing a dark suit with a white shirt unbuttoned at the neck.

The second is also thought to be about the same age and was wearing a grey/brown baseball cap and a dark zipped jacket.

Det Sgt Ian Paterson said, “This type of crime is particularly despicable and callous.

“These men have targeted and taken advantage of an elderly Rosyth resident and stolen a sizeable amount of money.

“Bogus callers will use false identity cards or other means to gain entry to homes.

“There have been similar crimes in Fife recently where they have used the identity of water board employees.”

Police say genuine workmen would make an appointment.

They add that where someone claims to be a workman, people should demand identification.

All bona fide callers should have ID and will not be offended if they are asked to provide it.

“Even then, if you are not satisfied that they are who they claim to be, do not let them in and contact the police,” the spokesman added.

In Perthshire, the heartless criminals have targeted yet more elderly women.

Detectives last night revealed details of three more cases—just days after an 86-year-old was attacked and robbed in her home.

Heartless thugs have made off with thousands of pounds and various items of jewellery during the sickening raids, with a 96-year-old among those targeted.

In all the cases the assailants claimed to be from the water board before disappearing with what police have described as a “substantial” haul.

Meanwhile, neighbours have been urged to be on the look-out to ensure residents of their street are not the next to fall foul.

An 82-year-old Perth woman was among the latest victims, as a police spokesman explained.

“At about 3pm on Monday in the Potterhill Gardens area of Perth an 82-year-old woman allowed a male who claimed to be from the water board into her home to carry out work in the kitchen area,” he said.

“While the workman engaged the woman in conversation, an accomplice had also entered the house and taken a three figure sum of money and a quantity of jewellery.”

The man responsible has been described as being between 35 and 40, 5ft 6in and slim with dark hair and a beard. He was wearing a black jacket, trousers and shoes.

Police officers are also investigating an apparent attempt to dupe a 96-year-old Coupar Angus woman.

“Between 3.30pm and 4pm on Monday in Coupar Angus, a 96-year-old woman answered her door to a man with a foreign accent who claimed he was there to repair some pipes,” the spokesman said.

“The woman did not fully understand what the man was saying…and the man became somewhat agitated.

“The woman became very suspicious and had the foresight to refuse him entry into her home.”

The man involved is described as being 20-30 and slim, with a foreign accent.

In yet another incident—also on Monday—an elderly couple in Bridge of Earn were targeted.

“At about 5.15pm the couple answered the door to a man who claimed to be from the water board,” the spokesman said.

“He said he wanted to test the water pressure after a burst pipe in the street outside.

“They allowed the man access into their kitchen area where they remained with him. However, the couple became suspicious and decided to check other parts of the house.

“At this time they caught sight of others who had obviously been rummaging around.

“All of the men made off when they were disturbed.”

One of the men is around 5ft 8in, slim and with short dark hair.

He was wearing a long black jacket, blue jeans and black gloves. Police say he spoke with an Irish accent.

The second assailant was 20-30, 5ft 8in, of medium build with dark brown hair and a round face.

He was wearing a dark baseball cap, grey long sleeved shirt, dark trousers and white trainers.

The final male was 18-20, of slim build and with dark hair. He was wearing a grey/blue jacket, grey denims and black gloves.

It appears all the cases could be linked—and there are also connections with both the assault and robbery of the 86-year-old and the robbery of a 92-year-old last Friday.

Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the occupants of a grey/silver saloon car in the areas at the times.

In Dundee, a 98-year-old and a 78-year-old in the Kenilworth Avenue area were targeted by conmen who claimed to be investigating water leaks. Again the robberies took place on Monday.

The first robbery in Dundee occurred around 2.20pm when the 78-year-old woman was confronted by two men climbing the stairs to her home.

They claimed to be from Scottish Water and investigating a leak.

The woman let them into her kitchen but soon became suspicious. As she made her way down the hallway she became aware of a third man who had gone into her bedroom and was rummaging through a chest of drawers. After being disturbed, all three men then ran off.

A short time later, her 98-year-old neighbour answered a knock at her door. Again, there were two men who claimed to be from Scottish Water.

They were invited into her home but, after a short time, she also became suspicious and shouted out to her neighbour.

The men then stole cash from her purse before making their escape.

Neither woman was injured but both were extremely shaken by their ordeals, in which they each had three-figure sums of money stolen.

The first bogus caller is described as being 23-24 and around 5ft 7in and slim, with an Irish accent.

He wore a navy blue suit jacket, a purple shirt with matching tie and a pair of dark trousers.

His accomplice was 30-35 and around 5ft 5in. He wore a light baseball cap, blue fleece and trousers. He too had an Irish accent.

The third man is around 25-35 and wore a mustard jacket with coloured panels.

Anyone with information should call them on 01382 223200.

Anyone with information on the Perth raids is asked to contact 01738 621141 and anyone with information on the Fife incident should contact 01592 251111, or the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.