AN ELDERLY man who was unable to attend a family funeral in Millstreet was robbed last week by a heartless conman who posed as a pension officer.
The man, in his 90s, was at home alone while his family attended the funeral of his young daughterin-law who had suffered from cancer for a number of years. A ‘very professional and well dressed man’ knocked on his door and talked his way into the house at around 3.30pm. The bogus pension officer engaged the elderly man in conversation but managed to steal money from him.
The man is described as being of stocky build and was driving a silver saloon car. A Garda spokesperson at Millstreet said “the man was very professionally dressed and very professional in his approach”.
“Elderly people tend to be very impressed by a person who is well dressed and has a professional approach and tend to leave their guard down.”
The garda said it was very important for all people, especially elderly people, to be certain to check a caller’s credentials and, if there is any doubt, not to leave the person into their home.
Inspector Declan O’Sullivan of Kanturk Garda Station added that “Gardai are presently appealing for witnesses to come forward and to help in any way they can with this live investigation.”
Contact Millstreet Garda station at 029 70426, Kanturk Garda Station at 029-51200.
