Vulnerable man targeted, Sutton-on-Sea

We are investigating an incident in which a vulnerable man was targeted in Sutton on Sea.

The suspect has convinced this vulnerable man that he needed his grass cutting. The suspect has cut the grass to a poor standard, then charged £500. We have thankfully been able to cancel the cheque. A witness linked a white Fort Transit van to the suspect and we have recovered this vehicle, however we are still seeking the suspect.

We would like to appeal to the community for information on this man who may have offered his services to others in the area of Sutton on Sea yesterday or over the weekend. If you think you encountered this man, who was believed to be driving a white Ford Transit registration ending ZYO, please get in touch via 101 with incident reference 245 of 16 November. Similarly, if you have captured the suspect on CCTV or a camera doorbell, please contact us.

PC Billy Spence, a Beat Manager for the Coast, said, “It’s vital that we raise awareness of suspected scams such as this. Knowledge is power against unscrupulous people who prey on vulnerable victims, and by releasing details of this incident, we hope that we will not only gain information to help us locate the suspect, but also protect others from similar scams and rogue callers. If you are ever in doubt of a cold caller's authenticity, please do not feel any pressure to make a purchase or engage their services. Speak to us, your local policing team, or someone you trust. If you have a neighbour, friend or relative who you think might be vulnerable, please check on them and let them know you are there if they need you.”