An elderly man who suffers from dementia was tricked out of £140.

The pensioner received a knock at the door from a man on Tuesday, July 31, between 3-3.30pm.

The caller told the man who lives in Hawthorn Road, Sutton, that he had made an appointment to do some gardening at the rate of £80 for 30 minutes work.

The pensioner invited the man inside and took him to his garden while leaving his front door on the latch. After the man said he had finished the work he followed the pensioner into a bedroom to get £80.

However, the elderly man later discovered that another £60, his credit card and pin number had been taken too.

The card was stopped and no withdrawals were made from the account.

The suspect is described as white, aged 40 and approximately 6ft 1in tall. He was clean shaven and had a pale complexion. He was wearing a jacket and trousers.

If you have any information that could help police enquiries, contact Sutton’s Burglary and Robbery Investigation Team on 020 8649 0777. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

PC Duncan Harris, of Sutton’s Crime Prevention Team, is urging residents not to allow in unknown or unexpected callers and not to agree to have work carried out on their properties by opportunist callers at their front door.

Sutton Council has a Safer Sutton Trader Scheme which seeks to help residents employ trades people. For details visit sutton.gov.uk/safersuttontrader.

Copies are available from Age Concern or the Civic Offices or by calling 020 8770 5070.