A PENSIONER was robbed of hundreds of pounds in Barrhead after being targeted by bogus callers.

Police are hunting for the fake gardeners who took advantage of an 86-year-old woman in Barrhead.

The cold callers arrived at her door in Kelburn Street last Wednesday, January 18.

However, after agreeing to the work and letting the men tidy her garden and enter her house, the elderly woman found that she was missing a three-figure sum of cash.

Sergeant Michael Morganthaler, based at Giffnock Police Station, is warning other residents in the area to be on their guard.

He said: “It is thought that the woman was visited at around 10.55am on January 18 by the bogus callers.

“The street would have been quite busy at this time of day and it is entirely possible that other people in the area may have been approached by the same men on the same date.

“We are asking anyone who may have seen these men or received a cold caller on the date in question to get in touch with us as soon as they can, because they may have information which is vital to our investigations.”

Bogus callers are a particular headache for police forces working in East Renfrewshire, as a region with a high number of wealthy and elderly residents.

Sergeant Morganthaler continued: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind residents that they should never allow anyone into their home, especially a cold caller, without being sure of their identity first.

“There is a list of trusted traders available on East Renfrewshire Council’s website that residents can look at if they are needing work done to their house.

“There are also stickers available which can be placed on doors to deter cold callers.”

The stickers can be found at Barrhead Police Station and the council's headquarters on Barrhead Main Street, where they an be used free of charge.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.