Police seek fraudster targeting DIY stores

Sussex Police are trying to trace a man who is thought to have carried out 37 frauds totalling £9,000 at Wickes DIY stores [22 February 2012]

On more than 35 occasions Wickes stores have been defrauded by a man who takes items off the shelf and goes to the till to gain a refund for a product he has not bought. 

Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with these frauds.

The man is described as white, between 5'8'' to 5'10'', aged in his late 40s.

Officers believe frauds have been carried out in London, Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Hertfordshire, Essex, the Thames Valley area, Bedfordshire, Northampton, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Wiltshire.

PC Richard Valder-Davis of Brighton and Hove Response Investigation Team said: "This man appears to be travelling across the south east and further to carry out these frauds at Wickes stores.

"He enters the shops and takes an item from the shelves, generally kitchen items, then takes them to the till and claims to have previously bought the product but no longer has the receipt. He is then given a refund or credit note.

"We are keen to identify this man or anyone who may have information about who is carrying out these frauds."

For more information visit the Sussex Police website. Please note that Action Fraud is not responsible for the content of third party websites.

If you have been a victim of fraud, report it online at Action Fraud.