Police are hunting a cruel rogue salesman who is targeting elderly people in their homes and conning them out of cash.
Officers are anxious to track down victims who may have been fleeced by the trader, who is selling clothing for extortionate amounts of money.
Detectives say a 75-year-old man in Murton has been visited several times and has handed over a large su
m of money to the conman.
They believe he and other customers may have bought a range of clothing, from jackets and jumpers to sportswear. They could have also been offered ornaments and alcohol.
However, while the amounts of money handed over have not been revealed, the items are thought to be of low quality and not worth their price tag.
Although the victim is helping police with their inquiries, the team of officers working on the investigation believe there could be many more people in the area who have fallen prey to the salesman.
They have delivered leaflets to 200 homes in Murton, urging anyone with information to come forward and assuring people they can speak to the police in confidence.
House-to-house inquiries are also been carried out.
Detective Constable Chris Robinson, of Seaham CID, said: "It is likely this person has been operating in Murton for some time and also elsewhere in the county and possibly beyond.
"His 75-year-old victim describes him as a 'charmer'.
"We believe he will identify and target elderly, vulnerable people, befriending them while at the same time taking large amounts of money from them for goods not worth anything like the amounts he charges."
The salesman is described as being Asian and in his mid to late 40s and smartly dressed.
He is about 5ft 6in tall, of stocky build, with a full beard and wearing a turban.
If anyone has been approached they are asked to contact Seaham CID on 0345 6060 365 or people can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
