Cash stolen from elderly man's home

Gardai are investigating a bogus caller incident at the home of an elderly man in the Ladyrath area of Wilkinstown on Wednesday.

It is understood the man, who is in his seventies, had just returned home when the culprit walked in the door with a sum of cash in his hand. He claimed he had found the money and wanted to check if it was his.

The elderly man immediately became suspicious and asked him to leave. The suspect proceeded to to to another room and opened a drawer and took a small sum of money before leaving the house. The burglary occurred between 12 noon and 12.30pm.

The resident was shaken by the ordeal but uninjured. The culprit is described as being thin and was wearing a hat or cap. The resident did not see a car in the vicinity of the house and Gardai are investigating whether it was parked further away or if the suspect came across fields and a vehicle was parked on another road. CCTV from the area is being examined.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the general area and noticed any suspicious vehicles or persons to contact Navan Garda Station on (046) 9079930.

Gardai are also investigating whether the incident on Wednesday is linked to previous similar incidents targeting elderly people across the county over the past six to eight months.

In several cases bogus callers claimed to be Gardai, saying they were investigating counterfeit notes or found money nearby. Incidents have been reported in Rathmolyon, Oldcastle, Oristown, Kells, Moynalty, and Bohermeen.