POLICE in Bradford have issued a general warning to the public after a man allegedly used a child to carry out a distraction burglary.
At around 7pm on December 29, the suspect and a girl, thought to be aged around five, knocked at the victim's door in the Lidget Green area.
The suspect offered to remove some rubbish from the garden for a small payment, to which the victim – a male in his fifties – agreed and handed over some cash.
The young girl then asked for a drink and entered the house.
The occupant later found that around £40 had been taken from his wallet.
The suspect is described as a white male of stocky build and around 5ft 8ins tall.
He had short brown hair, was wearing a high-visibility jacket and spoke with what the occupant believed was an Irish accent.
Detective Inspector Warren Pitman, of Bradford District Police, said: “While this appears to be an isolated incident, it is a commonly known way for criminals to steal from your property.
“We would advise people not to accept offers of work from doorstep callers and to report this kind of activity to the police.”
Anyone with information about the incident in is asked to contact police on 101, quoting crime reference 13180002703.
