POLICE are appealing for any information after a woman in Tavistock was conned out of £500.

A woman in Monksmead used a website called ‘Local Heroes’, which was intended to recommend local trades people. She left her details, including her phone number, on the website and indicated that she needed a plumber. Within ten minutes the woman received a phone call and an arrangement was made for the plumber to attend on July 10.

The ‘plumber’ arrived and stayed for two hours until he told the victim that he would have to return the following day. When he returned the next day, he said he would like to be paid in cash as it would be 20% cheaper for the woman, who then went to the cash machine, leaving the man in her house alone.

When she arrived home she noticed the plumber was sat in a small black Audi car with another unknown man. She went back to her house, finding it open with all the lights on in every room.

The man was paid and he left. Afterwards, the woman called a known plumber who clearly saw that no work had been done, apart from that water had been put down some pipes to look like work had been completed.

This incident occurred between 2pm on July 10 and 4pm on July 11.

If anyone has any information, contact police on 101 or by emailing [email protected] quoting CR/062650.