A SMOOTH-TALKING conman is raking in thousands of pounds in a scam that preys on people's fear of crime.

The man is ripping off Warrington householders by selling personal attack alarms door-to-door at £75 each.

But the same items can be bought in the shops for as little as £7.99.

So far, the man has struck in Latchford, Orford, Longford and homes in the town centre.

He convinces people to buy three or four alarms at a time, netting him an estimated £1,000 a week plus income.

His latest victim was pensioner Jessie Taylor, who bought four alarms for £300 - money she'd put aside for her grandchildren.

Jessie, of Slater Street, put her trust in the man, who contrives an air of respectability by wearing a business suit.

She even took up his offer of a lift to collect the cash from her bank in the town centre.

"I'm so annoyed with myself - it's been an expensive lesson. Years ago, you could trust everyone, now I've lost my faith in people, I'm suspicious of everyone.

"He was so polite and well-spoken and very nice to deal with.

"I don't know why I bought the alarms, I didn't want them. I always have a sleep after lunch and when he called, I wasn't properly awake.

"The money in the bank is for my children and grandchildren. It's not right what he did."

But police are powerless to stop the man.

Detective Constable Graham Hale, of Warrington crime prevention unit, said there's nothing to stop people selling goods at an inflated price: "He's taking people for a ride, but he's not committing any offence under the Trade Descriptions Act.

"It's disgraceful," he added. "This man likes to target the elderly, who have the greatest fear of crime.

"We would advise people to buy alarms only from a reputable dealer."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.