That’s the moment CCTV cameras caught a pair of smartly-dressed fraudsters making off with cash after duping a pawnbroker with a daring fake gold exchange.
Paul Wood, who runs Church Street Gold Pottery and Furniture in Stoke, was left devastated after he was duped into buying fake bullion by a man and woman who came into his shop last Thursday, June 20.
The pair, believed to be from Eastern Europe, said they wanted to sell some 9 carat gold, which Paul handled and weighed before agreeing to pay them £1,765.
Security footage shows the man using trickery and managing to swap a bag of real gold for fake right in front of an unsuspecting Paul. The pair then fled the scene with the money.
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Paul said he dialed 999 to report the matter to the police but was stunned to be told it would be six weeks before an officer could attend. He has now criticized Staffordshire Police’s response and believes the inaction could lead to bold fraudsters striking again elsewhere.
The force confirmed they are now hunting the pair and appealed for any witnesses to come forward. It is the eighth time the store has been targeted by thieves and robbers.
Paul, 58, from Stoke-on-Trent, said: “It was last Thursday and this man and woman came in to say they wanted to sell some gold. I think they were Eastern European, well presented and smartly dressed and they looked genuine.” enough.
“They sold this gold which I weighed and inspected as normal and we agreed a price of £1,765 after confirming it was 9 carat gold.
“He had the gold in this blue velvet bag and he kept trying to put it back in there while I was trying to weigh him and I had to keep telling him ‘I don’t want your bag.’ And he kept going back and forth putting the gold back in the bag, and he was just trying to trick me.
“Then they said they still had some gold, but I looked at it too and thought it didn’t look good, so I said I’m not going to buy it. Then they somehow traded a bag of real gold for a bag.” a tattoo he had tied really tightly.
“I knew something was weird when he threw the bag behind the counter, but when he got to the front door, they wanted to look at something else in the window. They engaged in conversation and just let me talk.”
“In the back of my mind, I think they would have made a runner by now if they weren’t real, but I still have to go back and check that bag again.
“But then they came off quite suddenly. I ran straight back to the bag and had to cut it open with a knife because he tied it so tightly. All the fake gold was spilling out of the bag so I pulled it out.” in the store and on the street – but the car had to be waiting there already.
“Looking back, I felt quite stupid because I’m usually so cautious. But they were in the shop for about 20 minutes and I never took my eyes off him.
“I was watching him and somehow he managed to pull over my eyes, I don’t know how he did it. It was quite a professional job.”
Paul, who has owned the shop for 18 years, was then told by the police that it would be six weeks before an officer could come out or attend the station in person.
He added: “I immediately dialed 999 but was told to call 101, which I called for an hour. I was then told I would have to wait six weeks to see an officer or I could book an appointment. police station.
“I thought time would be of the essence in terms of catching them, so I was quite surprised by their reaction.
“I told the police I had them at every angle on crystal clear CCTV and they just told me to bring it to the police station and they would take the statement.
“I think the police have given up, there are few police and I feel sorry for them because they don’t get help. But criminals get away with things because the police are too busy and something needs to be done.”
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We are investigating the following reports of fake gold being used in exchange for cash.
“A man and a woman came to Church Street Gold to exchange gold for cash. Between transactions, the suspects exchanged gold for counterfeits and left the store.
“The man is described as a massive build with side-shaven black hair, a black beard and was wearing a suit.
“The woman is also tall, wearing a matching suit, long straight dark hair tied back, and white sneakers with red heels.
Any witnesses are asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 396 of June 20 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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