Dorset Police received a report that at around 11.30am on Friday 12 January 2018 a man entered an office block in Holdenhurst Road and claimed to be selling discounted cigarettes and alcohol as a nearby store was closing down.
The victim, a 19-year-old woman, gave the man £120 for some cigarettes but he took the money and never returned.
At around 1.30pm on Thursday 25 January it was reported that a man entered a store in Poole Road and gave a similar story about a wine store closing down and that he had discounted wine for sale.
The victim, a woman aged in her 30s, gave the man £300 for some wine but again he took the money and never returned.
Police Constable Phillip Riggs, of Dorset Police, said: “We have made a number of enquiries into these incidents and I am now in a position to release CCTV images of the suspect.
“I am appealing to anyone who recognises the man pictured to please contact police.
“I would also make a direct plea to the man involved to do the right thing and come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected], or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55180013034. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestopper-uk.org.
