A man has been committed to stand trial for allegedly posing as a council worker, a good samaritan, police officer and banker to steal thousands of dollars from elderly women.
Police say Fred Charles Snell befriended 16 women by tricking his way into their homes and stealing their
cashflow and credit cards.
He denied 39 different burglary and dishonesty charges at a depositions hearing at the Auckland District Court this week.
Snell allegedly used various disguises when he approached the 16 women, some of whom were widows who lived alone in retirement complexes. During one incident he is alleged to have knocked on a Papatoetoe woman's door and told her he was there to test the water pressure.
Once inside he asked for a cup of coffee, and while she was distracted took her Visa card from her purse.
He then left but within hours telephoned her back, pretending to be a police officer, and told her someone had handed the card in.
Five minutes later came another phone call: allegedly Snell again, posing as someone from the woman's bank.
It was during such phone calls that he convinced the women, all from Auckland, to give him their pin numbers.
In another incident, in March 2007, it is alleged he stole $6949 from a 91-year-old, again after pretending to be calling from the Howick police station and the woman's bank.
In most cases the loss of the money was covered by the banks, who are the financial complainants in the case.
Court documents said an 83-year-old's stolen handbag contained no cards that could be used to withdraw money - but she lost a prayer book, rosary beads and medication.
The youngest complainant was 78 and the oldest was 93. The women lost a total of $66,456 from 258 fraudulent withdrawals.
Snell was remanded in custody until callover on March 31.
