Gold swap fraudster captured on camera striking again at different jewellers

A 'gold swap hustler' caught on CCTV tricking a pawnbroker into buying fake gold struck previously at a different jewellers using a similar con, it has emerged.

The suspect was filmed targeting Paul Wood, 58, at his shop in Stoke-on-Trent where he swapped a bag of real gold for fake bullion and escaped with £1,765.

Two months earlier, the same smartly-dressed man swooped at Ashley Adams Jewellers, in Hailsham, East Sussex, on April 11 - 230 miles away.

Using a similar technique, he first pretended to be selling some gold pendants to the store owner who agreed to pay him £1,100 after inspecting the jewellery.

The man then managed to swap the bag containing 18ct gold to one with "two lumps of brass" inside using sleight of hand in a move again captured on CCTV.

In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, he can be seen holding his phone before switching the bags as he flips his mobile between his left and right hand.

He then left the jewellers before the store owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, realised she had been conned when she got to the back office and opened the bag.

She said: "This man came in and offered to sell me a couple of pharaoh head pendants.

"I had a look at them and confirmed they were 18ct after doing a machine and acid test and agreed to pay him £1,100.

"It was a similar technique but he used a sort of net bag, he takes it in his right hand and gives it back to me with his left and I ended up with two lumps of brass.

"I noticed almost immediately once I'd walked into the back office as the little gauze bag was tied very tightly, too tightly.

"I called 999 in case officers were in the area but nothing ever came of it.

"The next day I had an email from Safergems, which is a crime initiative in the jewellery industry, to say he had struck elsewhere.

"If I'd only had that email the day before it might have been a different outcome.

"But I hate looking back at the footage as it's so obvious what happens, and how he does it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing."

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "Police were called to a report of fraud at a jewellers, High Street, Hailsham on 11 April at around 2.45pm.

"Officers are investigating the incident.

"Witnesses or anyone with any information or footage is asked to contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 763 of 11/04."

Businessman Paul told last week how the fraudster managed to trick him into parting with more than £1,700 for a bag of fake gold last Thursday (20/6).

The man was with a female accomplice when he came in wanting to sell 9-carat gold, which Paul examined and confirmed was genuine.

After managing to switch the bags, the pair then fled the scene with the money from Church Street Gold Pottery and Furniture.

Paul, from Stoke-on-Trent, said: "They were Eastern European I think and well presented and smartly dressed and they seemed genuine enough.