A thief conned money out of an elderly Stevenage couple when he claimed that his car had broken down and needed money to take a taxi home.

Herts police have released more information this week about the crime to try and track down the culprit.

The man knocked on the couple’s door in the Old Town on August 31 between 11.20am and 12pm.

He said that he had just visited his sick wife at Lister Hospital but he car had broken down and he needed to get to his uncle’s house in St Albans.

The man asked to use the house phone and see the phone directory. The couple then gave him £20 for a taxi and he left.

After this they grew suspicious and called the police.

The man is described as white, with dark hair, no beard but overnight shadow and between 25 and 30 years old. He was around 5ft 8ins tall with a slim build and a local or London English accent.

He was wearing jeans and a blue top and was carrying a black umbrella which had grey spots on its rim.

Anyone with information about the crime should call Herts police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.