A student has been robbed by a criminal posing as a plain-clothed policeman in North Oxford.
The 15-year-old was approached by a man who claimed to be investigating a mobile phone theft. The man went on to search his bag and confiscate personal belongings, including two phones, money, and headphones.
The student was given a fake receipt and told that he could collect the items from the Police Station later, but the incident turned out to be a scam.
Thames Valley Police are now investigating the case, which occurred along the Woodstock Road on 6th August, but state that no arrests have been made.
OUSU President, David J Townsend, emailed all Oxford University students informing them of the scam and explaining how to react if approached in a similar manner. The email was also sent to the 19,000 Oxford Brookes students.
Townsend stressed the role that the Student Union can play in fighting crimes of this nature, writing, ‘We can get the word out to more than 1/4 of the residents of Oxford in a couple of clicks of the mouse. Cop that, sneak thieves.”
The scammer is said to have been a white, bearded man, aged between 35 and 40.
