POLICE have warned residents to beware after a conman knocked on an Oxford door at 2am asking for money.

The incident happened on Beechy Avenue in Marston.

The conman – believed to be in his 40s with short dark brown hair and stubble on his face – knocked on the front door last Sunday, said he had been working nearby and was locked out of his house.

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He said he needed money to get to his grandmother’s house, which he claimed was in Kidlington.

The man was given £20 for a taxi so he could get there.

Thames Valley Police say they believe the story used by the man was untrue and are urging residents to dial 101 if they are suspicious of a door-knocker.

The fraudster was dressed in a tracksuit, which could have been red and white, and was carrying a rucksack.

The incident comes after several victims came forward to say that they had been scammed by the ‘Headington door knocker’ – a prolific thief who used a similar story.

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During the string of offences, James Lennon preyed on the generosity of the public claiming to have been locked out of his house before taking money and disappearing into the night.

Police initially put out an alert asking people to call 999 if they saw him.

At hid first sentencing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, Lennon was handed a suspended sentence after claiming he was turning over a new leaf and was committed to tackling his offending.

However, at the beginning of the year in the same court, his sentence was activated and he was taken to prison after stole again.