Bracknell and Wokingham police have warned of thieves using Facebook Marketplace to steal mobile phones in the area.

The force reported multiple cases of criminals visiting a sellers house to inspect a high-end phone before using slight-of-hand to replace the device with a fake look-a-like device and leaving.

Excuses include not wanting to purchase the device after-all, or not having enough funds.

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“Please be careful when inviting strangers into your property to purchase an item,” the force posted om Facebook.

“Make sure you can identify your item with a unique case, a sticker or identifying marks.

“Keep full attention on what the person does with your item, giving them no chance to put it into their pocket or rucksack.”

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Thames Valley Police described two possible offenders who drove a black MBW 1 Series and had thick Irish accents.

One was a large, clean shaven, white man in his fifties who wore a flat cap, Canadian Goose Gillet and three quarter length trousers.

He claimed to be the father of the second suspect, a clean shaven boy around sixteen years old who wore a North Face Hoody with a prominent logo on the front.