Hoax caller said gunman was loose in Weybridge

Dec 3 2009 By Rupert Basham

A hoax caller used the phone box in Weybridge high street

Police are hunting for a hoax caller who caused armed officers to be scrambled to a Weybridge cul de sac in on Sunday night.

Two firearms teams, the police helicopter and a police dog team were among the resources deployed to Catherine Howard Court at around 6.30pm, following a tip off that a man had been seen with a shotgun.

The units spent three hours searching the area and talking to residents. Due to the nature of the call, police have said they sent every available resource to the residential area which is close to the town centre.

The incident is now being treated as a hoax call, believed to have been made by a man at a payphone in the High Street.

Elmbridge Inspector, Richard Haycock, said: "It's astounding that people would waste potentially life saving police resources. When we receive a hoax call, resources are taken away from people in real need. It's an absolutely disgraceful practice. Anyone out there who thinks this is a laugh or something fun to do should hope they are never in need of our services when someone else is making a hoax call."

The hoaxer is thought to be a white man, aged 25 to 30, with dark hair and slim. He was wearing a dark three quarter length coat, dark trousers and dark shoes, and was in the company of a white woman with dark hair, wearing a white puffer jacket.

Anyone with any information should call Surrey police on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference number EL/09/9753 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.